Govt approves N$15m for NTA's farm project

Government, through the Namibia Training Authority (NTA), has approved a N$15 million budget provision for a proposed farm acquisition linked to the Okakarara Vocational Training Centre (OVTC), as part of efforts to expand agricultural training opportunities for vocational students.

The allocation forms part of the NTA's 2025/26 key priority roll-over budget and was approved through interim governance arrangements following the expiry of the authority's board earlier this year.

The development follows years of discussions around plans to establish an agricultural training farm for OVTC, a project intended to provide students with practical, hands-on training while supporting the introduction and expansion of agriculture-related vocational programmes.

Responding to questions from Namibian Sun, NTA spokesperson Mornay Louw confirmed that provision had been made in the budget for a potential farm acquisition project associated with OVTC.

"The budget, including this provision, formed part of the NTA's annual budgeting process and, in the absence of a board, was submitted to our line ministry in accordance with applicable interim governance requirements. The ministry reviewed the budget and concurred with its approval," Louw said.

However, he stressed that no acquisition has yet taken place.

"To date, no farm has been identified, no purchase agreement has been concluded, and no farm has been acquired by the NTA. Consequently, no acquisition transaction has taken place," Louw told Namibian Sun.

Long-term plan

According to the NTA, plans to acquire a farm for OVTC date back to at least 2018 and form part of a strategic initiative to introduce agricultural training programmes at the institution.

The authority said the inclusion of a budgetary provision should not be interpreted as a decision to acquire a specific property, adding that any future acquisition would remain subject to governance, due diligence and legislative requirements.

The project has nevertheless attracted attention amid ongoing debate over governance arrangements at the authority following the expiry of the NTA board of directors' term in January.

"In the absence of an active board of directors, operations and administrative decisions were undertaken at all times within approved delegations of authority and subject to ministerial governance oversight," Louw explained.

The NTA's budget for the 2026/27 financial year amounts to N$944 million.

Established in 1977, OVTC remains the country's oldest vocational training centre under the NTA. It operates under the Vocational Education and Training (VET) Act of 2008, which provides for the management and control of all state-owned vocational training centres.

Due diligence

Executive director in the education ministry, Erastus Haitengela, confirmed the approval of the budget provision.

"The NTA's 2025/26 key priority roll-over budget, which includes provision for a potential farm acquisition project associated with the Okakarara Vocational Training Centre, was submitted to the ministry in accordance with applicable interim governance requirements following the expiry of the NTA board's term.”

He said the ministry reviewed the budget and concurred with its approval.

“It must be noted, however, that budgetary provision does not constitute an acquisition decision," Haitengela stressed, adding that the allocation merely makes provision for a possible project and does not amount to a decision to purchase a specific farm.

"Any such acquisition would remain subject to applicable governance and due diligence requirements prescribed by relevant legislation, ministerial oversight, and NTA policies and procedures," he explained.

Three years ago, OVTC centre manager Moses Tjirare told the media that the institution had submitted a request to the NTA seeking approval to register a business arm that would operate on strict commercial principles separate from the centre's core training functions.