Justicia Shipena
Japan has committed N$48 million to a new agriculture project aimed at helping drought-affected farming communities build resilience through adaptive, climate-smart practices.
The funding was announced on Tuesday in Windhoek during an exchange-of-notes and signing ceremony. The event was attended by Japan’s ambassador to Namibia, Shinichi Asazuma, and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the National Planning Commission (NPC).
The project, titled Enhancing Resilience in Farming Communities Affected by Drought Through the Promotion of Adaptive Agriculture, will run for two years until November 2027.
It is funded through Japan’s Grant Assistance programme and is the largest agriculture-support grant Japan has issued to Namibia.
Asazuma said Japan wants to help increase productivity in rural areas through climate-smart technologies promoted by the FAO. He said the support aims to strengthen food security and improve the resilience of farmers facing climate shocks.
Japan has funded three FAO-implemented agriculture projects in Namibia since 2022 with a combined value of N$40.7 million, focusing on emergency responses and resilience building for households affected by drought and locust outbreaks.
Asazuma said the new N$48 million project shows Japan’s understanding of Namibia’s urgent climate challenges.
The project will support farmers in Erongo, Kunene, Omaheke, Otjozondjupa and Hardap, regions receiving this type of assistance for the first time.
It will provide agricultural input, climate-smart training and capacity building for extension officers from all 14 regions.
Asazuma said the main barrier to expanding proven agricultural technologies is funding, not capacity, and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to helping Namibia scale up support for vulnerable households and young farmers.
He said the project aims to improve food production at the local level, diversify rural livelihoods and create more opportunities for agribusiness.
The executive director of the ministry, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, said the ministry values its partnership with Japan and the FAO, which has delivered important projects and key programmes.
She said the N$48 million grant, equal to USD 2.98 million, comes at a critical time as Namibia continues to face climate variability and drought conditions that left 1.4 million people food insecure in 2023/24.
The project will benefit 6 000 women and youth-led households, representing 24 000 people.
Support will include agro-inputs, small livestock and technologies such as solar-powered irrigation, hydroponics and shade-net structures.
Training will be provided to 6 000 farmers and 60 extension officers in climate-smart agriculture.
The initiative will also strengthen food security information systems and develop drought action plans for the five regions to improve early response and risk management.
Nghituwamata said the project shows the value of coordinated efforts among governments, partners and communities.
Caption
Japan and Namibia formalise a N$48 million climate-smart agriculture project expected to benefit 24,000 people in five drought-affected regions.
- Photo: MAFWLR
