Women lead in govt agricultural support programmes

Women lead across government agricultural support programmes, with a combined 47 385 beneficiaries compared to 32 827 men across key interventions.

This figure comes as government rolls out a N$1.82 billion budget for the 2026/27 financial year to drive food security, land reform and rural development.

The figures were presented by agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani in her budget motivation last week.

“This vote speaks to the most fundamental pillars of human development in our republic, agricultural production, food security and equitable access to land,” Zaamwani said.

A breakdown shows that under the dry land crop production programme, 47 016 women benefited compared to 32 566 men, receiving subsidised inputs such as seeds, fertilisers and mechanisation support across ten crop-growing regions.

Women also dominate livestock support programmes. In the dairy scheme, 74 women benefited, compared to 27 men, while in poultry, 295 women received support, compared to 234 men, pointing to growing female participation in value chains.

These interventions fall under the ministry’s N$253.1 million allocation for agriculture extension services, part of a broader budget comprising N$1.47 billion for operations and N$352.9 million for development spending.

The gender trend is unfolding against a challenging backdrop. Namibia’s agriculture sector, which supports about 70% of the population, continues to face climate shocks, high input costs and reliance on food imports.

“Agriculture directly or indirectly supports approximately 70% of our population, yet Namibia still relies significantly on imports for staple foods such as white maize, pearl millet (mahangu), and wheat,” the minister said.

Source of employment

Output from green scheme projects increased by 45%, with maize production rising by 82%, highlighting the sector’s potential if adequately supported.

Government programmes created jobs for 252 farm machinery operators and 773 seasonal workers, while broader institutional efforts filled 243 critical vacancies and absorbed more than 230 graduates and interns into the system.

At the same time, government is pursuing broader structural reforms, including land redistribution and expansion of irrigation schemes, with N$273.6 million allocated to land reform, alongside the acquisition of 24 farms during the previous financial year to support resettlement and access.

“Similarly, in communal areas, the ministry is responsible for the support and development of communal land and improving land tenure security for residents, formalising communal land rights and ensuring more equitable access to land for women and disadvantaged groups," Zaamwani noted.

Infrastructure investment is also underway to strengthen the sector’s long-term capacity, including the development of a N$78.9 million feedlot project at Etunda Irrigation Scheme, as well as upgrades to irrigation systems and green scheme operations.

The ministry further reported a 96% budget execution rate in the previous financial year, indicating strong implementation capacity despite resource constraints.

However, the ministry warned that a 26% reduction in the overall budget compared to the previous financial year could constrain delivery, particularly in a sector already under pressure.