Africa has regressed in attaining commitments made in the 2008 Declaration on Accelerating the Achievement of Water and Sanitation Goals. 

This is according to Namibia's Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, who officially opened the 7th Africa Sanitation and Hygiene Conference at Swakopmund.

The five-day conference is a platform for technical and political dialogue with governments and stakeholders to address sanitation and hygiene challenges in Africa.

The Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, says that the completion of the second phase of the Neckartal Dam Irrigation Scheme on the outskirts of Keetmanshoop in the ||Kharas Region has the capacity to provide more than 10,000 employment opportunities.

Schlettwein was answering questions during a consultative meeting with stakeholders in the agricultural sector at Keetmanshoop.

Steve Swartbooi, a farmer in the area, was among the stakeholders who had questions and suggestions to put forward to the minister.

Residents in Omitara are frustrated with the amount of time the Land Reform Advisory Commission is taking to solve the dispute at Farm Osombahe. 

63--year-old Bertha Hoxobes is one of many residents in Omitara living with livestock.

Her kraal is a confined space attached to her shack.

This has been her life for the past 20 years.

"It's a serious problem. Our animals are in a cramped space; they don't get to grow. My livestock sleeps without grazing. Just look at their state. I am under constant fear that my animals will die."

Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Minister, Calle Schlettwein, says concerted efforts are needed to realign the Namibia Agricultural Policies to speak to value-added chains.

Schlettwein made these remarks after touring the Otavi Grain Silo and factory at Otavi in the Otjozondjupa Region.

Schlettwein says his visit was necessitated by the government's goal of having the nation be fully self-sufficient in terms of food production as well as the need to invest in processing infrastructure for primary products.

Approximately 3 000 tonnes of chicken are consumed in Namibia every month, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Calle Schlettwein has said.

Schlettwein quoted the figures obtained from the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade while responding to questions by Popular Democratic Movement Member of Parliament McHenry Venaani in the National Assembly on Thursday.

Venaani wanted to know what Namibia’s total chicken and vegetable consumption was per month and per year.