Unam's Ogongo campus leads the way in innovative agriculture – president
Campus shows Namibia’s potential for food sustainability
The university campus merges education alongside production, a strategy that benefits both students and communities.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has hailed the University of Namibia’s (Unam) Ogongo campus for its contribution to agricultural innovation and food production.
The president said the campus sets a shining example for the rest of the country in addressing hunger and poverty.
During her visit to the campus on Monday, Nandi-Ndaitwah toured rice fields currently being harvested, a poultry project and the Agri-PV initiative, which combines farming with solar power generation.
She commended the campus for merging education with production, saying this benefits both students and surrounding communities.
“If Africans cannot invest in research, they should forget about addressing poverty, because the answer lies in what we produce,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
She encouraged researchers not to be discouraged by limited equipment but to continue finding solutions for food security.
The president also praised the university for offering short courses to farmers, providing practical skills that empower rural communities.
The courses do not require any formal qualifications; they are open to anyone with an interest in farming and agriculture. She said the initiative aligns with Namibia’s sixth National Development Plan, which prioritises agriculture, innovation and food security.
Backbone of the economy
Accompanying the president, agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani underlined that “food production is the backbone of any economy”, adding that Ogongo demonstrates Namibia’s potential for food sustainability through knowledge and innovation.
Ogongo campus director Christopher Mberema, who briefed the president and showed her around the campus, highlighted that the institution plays a critical role in rice, poultry and horticulture production, as well as agricultural research and training. Mberema said the campus not only cultivates food but also inspires young Namibians to pursue careers in agriculture.
Ogongo campus includes a 1 000-hectare game park and serves as a training and research hub specialising in crop production, livestock and forestry.
Nandi-Ndaitwah this week completed her 10-day visit to agricultural facilities in northern Namibia. The visit began in the Zambezi region, where she toured the Kalimbeza Rice Farm. She then proceeded to Kavango East, visiting the Shadikongoro Green Scheme, Ndonga Linena Green Scheme, and Uvungu Vungu Green Scheme. In Kavango West, she toured the Sikondo Green Scheme, where she witnessed the recent potato harvest.
At Unam's Ogongo Campus, she was shown a range of rice-based products processed locally using rice grown on-site.
The final leg of her visit took her to the Etunda Irrigation Green Scheme, where she toured fields of potatoes, wheat and maize and observed the harvesting of maize.
The president said the campus sets a shining example for the rest of the country in addressing hunger and poverty.
During her visit to the campus on Monday, Nandi-Ndaitwah toured rice fields currently being harvested, a poultry project and the Agri-PV initiative, which combines farming with solar power generation.
She commended the campus for merging education with production, saying this benefits both students and surrounding communities.
“If Africans cannot invest in research, they should forget about addressing poverty, because the answer lies in what we produce,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
She encouraged researchers not to be discouraged by limited equipment but to continue finding solutions for food security.
The president also praised the university for offering short courses to farmers, providing practical skills that empower rural communities.
The courses do not require any formal qualifications; they are open to anyone with an interest in farming and agriculture. She said the initiative aligns with Namibia’s sixth National Development Plan, which prioritises agriculture, innovation and food security.
Backbone of the economy
Accompanying the president, agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani underlined that “food production is the backbone of any economy”, adding that Ogongo demonstrates Namibia’s potential for food sustainability through knowledge and innovation.
Ogongo campus director Christopher Mberema, who briefed the president and showed her around the campus, highlighted that the institution plays a critical role in rice, poultry and horticulture production, as well as agricultural research and training. Mberema said the campus not only cultivates food but also inspires young Namibians to pursue careers in agriculture.
Ogongo campus includes a 1 000-hectare game park and serves as a training and research hub specialising in crop production, livestock and forestry.
Nandi-Ndaitwah this week completed her 10-day visit to agricultural facilities in northern Namibia. The visit began in the Zambezi region, where she toured the Kalimbeza Rice Farm. She then proceeded to Kavango East, visiting the Shadikongoro Green Scheme, Ndonga Linena Green Scheme, and Uvungu Vungu Green Scheme. In Kavango West, she toured the Sikondo Green Scheme, where she witnessed the recent potato harvest.
At Unam's Ogongo Campus, she was shown a range of rice-based products processed locally using rice grown on-site.
The final leg of her visit took her to the Etunda Irrigation Green Scheme, where she toured fields of potatoes, wheat and maize and observed the harvesting of maize.
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