Staff WriterÂ
Local farmers recently participated in a workshop focused on Agri-PV technology, a project supported by the GIZ INSPIRED Agri-PV initiative at the University of Namibia’s Ogongo Campus.
The goal was to explore how Agri-PV systems can help achieve sustainable vegetable and fruit production while also providing climate-adapted energy solutions in Namibia.
The workshop attracted 95 participants, including representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform (MAFWLR), UNAM, regional councils, and local farmers.
It aimed to show how farmers can use their land for both crop production and solar energy generation.
Agri-PV systems provide multiple benefits, including shade for crops, reduced heat stress, water conservation, and increased productivity.
These systems are particularly relevant in northern central Namibia, where water is limited and energy costs are high.
Farmers witnessed the cultivation of tomatoes under various Agri-PV systems for the first time.
The workshop gave them the chance to speak directly with researchers about how these systems could affect vegetable production and the factors involved in adapting to this new technology.
Many farmers arrived at the workshop unsure about the benefits of Agri-PV.
However, as the event progressed and they saw real-life examples, their interest grew.
They enquired, shared their personal experiences, and started to envision the application of Agri-PV on their own farms.
Dr Petja Dobreva, the project lead and a senior lecturer at UNAM’s Physics Section, explained that the Agri-PV initiative helps farmers develop new skills to combine agriculture with electricity production.
This dual approach can provide stable incomes from both crops and energy sales while boosting food and energy security and improving community livelihoods.
The workshop also covered key farming practices, like drip irrigation, pest control, fertiliser management, and the availability of affordable materials.
Farmers were left with both practical tools and new knowledge to improve their farming methods.
Professor Simon Awala, head of the Department of Crop Production and Agricultural Technologies at UNAM, stressed that farmers need specific training in areas such as building Agri-PV systems, ploughing under solar panels, setting up irrigation, and maintaining the technology.
Farmers offered useful feedback, suggesting that training sessions be held during the dry season when there is no rain, that translation services be provided, and that more crops be grown under Agri-PV systems.
These recommendations will help improve future training and the successful adoption of Agri-PV technology in Namibia.
