The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform (MAFWLR) has taken decisive steps to advance the implementation of Namibia’s Strategy for the Transformation of the Agri-Food Sector (STAS), hosting a critical roundtable discussion with a visiting AUDA-NEPAD scoping mission. The meeting, which precedes a crucial implementation workshop next week, focused on establishing the necessary governance structures and coordination mechanisms to operationalise the national strategy, which is aligned with the continental Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
Addressing the delegates, Executive Director and Accounting Officer, Ms. Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, underlined the timeliness of the AUDA-NEPAD mission, noting that Namibia is poised to translate its policy commitments into “tangible, transformative outcomes” across the entire agri-food value chain. She explained that the former National Agriculture Investment Plan was rebranded as STAS to better reflect national priorities and local realities, positioning it as the country’s primary vehicle for driving investment, productivity, and competitiveness in the sector while meeting both domestic development goals and CAADP targets.
The roundtable served as a continuation of earlier stakeholder engagement sessions this week. It brought together representatives from government, agricultural boards, farmers’ unions, the private sector, development partners, and academia. Ms. Nghituwamata emphasised that the discussions provided a vital opportunity for these key players to contribute to the draft governance and coordination framework, which will be essential for measuring progress and ensuring institutional accountability during the STAS rollout.
Referencing a directive from President Nangolo Mbumba to expedite preparations and finalise structures by December 2025, Ms Nghituwamata urged all stakeholders to embrace the work ahead with a spirit of partnership, trust, and shared responsibility. She stressed that successful sector transformation demands both national ownership and robust continental collaboration, highlighting that AUDA-NEPAD’s technical support, combined with local financial and institutional commitments, will be crucial in building a resilient and productive agri-food system. The Executive Director expressed confidence that the sector is ready for the first STAS Implementation Workshop, scheduled for December 1-3, 2025, where the Technical Working Groups and the Agricultural Sector Productivity Task Force will be formally commissioned.
