Unam’s Ogongo campus celebrates rice harvest

The University of Namibia’s (Unam) Ogongo campus marked a milestone in agricultural innovation and community transformation at the 2025 Annual Rice Harvest Festival recently, under the theme ‘Promoting Seasonal Wetland Rice Production Among Smallholders for Sustainable Livelihoods'.Delivering his remarks, Unam vice chancellor Kenneth Matengu said the festival celebrates not only a successful rice harvest but also tangible strides toward food security, rural empowerment,and climate resilience.“This year, nature blessed us with abundant rainfall. While this posed challenges in some areas, it also reminded us that rice – a water-loving crop – is a key to unlocking economic and nutritional stability,” Matengu said.He reported a steady increase in rice yields, with cultivated areas expanding from 4.1 hectares in 2024 to 6.7 hectares in 2025. Production is expected to jump from 15 to 19 tonnes, thanks to support from Debmarine Namibia. The campus’ poultry hatchery has also seen exponential growth, now producing over 5 000 chicks annually, up from just 370.Matengu hailed the enduring partnerships with the government of Japan through JICA and Debmarine Namibia, which have helped turn the Ogongo campus into a national hub for wetland agriculture and sustainability research.“Here, research meets practice. Students, farmers and school learners are empowered with the tools and knowledge to thrive in a changing climate,” he said.More than a harvest Matengu emphasised that agriculture today is more than just subsistence. “It is a science, a business and a technology. This is your moment,” he said, also encouraging learners to apply for the 2026 academic year.He further applauded the government’s recent announcement to provide free tertiary education, calling it “a historic step that will unlock the potential of thousands of Namibians”.The festival concluded with a call to action: turn flooded fields into rice paddies, turn rice into profit, and turn education into sustainable livelihoods.“This is more than a harvest – it’s a celebration of progress, possibility and partnership,” Matengu said.Shared promise Speaking on behalf of Debmarine Namibia, Godfrey Ngaisiue said it was a privilege to witness “the harvest of a truly inspiring milestone in our nation’s pursuit of agricultural innovation and food security.”“At Debmarine Namibia, we believe education is the cornerstone of a thriving society. Our investment in Unam Ogongo Campus – over N$750 000 since 2022 – is grounded in our social investment pillar, partnering for thriving communities, focusing on health, education and sustainable livelihoods.”“What once began as 4.1 hectares has now grown into 8.65 hectares, 6.7 of which are fully planted and now brimming with life,” Ngaisiue said. “We did not just invest in equipment – we invested in people, in progress and in the shared promise of sustainable food security.”

Unam’s Ogongo campus celebrates rice harvest

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-24

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Unam’s Ogongo campus celebrates rice harvest

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-24

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