Agri-budget increases by 22% to N$2.52 billion

The budget for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform under Vote 37 has increased by 22% from N$2.07 billion to N$2.52 billion, according to Namibia’s 2025/26 to 2028/29 Estimate of Revenue and Expenditure.

This was announced in Parliament by the Minister of Finance, Erica Shafudah, on Thursday last week.

The budget is divided into N$2.04 billion for operational expenditure (salaries and other day-to-day running costs), and N$478 million for development expenditure (vehicles, equipment, studies). Within Vote 37, N$1.94 billion is classified as agriculture spending across nine divisions, while N$472 million covers land reform across five divisions.

Across the full Vote 37, remuneration will increase from N$682 million in 24/25 to N$806 million in 25/26 - an increase of N$124.5 million or 18.3%.

In percentage terms, Information Technology gained the most with a 53% increase in remuneration, from N$10.5 million to N$16.1 million. Planning and Business Development follows at 34%, and Land Survey and Land Mapping at 31%. In absolute terms, however, Administration gained the most - an increase of N$18.3 million, from N$97.7 million to N$116 million.

The divisions that lost remuneration budget are the Office of the Minister (down 22.3%), Centralised Registration (down 9.5%), and Valuation and Estate Management (down 4%).

Office of the Minister

Oversees government agricultural policies, ensuring objectives and guidelines are implemented.

EXPENSES: 24/25: N$10.2 million | 25/26: N$8.5 million | Decrease: N$1.7 million (16%)

SALARIES: 24/25: N$3.5 million | 25/26: N$2.7 million | Decrease: N$0.8 million (23%)

Capital expenditure fell 45% from N$905,423 in 24/25 to N$500 000 in 25/26.

Administration

Facilitates ministry operations through the Permanent Secretary’s coordination and support.

EXPENSES: 24/25: N$338.2 million | 25/26: N$449.5 million | Increase: N$111.3 million (33%)

SALARIES: 24/25: N$97.7 million | 25/26: N$116 million | Increase: N$18.3 million (19%)

Utilities are up 30% from N$93 million to N$121 million.

Veterinary Services

Promotes food security through disease surveillance, vaccinations and livestock traceability.

EXPENSES: 24/25: N$418.3 million | 25/26: N$450.4 million | Increase: N$32.1 million (8%)

SALARIES: 24/25: N$223.7 million | 25/26: N$233.7 million | Increase: N$10 million (4%)

Travel and Subsistence down 46% from N$15 million to N$8.1 million.

Agriculture Research, Development and Vocational Training

Improves agricultural resources through agronomical, pastoral and livestock research projects.

EXPENSES: 24/25: N$170.6 million | 25/26: N$183.5 million | Increase: N$12.9 million (8%)

SALARIES: 24/25: N$67.5 million | 25/26: N$70.7 million | Increase: N$3.2 million (5%)

Vehicle budget increases from N$589,155 in 24/25 to N$15 million in 25/26.

Agriculture Production and Extension Services

Provides training and advice to farmers through key agricultural programmes.

EXPENSES: 24/25: N$237.9 million | 25/26: N$535 million | Increase: N$297 million (125%)

SALARIES: 24/25: N$126.5 million | 25/26: N$135.8 million | Increase: N$9.3 million (7%)

Government organisation transfers up 906% from N$31 million to N$311.5 million.

Agriculture Engineering

Supervises the design and construction of Green Schemes and agricultural infrastructure.

EXPENSES: 24/25: N$433.3 million | 25/26: N$203.3 million | Decrease: N$230 million (53%)

SALARIES: 24/25: N$6.4 million | 25/26: N$6.8 million | Increase: N$0.4 million (6%)

Government organisation transfers down 71% from N$341.3 million to N$97.3 million.

Planning and Business Development

Facilitates policy analysis to develop Namibia’s domestic agricultural market conditions.

EXPENSES: 24/25: N$63 million | 25/26: N$71.1 million | Increase: N$8.1 million (13%)

SALARIES: 24/25: N$26.4 million | 25/26: N$35.3 million | Increase: N$8.9 million (34%)

Government organisation transfers budgeted at N$15.3 million in 25/26, rising 240% to N$52 million in 26/27.

Information Technology

Ensures ministry staff access to ICT resources and network security.

EXPENSES: 24/25: N$20.6 million | 25/26: N$32.3 million | Increase: N$11.7 million (57%)

SALARIES: 24/25: N$10.5 million | 25/26: N$16.1 million | Increase: N$5.6 million (53%)

Personnel expenditure at N$18.2 million accounts for 56% of the total budget.

Emergency Relief

Ensures preparedness and response for natural agricultural disaster emergencies.

EXPENSES: 24/25: N$6 million | 25/26: N$10 million | Increase: N$4 million (67%)

SALARIES: N/A - the entire budget flows as a single transfer to the National Emergency Disaster Fund.

Full N$10 million allocated to the National Emergency Disaster Fund, up 68% from N$6 million.

Resettlement and Regional Programme Implementation

Acquires commercial land for equitable redistribution under land tenure acts.

EXPENSES: 24/25: N$101.4 million | 25/26: N$107.3 million | Increase: N$5.9 million (6%)

SALARIES: 24/25: N$58.5 million | 25/26: N$60 million | Increase: N$1.5 million (3%)

Other Services and Expenses budgeted at N$1.05 million in 25/26, rising 442% to N$5.7 million in 26/27.

Land Reform

Acquires and distributes commercial land under land reform and tenure acts.

EXPENSES: 24/25: N$155.9 million | 25/26: N$214.7 million | Increase: N$58.8 million (38%)

SALARIES: 24/25: N$11.2 million | 25/26: N$12.5 million | Increase: N$1.3 million (12%)

N$100 million budgeted for landless farmers along the corridors in 25/26, up from N$0 in 24/25.

Valuation and Estate Management

Values farmland and provides valuation advisory services to government agencies.

EXPENSES: 24/25: N$22.5 million | 25/26: N$24.4 million | Increase: N$1.9 million (8%)

SALARIES: 24/25: N$15.3 million | 25/26: N$14.7 million | Decrease: N$0.6 million (4%)

Public and departmental enterprise transfers up 32% from N$2.2 million to N$2.9 million.

Land Survey and Land Mapping

Carries out land surveys and provides geospatial datasets for planning.

EXPENSES: 24/25: N$65.2 million | 25/26: N$94.2 million | Increase: N$29 million (45%)

SALARIES: 24/25: N$18.4 million | 25/26: N$24 million | Increase: N$5.6 million (30%)

Centralised Registration

Enacts property registration legislation for Rehoboth and Walvis Bay.

EXPENSES: 24/25: N$26.2 million | 25/26: N$31.5 million | Increase: N$5.3 million (20%)

SALARIES: 24/25: N$16.1 million | 25/26: N$14.6 million | Decrease: N$1.5 million (9%)

Materials and Supplies down 44% from N$3.9 million to N$2.2 million.