Namibia’s former finance minister, Calle Schlettwein, has called for a significant investment in the country’s agricultural sector to drive economic growth, reduce poverty, and ensure food security.
Speaking at the recent Keetmanshoop Agricultural, Industrial and Tourism Expo, Schlettwein highlighted the sector’s potential to create jobs, reduce income inequality, and bolster the nation’s economy.
“The agriculture sector has the ability to induce inclusion and social progression through boosting national food security and food self-sufficiency by utilising increased agricultural modernisation, productivity and production,” he said.
However, Schlettwein emphasized the need for increased government investment in the sector. “At 2.3% of total non-interest expenditure, and about 0.7% of GDP in 2024/25, budgetary allocation to agriculture falls short of recognising it as a high national priority, a matter which must urgently be aligned,” he stated.
To address the challenges posed by climate change and global economic volatility, Schlettwein advocated for a shift from rain-fed agriculture to intensive agriculture. This transition would require substantial investment in water resource development, irrigation infrastructure, and sanitation.
“Primary policymakers are therefore required to successfully utilise the sector with investment in water resource development, distribution infrastructure and sanitation in order to enable the transition from rainfed agriculture to intensive and climate-smart agriculture,” he said.
Additionally, investments in primary, logistical, and supportive infrastructure, such as abattoirs, processing plants, feedlots, grain and cold storage facilities, marketing hubs, and IT infrastructure, are crucial to address supply-side challenges and improve product quality.
“We need secure, affordable, and reliable power provision. Power and water availability and affordability are key input factors for the sector’s future,” Schlettwein concluded.
