Agribank — agricultural lender providing financing to farmers and agricultural businesses; facing annual funding shortfall despite strong governance ranking.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Agribank
Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
New Era
Agribank assessed 5,070 agricultural proposals during pilot phase
“Of these, 6 111 projects were assessed by the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN), 5 070 agricultural proposals by Agribank and 294 eco-friendly projects by the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF).”
Youth fund has no closing date – Ministry … apply any timeThe Namibian
Agribank is providing assistance and support to Kamanya's hydroponics unit installation
“We are now installing a hydroponics unit, with the assistance and support of Agribank, with the goal to establish a 'smart ' agricultural system geared towards assisting the different community centres to save water as well as mitigate the impact of ever-changing weather conditions on agricultural production.”
Kamanya's Phoenix YearThe National Youth Development Fund has disbursed approximately N$90.8 million to beneficiaries supporting youth entrepreneurship, with approved projects expected to create about 2,500 employment opportunities. The fund received approximately 13,809 applications by August, with N$135 million in financing approved across participating development finance institutions.
21 October 2026 · New Era →
The National Youth Development Fund has disbursed approximately N$90.8 million to beneficiaries supporting youth entrepreneurship, with approved projects expected to create about 2,500 employment opportunities. The fund received approximately 13,809 applications by August, with N$135 million in financing approved across participating development finance institutions.
21 October 2026 · New Era →
Lawmakers questioned how the National Youth Development Fund monitors funded projects after a parliamentary committee struggled to trace some beneficiaries, amid concerns over loan repayments, monitoring and use of public money. The Finance Minister acknowledged the government had suffered losses under the programme, which approved over 300 youth projects last year.
18 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The government has rejected privatisation of communal land, saying it could lead to land concentration among wealthy individuals and increase poverty in rural communities. The agriculture minister said communal land is a state resource held for the benefit of traditional communities and supports procedural land allocation under the Communal Land Reform Act instead.
7 October 2026 · New Era →
Agribank has urged customers affected by the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak to engage the bank, stating that affected clients will be assessed individually with support for repayment arrangements and other options.
5 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Agribank will consider alternative repayment arrangements for farmers and agricultural businesses affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, assessing each case individually based on circumstances rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
5 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Agribank advances over N$250 million in new loans annually but receives an average of only N$99 million from the national treasury, creating a funding gap of approximately N$151 million that forces the agricultural lender to rely on other financing channels including domestic capital market borrowing.
2 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
An editorial argues that Namibia's land reform should be measured by whether beneficiaries can make a living from the land, not by hectares redistributed or farms purchased. The piece raises concerns about Agribank's sustainability, noting it lends over N$250 million annually while receiving about N$99 million in Treasury support, forcing dependence on capital markets to sustain its lending programme.
2 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
A Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak confirmed in the //Kharas Region on 23 September is expected to cost the economy about N$1.8 billion over 2026 and 2027 and reduce 2026 economic growth by 0.45 percentage points, with nationwide livestock movement restrictions disrupting farming, meat processing, and exports valued at approximately N$5.5 billion annually.
24 September 2026 · Informanté →
The National Youth Development Fund has received about 13,809 applications since establishment, with N$135 million approved and N$90.8 million disbursed as of end-August. The government allocated N$258 million to the NYDF for the 2025/26 financial year.
16 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Robert Eiman took the role of Agribank CEO on 1 July, bringing financing experience to Namibia's agricultural lender.
11 September 2026 · Namibian Sun →
A commentary argues that Namibia's "rich country, poor people" paradox—where extractive industries contribute 13.6 per cent of GDP and employ only 1.4 per cent of the workforce—must be understood as a continuation of colonial extraction rather than national failure, and that economic freedom requires confronting this structural contradiction.
27 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Oshana Regional Council reported economic progress in 2025/2026, including job creation, infrastructure development and education gains, but cited persistent unemployment and limited resources as key obstacles. The region created 120 permanent and 1,681 temporary jobs and invested about N$357.3 million in infrastructure projects.
20 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The National Youth Development Fund has received over 13,400 applications since launch but approved only 353 (2.6%) for funding. The Ministry of Finance is overhauling the application process after the low approval rate exposed quality issues in submissions, with approximately 13,120 applications still under assessment.
11 August 2026 · New Era →
The Witvlei Meat abattoir, which employed over 200 people, shut its doors in 2016, forcing former workers to turn to informal trade like selling kapana to survive. Former employees describe the loss of steady wages, benefits including social security and funeral cover, and the abattoir's role as the village's largest employer and taxpayer.
10 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ruthy Masake has called on young people in Ohangwena to embrace climate-smart farming, agribusiness and innovation, urging them to become active producers and leaders rather than programme beneficiaries. She stressed the integration of climate action, water security and sustainable agriculture to strengthen food security and rural development in response to climate impacts including changing rainfall patterns and prolonged dry spells.
10 August 2026 · Informanté →
Agriculture Minister Inge Zaamwani has urged farmers in Aminuis and the Omaheke Region to move beyond primary livestock production and embrace value addition, stating that Namibia's agricultural growth depends on producers capturing more economic benefits along the livestock value chain and creating jobs and businesses in rural communities.
7 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Prime Minister Dr Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare commended AgriBank for allocating N$20 million to youth in agriculture, saying the initiative aligns with the Sixth National Development Plan's pillars of food security and youth empowerment. AgriBank has disbursed N$23 million under its Youth Development Fund, with most beneficiaries engaged in poultry farming.
2 August 2026 · Informanté →
MTC recorded profits of N$1.45 billion in the 2025 financial year, reinforcing its status as Namibia's most profitable public enterprise in the 2026 IJG Public Enterprise Governance Ranking. Other state-owned enterprises including NamPort, NamPower, and NamibRe showed mixed financial performance, with NamPort emerging as a strong turnaround performer with profits rising to N$864.5 million.
14 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) scored 20 out of 20 in IJG Securities' 2026 Public Enterprise Governance Ranking, which assessed public enterprises over five years on annual report publication, profitability, fiscal transfer reliance, and CEO stability. NamPort, Agribank, and NamibRe placed second with 19 points each, while NamPower and NamWater tied for fifth with 18 points.
14 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Robert Eiman officially assumed duty as Agribank's Chief Executive Officer on 1 July 2026 for a five-year term, as the institution pursues organisational transformation to strengthen agricultural finance delivery in Namibia. A new Board of Directors, chaired by Silvia Makgone, will provide strategic oversight during the bank's efforts to enhance sustainability and deliver more innovative financing solutions to the agriculture sector.
6 July 2026 · Informanté →
Government has launched a revised National Resettlement Policy (2023–2033) that strengthens land tenure security and expands support systems for beneficiaries. The policy allows resettlement beneficiaries to move from leasehold to freehold ownership once they meet specified conditions, improving tenure security and enabling land rights to be used as collateral for credit.
1 July 2026 · New Era →
An N$18 million grant fund from the Pro-SME Project, a joint Namibian-German initiative, is available to young entrepreneurs and small businesses to help them formalise, expand and create jobs, with the first application round closing on 24 July.
1 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani says resettlement farms should go to people who will actively work the land rather than use it as a lifestyle asset, signalling a possible review of the current scoring system that gives higher marks to applicants with master's degrees or PhDs. The government is considering overhauling beneficiary selection criteria under the revised 2023 National Resettlement Policy.
29 June 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Small-scale farmers face challenges accessing formal markets for horticultural produce, which limits expansion and sustainability. The article outlines key strategies for farmers to secure formal market off-take agreements, including measuring production area, registering with the Namibian Agronomic Board, and understanding yield potential.
23 June 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's newly appointed economic adviser Shali Shindume reportedly owes Agribank over N$15 million from a loan obtained while he was the bank's credit manager. Agribank sought High Court action in 2021 over breach of contract, with a settlement agreement requiring Shindume to subdivide his mortgaged farm property and make specified monthly payments.
11 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Agribank has invested nearly N$50,000 in irrigation equipment and farming materials for two horticulture projects to boost rural food production and community agriculture.
21 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →
A Namibian delegation of farmers and agricultural leaders visited Kenya to observe mixed farming and cooperative practices, including a zero-grazing dairy system, as a potential model to address rural poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity in Namibia.
20 May 2026 · New Era →
A technical advisor from Agribank warns that while rainfall is essential, wet conditions during the rainy season increase livestock disease risks including footrot, sweating sickness, gall sickness, and lumpy skin disease, and recommends farmers implement preventive measures such as vaccination and proper herd management.
14 April 2026 · New Era →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah answered questions from opposition MPs on the Welwitschia Sovereign Wealth Fund, land delivery, Germany's genocide reparations deal, the veterinary cordon fence, and various economic and governance matters during parliament on Wednesday.
12 April 2026 · The Namibian →
According to Agribank's technical advisor, a well-designed organisational structure in agribusiness improves decision-making, efficiency, job clarity, and financial management while supporting succession planning and sustainable growth. The article outlines how clear roles, reporting lines, and span of control help agribusinesses reduce bottlenecks, align operations with strategic goals, and strengthen their ability to secure funding.
7 April 2026 · New Era →