Allexer Namundjembo
Twenty-two commercial farmers received their farming units during a handover ceremony held last week in the Omaheke Region.
The event marked the 12th induction ceremony for resettled farmers under the national resettlement programme.
Minister of agriculture, fisheries, water, and land reform, Inge Zaamwani, said the farmers had undergone training before taking ownership of the units.
She explained that the 22 units were advertised during three periods: March to May 2023, July 2023, and October to December 2024.
“The ministry has planned to provide a platform for the newly resettled commercial farmers, who have been allocated land on 13 acquired, planned, and demarcated farms, which have been subdivided into 22 units,” Zaamwani said.
The units are located in the Omaheke, Erongo, and Otjozondjupa regions. Main agricultural activities on these farms include animal husbandry and small-scale crop or garden-based production, especially in areas with access to water.
Zaamwani urged the new farmers to reflect on the opportunity they have received, noting that many Namibians met the resettlement criteria but could not all be accommodated. “We want our newly resettled commercial farmers to engage in self-reflection and understand that thousands of Namibians applied and met the criteria for resettlement, yet could not all be accommodated at once,” she said.
She said the long-term goal is for the farmers to become self-sufficient and contribute to national food security and economic growth.
Since 1990, the ministry has acquired 590 farms covering about 3.5 million hectares to resettle previously disadvantaged Namibians.
A report by the Namibian Sun indicates that 5 490 individuals have been resettled through this programme.
The government has invested around N$2.5 billion in acquiring land. It also supports infrastructure development on resettlement farms, including fencing and water systems.
Resettled farmers may also apply for a N$200 000 grant from Agribank to help establish their farming operations.
