N$3m pilot livestock project targets rural livelihoods

The Hope Farm Project, launched on Saturday at Farm Daweb in the Daures constituency, will serve as a national pilot for a revolving livestock empowerment scheme expected to reach all 14 regions of Namibia.The scheme aims to rebuild rural livelihoods and bolster food security through small-stock farming.Spearheaded by the Swakop Uranium Foundation and the agriculture ministry, the initiative has kicked off with a N$3 million investment from the foundation and the distribution of 1 000 goats and sheep in Erongo this year.Thirty beneficiaries, 20 of them women, received 630 goats and sheep during the launch. The remaining 370 are due by year-end.Each beneficiary is required to return a portion of offspring after 15 months to enable further distributions. The project is aligned with Namibia’s Vision 2030 and NDP6, with annual livestock distributions planned nationwide.Under NDP6, Namibia aims to increase domestic food production to 80%. The Hope Farm initiative, designed to distribute 1 000 high-quality ewes and rams annually, is expected to play a key role in achieving that target.“This is not a handout,” agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani said on Saturday. “It’s a tool for building income and creating independence.”Farm and upliftErongo Governor Nathalia /Goagoses warned beneficiaries that accountability is non-negotiable.“I do not want to be told three goats are missing. You are full-time farmers. You must account,” she said.Calling for integrity and unity, /Goagoses added: “Let the devil of jealousy and disrespect leave us. We are a Christian community. Let us farm, multiply, and uplift each other.”During the launch on Saturday, a beneficiary representative urged government to establish a formal national platform for cooperatives and requested a follow-up meeting within three months.Livestock allocations were conducted via a draw-of-luck system to ensure transparency.Country cooperationDuring the event, Zaamwani announced that Namibia now has access to the Chinese market for goat and sheep meat, following the signing of a bilateral trade agreement in May.“Now the problem used to be market access. Now you have market access,” she stressed. “Please scale up and produce quality products.”She noted that production consistency is essential for trade success.“No exporter wants to export one container today and then another one in September. They want weekly, continuous supply," she emphasised.Meanwhile, China also pledged to deepen agricultural ties with Namibia during the event.“We want to ensure agricultural cooperation between our two countries reaches a new level,” said Chinese embassy representative Wei Jinming, citing joint technology projects and skills training for Namibian personnel.

N$3m pilot livestock project targets rural livelihoods

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-05

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N$3m pilot livestock project targets rural livelihoods

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-05

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