Food for thought
In the midst of a crippling economic crisis, which is forcing breadwinners across the national spectrum to dig deep to feed their families, comes the news that a basic basket of food items costs - on average - 18% more in the northern parts of the country.
The First Capital Food Price Index, which compared prices for the past two years, found further that the same basket of food for which a Namibian - on average - pays N$1 174.90 could cost a person 9% less in Botswana and 14% less in South Africa.
While we are cognisant of the fact that transport costs play a role in why the northern regions, compared to the rest of the country, and furthermore why Namibia, compared to its two neighbours, pay more for a basic basket of groceries, it is also an indictment on our continued dependence on imports.
For example, the index mentions that fruit and vegetable prices continue to rise because Namibia imports most of these products. Shockingly, the country only produces 25% of the potatoes consumed by citizens.
With our green schemes in operation for years, it becomes a point of concern when we are dependent and exposed to external shocks when it comes to the most basic of food items.
It was, however, heartening this week to report on a call from the Agro-Marketing and Trading Agency (AMTA) for private sector entities to take up spaces at its national fresh produce hubs, in order to push value addition.
This will be key to Namibia raising the necessary expertise and capital to not only feed itself, but also export these value-added products and earn foreign revenue.
The issue of value addition, which takes our raw produce and raw materials - in the case of the mining industry - to create items that can earn vast revenues overseas, is a sore point for most Namibians.
We cannot still be grappling with this basic concept nearly 28 years after freedom.
And we certainly cannot remain a nation that continues to be reliant on others to feed our people, while punishing citizens' pockets for an inability to build a horticulture industry that does not require imports.
Our people have suffered enough.
The First Capital Food Price Index, which compared prices for the past two years, found further that the same basket of food for which a Namibian - on average - pays N$1 174.90 could cost a person 9% less in Botswana and 14% less in South Africa.
While we are cognisant of the fact that transport costs play a role in why the northern regions, compared to the rest of the country, and furthermore why Namibia, compared to its two neighbours, pay more for a basic basket of groceries, it is also an indictment on our continued dependence on imports.
For example, the index mentions that fruit and vegetable prices continue to rise because Namibia imports most of these products. Shockingly, the country only produces 25% of the potatoes consumed by citizens.
With our green schemes in operation for years, it becomes a point of concern when we are dependent and exposed to external shocks when it comes to the most basic of food items.
It was, however, heartening this week to report on a call from the Agro-Marketing and Trading Agency (AMTA) for private sector entities to take up spaces at its national fresh produce hubs, in order to push value addition.
This will be key to Namibia raising the necessary expertise and capital to not only feed itself, but also export these value-added products and earn foreign revenue.
The issue of value addition, which takes our raw produce and raw materials - in the case of the mining industry - to create items that can earn vast revenues overseas, is a sore point for most Namibians.
We cannot still be grappling with this basic concept nearly 28 years after freedom.
And we certainly cannot remain a nation that continues to be reliant on others to feed our people, while punishing citizens' pockets for an inability to build a horticulture industry that does not require imports.
Our people have suffered enough.
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Namibian Sun
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