Allexer Namundjebo
International relations and trade minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi has called on international investors to explore and invest in Namibia’s agricultural sector.
Ashipala-Musavyi made the call at the Investing in Africa and China Agriculture Production and Trade Cooperation Conference in Changsha, China. She described agriculture as central to the country’s development strategy.
“Agriculture holds immense potential to deliver food security, generate sustainable employment, especially for our youth, and drive economic diversification and rural transformation,” Ashipala-Musavyi said.
The conference, under the theme “Investment Environments and Cooperation in Agriculture,” brought together investors, policymakers, and development partners to explore opportunities in agriculture, particularly between African nations and China.
Ashipala-Musavyi highlighted investment potential in input production, irrigation systems, agri-technology, aquaculture, and renewable energy for agro-processing.
“We may be a country with just over three million people, but our strategic location and access to regional and continental markets such as SACU, SADC, and AfCFTA present lucrative opportunities for investors,” she said.
She also noted the growing demand for agricultural inputs and services across the continent, making the sector ripe for innovation and investment.
Agriculture is the backbone of Namibia’s economy, with about 70% of the population depending on it, directly or indirectly.
While its contribution to GDP is around 5%, its social and developmental role is more significant, especially in terms of employment and food systems.
The national census by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) shows that many people live in rural areas where subsistence farming and livestock rearing dominate.
However, there is a growing trend towards commercial-scale production and value-added processing.
Government support for the sector is evident in the budget allocation for the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform.
In the 2024/25 financial year, the ministry was allocated N$1.937 billion, including N$1.387 billion for operational needs and N$550 million for development programmes.
The allocation will rise to N$2.569 billion in the 2025/26 fiscal year. Despite the increased support, some policymakers maintain that more is necessary to fully realise the sector’s potential.
Former agriculture minister Mac-Albert Hengari, who presented the budget in Parliament, said, “This allocation is appreciated, but it remains low at just 2.3% of total non-interest expenditure.”
He had also called for more fiscal support to match the country’s vision.
Ashipala-Musavya assured investors that the country’s policy environment is favourable.
“We are committed to transparent governance, investor protection, and long-term collaboration,” she said.
She added that public-private partnership frameworks, legal stability, and tax incentives are in place to support incoming investors.
“We are open for investment and ready for meaningful partnerships focused on value creation, skills transfer, and sustainable development,” the minister concluded. In the spirit of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, let us build strong agricultural systems together, systems that nourish our people and strengthen South-South collaboration.”
