Where govt waivered
The government bought three million hectares of commercial farmland and declined five million hectares offered to it over the past 25 years.
Over the past 25 years the government declined to purchase five million hectares of agricultural land offered to it by the private sector.
During that time it acquired only three million hectares of land for resettlement purposes.
The latest statistics show that between 1992 and 2018 the government issued waivers for 1 360 farms offered to it.
During this time it acquired 496 farms benefitting 5 352 people.
The largest proportion of farmland waived was in the Otjozondjupa Region (1.59 million hectares, 432 farms), where a mere 282 549 hectares were acquired by the government.
This is also the region with the highest number of foreign-owned farms. This is according to the just-released Namibia Land Statistics Booklet compiled by the Namibia Statistics Agency.
The Khomas Region had the lowest number of waived farms at 37, totalling 157 320 hectares. The government bought 86 283 hectares in this region.
In the Oshikoto Region 333 950 hectares were waived and 64 558 hectares were acquired by the government, while in Omaheke the government bought 426 220 hectares and waived 816 833 hectares.
In the Kunene Region the government purchased 298 469 hectares and waived 779 627 hectares.
In the //Karas Region, 927 366 hectares were acquired by the government and it waived 560 965 hectares. In Hardap, 694 630 hectares were waived and 689 445 hectares acquired, and in Erongo 227 698 hectares were waived and 211 067 acquired.
The report says the Oshikoto Region has the highest number of resettled people (1 499), followed by the Omaheke Region (1 455). Erongo has the lowest number of resettled people at 76.
Another 6.4 million hectares were acquired through the Agricultural Bank of Namibia during 1992 to 2018.
Of this, 3.4 million hectares (54%) of commercial farmland was acquired through the Affirmative Action Loan Scheme Programme, while commercial banks funded 2.8 million hectares (46%). Women accounted for only 10% of beneficiaries under the AALS programme.
It says that so far 442 lease agreements have been issued for resettlement; 236 (53%) were issued to male beneficiaries and 192 (43%) to women. The remaining 14 (4%) leases were issued to other entities. Omaheke has the highest number of issued leases, followed by Hardap.
Land in Namibia
The Namibia Agricultural Union, which contributed land data to the report, called on the NSA to consider all agricultural land in Namibia as a whole.
“Communal areas where agriculture is taking place amounts to approximately 28 million hectares compared to the commercial agricultural area of approximately 39 million hectares. Carrying capacity on agricultural land plays an important role and must be taken into account,” said the union.
The NAU further requested the NSA to identify mining activities on agricultural land, as well as land owned by state-owned enterprises, and that such land should not be considered as part of agricultural land owned by “former beneficiaries”.
The union says its land database is the only current comprehensive and reliable source of information on land ownership in the commercial agricultural sector, and it is constantly being updated.
According to the report Namibia's land tenure now consists of 23% state land, 35% communal land and 42% commercial land. In 2010, it consisted of 20% state land, 36% communal land and 44% freehold land. Both communal and freehold land ownership has dropped slightly in favour of state ownership.
Urban areas in Namibia, spanning 7.9 million hectares, account for only 1% of the total land mass and only 6% of state land. The biggest part of the 1% urban land is situated in designated communal areas.
In terms of commercial farmland, which totals 39.7 million hectares, previously advantaged farmers own 27.9 million hectares (70%) while the previously disadvantaged community owns 16%.
The report says the government owns 5.4 million hectares (14%) of commercial farmland. Women own only 23% of commercial farmland.
It notes that according to the lands ministry's commercial land valuation roll of 2012 to 2017, 12 382 farming units – farms and portions of farms - were recorded. Individuals own 52.2% of these units, followed by companies (close corporations and proprietary limited companies) at 31.5% and the government at 13.8%. Farmers' association, foundations, estates and churches own less than 2% of commercial farmland.
Most of the commercial farms and portions of farms are owned by Namibians at 38.3 million hectares (97.7%), while foreigners own 250 units totalling 1. 2 million hectares (2.0%).
The Otjozondjupa Region has the highest number of foreign-owned farms at 65, covering 206 523 hectares.
However, the largest area covered by foreign-owned farms is in the //Karas Region where foreigners own 49 farms covering 349 220 hectares.
German citizens own 639 667 hectares (53.0%) of this land, followed by South Africans with 353 875 hectares (29.3%) and Americans with 82 024 hectares (6.8%).
Joint ownership by Namibians and foreigners of commercial farms accounts for only 177 052 hectares (0.3%).
ELLANIE SMIT
During that time it acquired only three million hectares of land for resettlement purposes.
The latest statistics show that between 1992 and 2018 the government issued waivers for 1 360 farms offered to it.
During this time it acquired 496 farms benefitting 5 352 people.
The largest proportion of farmland waived was in the Otjozondjupa Region (1.59 million hectares, 432 farms), where a mere 282 549 hectares were acquired by the government.
This is also the region with the highest number of foreign-owned farms. This is according to the just-released Namibia Land Statistics Booklet compiled by the Namibia Statistics Agency.
The Khomas Region had the lowest number of waived farms at 37, totalling 157 320 hectares. The government bought 86 283 hectares in this region.
In the Oshikoto Region 333 950 hectares were waived and 64 558 hectares were acquired by the government, while in Omaheke the government bought 426 220 hectares and waived 816 833 hectares.
In the Kunene Region the government purchased 298 469 hectares and waived 779 627 hectares.
In the //Karas Region, 927 366 hectares were acquired by the government and it waived 560 965 hectares. In Hardap, 694 630 hectares were waived and 689 445 hectares acquired, and in Erongo 227 698 hectares were waived and 211 067 acquired.
The report says the Oshikoto Region has the highest number of resettled people (1 499), followed by the Omaheke Region (1 455). Erongo has the lowest number of resettled people at 76.
Another 6.4 million hectares were acquired through the Agricultural Bank of Namibia during 1992 to 2018.
Of this, 3.4 million hectares (54%) of commercial farmland was acquired through the Affirmative Action Loan Scheme Programme, while commercial banks funded 2.8 million hectares (46%). Women accounted for only 10% of beneficiaries under the AALS programme.
It says that so far 442 lease agreements have been issued for resettlement; 236 (53%) were issued to male beneficiaries and 192 (43%) to women. The remaining 14 (4%) leases were issued to other entities. Omaheke has the highest number of issued leases, followed by Hardap.
Land in Namibia
The Namibia Agricultural Union, which contributed land data to the report, called on the NSA to consider all agricultural land in Namibia as a whole.
“Communal areas where agriculture is taking place amounts to approximately 28 million hectares compared to the commercial agricultural area of approximately 39 million hectares. Carrying capacity on agricultural land plays an important role and must be taken into account,” said the union.
The NAU further requested the NSA to identify mining activities on agricultural land, as well as land owned by state-owned enterprises, and that such land should not be considered as part of agricultural land owned by “former beneficiaries”.
The union says its land database is the only current comprehensive and reliable source of information on land ownership in the commercial agricultural sector, and it is constantly being updated.
According to the report Namibia's land tenure now consists of 23% state land, 35% communal land and 42% commercial land. In 2010, it consisted of 20% state land, 36% communal land and 44% freehold land. Both communal and freehold land ownership has dropped slightly in favour of state ownership.
Urban areas in Namibia, spanning 7.9 million hectares, account for only 1% of the total land mass and only 6% of state land. The biggest part of the 1% urban land is situated in designated communal areas.
In terms of commercial farmland, which totals 39.7 million hectares, previously advantaged farmers own 27.9 million hectares (70%) while the previously disadvantaged community owns 16%.
The report says the government owns 5.4 million hectares (14%) of commercial farmland. Women own only 23% of commercial farmland.
It notes that according to the lands ministry's commercial land valuation roll of 2012 to 2017, 12 382 farming units – farms and portions of farms - were recorded. Individuals own 52.2% of these units, followed by companies (close corporations and proprietary limited companies) at 31.5% and the government at 13.8%. Farmers' association, foundations, estates and churches own less than 2% of commercial farmland.
Most of the commercial farms and portions of farms are owned by Namibians at 38.3 million hectares (97.7%), while foreigners own 250 units totalling 1. 2 million hectares (2.0%).
The Otjozondjupa Region has the highest number of foreign-owned farms at 65, covering 206 523 hectares.
However, the largest area covered by foreign-owned farms is in the //Karas Region where foreigners own 49 farms covering 349 220 hectares.
German citizens own 639 667 hectares (53.0%) of this land, followed by South Africans with 353 875 hectares (29.3%) and Americans with 82 024 hectares (6.8%).
Joint ownership by Namibians and foreigners of commercial farms accounts for only 177 052 hectares (0.3%).
ELLANIE SMIT
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