Also known as: MAFWLR · The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform
Government ministry overseeing livestock health, water, and land management, currently coordinating Namibia's response to a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform deployed teams with sprayers to control the locust outbreak
“The ministry says teams equipped with vehicle-mounted sprayers have been deployed to control the outbreak and stop the spread into other areas.”
Locust outbreak spreads across Erongo and HardapThe Namibian
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform stated no waiver or ministerial approval issued for farm transfer to foreign national
“He said there is currently no waiver or ministerial approval issued in respect of the farm that would permit the lawful transfer of the property to a foreign national.”
Company faces charges over farm auctionThe Namibian
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform clarified its position regarding advertisement and auction of farm Neu Progress
“The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has clarified its earlier position regarding the advertisement and auction of farm Neu Progress in the Khomas region.”
Govt clarifies farm Neu Progress auction after boundary reviewThe Namibian
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform issued stern warning against non-compliance with fisheries laws
“The ministry, therefore, issues a stern warning to all participants in the fishing industry that non-compliance with fisheries laws and regulations will not be tolerated.”
Ministry issues strong warning against illegal offshore fishingWindhoek Observer
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform appointed a new Land Reform Advisory Commission
“The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has appointed a new Land Reform Advisory Commission as Namibia intensifies efforts to redistribute commercial agricultural land and address historical land inequalities.”
New land commission tasked with tackling inequalityThe Namibian
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform called on livestock farmers in the NCA to ensure their animals are in excellent condition
“The ministry has called on livestock farmers in the NCA to ensure their animals are in excellent condition so that they can fetch good prices at auctions.”
Animal auctions not popular among NCA buyersNew Era
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform signed a headquarters agreement with Global Water Partnership Organisation on 11 February 2026
“The transition follows the signing of a headquarters agreement between GWPO and the Namibian government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform on 11 February 2026 in Windhoek.”
Namibia takes global lead in water governance … Secretariat relocates from Sweden to WindhoekThe Namibian
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform released figures showing 11,397 tonnes pilchard bycatch in 2025 and 11,571 tonnes in 2024
“Figures released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform show that 11 397 tonnes of pilchard bycatch involving 16 vessels were recorded in 2025, compared to 11 571 tonnes involving 20 vessels in 2024.”
11 000 tonnes illegal pilchard bycatch recordedWindhoek Observer
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform is moving to revive the long-dormant Rundu Technology Centre
“The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform is moving to revive the long-dormant Rundu Technology Centre.”
Rundu Technology Centre to reopen in three monthsThe Namibian
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform admitted to The Namibian penalties may not be stopping repeat offenders in bycatch control
“This comes after the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform this week admitted to The Namibian that penalties currently used to control bycatch in the fishing sector may not be stopping repeat offenders.”
Govt loses N$157.5m from illegal ‘hake’ fishingThe Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform says it needs N$190.2 million to contain a Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak in the Karasburg area of //Kharas Region, including construction of a 290km disease-control fence. Since FMD was detected on 22 September, 79 samples tested positive across 11 farms.
4 October 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform says it needs N$190.2 million to contain a Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak in the Karasburg area of //Kharas Region, including construction of a 290km disease-control fence. Since FMD was detected on 22 September, 79 samples tested positive across 11 farms.
4 October 2026 · Informanté →
The FMD Support Fund has mobilised more than N$1.5 million worth of biosecurity products, surveillance kits and camping equipment to support 30 Directorate of Veterinary Services teams responding to the Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak in the //Kharas Region, with supplies provided by industry partners Agra, CYMOT, Agrimark and SWAVET.
3 October 2026 · Informanté →
The Drylands Sustainable Landscapes Impact Project has identified Omiyongo village in Omusati as the location for a farmers field school to help farmers address environmental challenges. The school will serve farmers from Outapi, Onesi and Tsandi constituencies and include rehabilitation of an earth dam for water storage.
30 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Agriculture estimates that insuring small stock in a single region could cost about N$45 million, not including cattle or crop production. The government is exploring insurance options for livestock and crop farmers but must determine affordability and scheme structure to reach farmers nationwide.
30 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's Ministry of Agriculture says families may slaughter livestock at home for weddings and events, provided the animals are already at the venue, but transportation between locations remains prohibited following the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Traditional authorities say the restrictions violate customs such as lobola, a traditional practice involving the transfer of cattle.
29 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has partially lifted restrictions on movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their products north of the veterinary cordon fence after livestock traced from an infected farm in the ||Kharas region tested negative for foot-and-mouth disease. The ministry found the outbreak remained localized and identified no transmission risk to areas north of the fence.
29 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Agriculture's Directorate of Veterinary Services reports that foot-and-mouth disease detected in the Karasburg Veterinary District is localized to ||Kharas region, with livestock moved to Otjozondjupa tested negative and no evidence of transmission risk to eight northern regions.
28 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Agriculture announced a partial lifting of Foot-and-Mouth Disease restrictions, with movement restrictions on cloven-hoofed animals and their products lifted with immediate effect for the north of the Veterinary Cordon Fence, though movement of such animals and products to the north of the fence remains restricted. The //Kharas region stays locked down, and farmers must monitor livestock for FMD symptoms while adhering to strict biosecurity and testing requirements for animal movement and slaughter.
28 September 2026 · New Era →
The Ministry of Agriculture has partially lifted Foot-and-Mouth Disease restrictions, allowing movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their products north of the Veterinary Cordon Fence. The Directorate of Veterinary Services said preliminary findings show the outbreak remains localised in //Kharas Region, and livestock traced to Otjozondjupa tested negative for FMD.
27 September 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia's agriculture ministry has partially lifted restrictions imposed after a Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak in the Karasburg Veterinary District of //Kharas. Movement restrictions on cloven-hoofed animals and their products north of the Veterinary Cordon Fence have been lifted, though restrictions remain on movement of such animals and products from north to south across the fence.
27 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Meatco's Interim CEO has urged continued discipline and reliance on verified information as surveillance continues following a Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak in the Karasburg State Veterinary District. The latest surveillance results show confirmed cases remain geographically confined to Karasburg, with the incubation period still ongoing and restrictions expected to be eased gradually pending further results.
27 September 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has handed over newly constructed sanitation facilities at four clinics and one health centre in Kavango West Region under the Namibia Water Sector Support Programme, which is supported by the African Development Bank.
26 September 2026 · Informanté →
Restrictions on cloven-hoofed animal movement imposed on 23 September will be gradually eased once the Ministry of Agriculture completes surveillance and traceability assessment following the detection of foot-and-mouth disease. Of 199 samples collected across five regions, 17 tested positive, all from Karasburg.
26 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Agriculture reports that all confirmed Foot-and-Mouth Disease cases remain confined to the Karasburg State Veterinary District, with 17 of 199 samples testing positive during surveillance between 22–25 September. Traceability investigations identified four cattle that moved from the infected farm to Otjozondjupa Region, but all samples from those cattle tested negative.
26 September 2026 · Informanté →
Seventeen of 199 animal samples collected during intensified foot-and-mouth disease surveillance tested positive, all confined to Karasburg State Veterinary District in ǁKharas Region. The Acting Agriculture Minister said traceability, clinical examinations, and further testing were underway to determine the outbreak's extent.
26 September 2026 · Namibian Sun →
The City of Windhoek has suspended the issuance of meat permits and slaughtering of cloven-hoofed animals following confirmation of a Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak in the //Kharas Region. The suspension includes restrictions on informal kapana markets and the movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their products within the city.
25 September 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia is developing a plan to divide its foot-and-mouth disease-free livestock zone into smaller zones following an FMD outbreak at a commercial farm in the ||Kharas region. Authorities are assessing costs and logistics, though some farmers worry stricter movement controls could create operational bottlenecks.
24 September 2026 · The Namibian →
National Assembly member Job Amupanda has requested urgent clarification from the Ministry of Agriculture over nationwide livestock movement restrictions imposed after Foot-and-Mouth Disease was detected at a commercial farm in Karasburg. Amupanda questions why nationwide restrictions apply to a single-farm outbreak in the FMD Free Zone, and is seeking details on the legal basis, scientific justification, economic impact, and expected duration of the measures.
24 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Stock records from Scombrus Fishing show two horse mackerel trawlers recorded 1,233,821kg of by-catch over 30 days, but the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform says it cannot authenticate the figures. The ministry is pushing for tighter controls on by-catch, the unintended catch of marine species when fishing for another target.
24 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Five health facilities in Kavango West—Kapako Clinic, Mburu-Uru Clinic, Nzinze Clinic, Sharukwe Clinic and Mupini Health Centre—have received newly constructed sanitation facilities under the N$3.3 billion Namibia Water Sector Support Programme, funded by the African Development Bank and the Namibian Government.
24 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Ministry of Agriculture says N$40 million secured to buy grain from local farmers may not be sufficient to purchase all the produce currently in storage, and the ministry is seeking additional funding to expand the procurement programme.
23 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Agriculture has extended the agricultural equipment application deadline to 16 October 2026 following public requests for more time. The government has also allocated N$40 million to increase grain purchases from farmers through the Agro-Marketing and Trade Agency, targeting subsistence, small-scale and medium-scale farmers.
22 September 2026 · Informanté →
The ministry of agriculture extended the application deadline for farmers to acquire agricultural equipment from end of September to 16 October 2026, following requests from farmers across all 14 regions who said the original timeframe was too short. The government also set aside N$40 million to address concerns over unsold grain from local producers.
21 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The government's pilchard fishing quota auction on 4 September received only two bids, with 3 500 metric tonnes allocated at a weighted average price of N$3 962.86 per MT—above the reserve price of N$2 700 per MT—leaving 1 500MT unallocated and generating N$13.87 million in total revenue.
19 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Meatco Foundation will roll out its Farmer Business School programme nationally from October 2026, with approximately 800 smallholder and subsistence farmers expected to receive practical business and farming skills to help them transition towards more commercially viable and resilient farming enterprises. The rollout follows a successful pilot programme and trainer refresher training, and is implemented in partnership with Meatco Northern Communal Areas, the Namibia National Farmers Union, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, and GIZ Farming for Resilience.
17 September 2026 · Informanté →
Two recent auctions for pilchard and freezer monk fish quotas raised N$29.13 million combined, including application fees. The pilchard auction on 4 September offered 5,000 metric tonnes but attracted only two bids for 3,500 MT, while the freezer monk fish auction on 17 July was oversubscribed with six bids for 1,000 MT on offer.
17 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform and the University of Namibia have signed an agreement to strengthen research in agriculture, food security, fisheries, water and land reform. The partnership aims to link university research with government policies and programmes, focusing on increasing agricultural production, helping farmers adapt to climate change, managing fisheries and aquatic resources, and supporting land reform.
16 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani met with the Namib Foods Group to explore public-private partnerships aimed at boosting local food production, processing, and distribution. The discussions focused on strengthening links between farmers, processors, and other agricultural players to improve food security and increase local production.
16 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The agriculture ministry has signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Namibia, challenging the institution to produce research that directly informs government policy on food security, water scarcity, climate change, fisheries and land reform, rather than remaining confined to academic publications.
16 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Regional Governor of Oshikoto Region, Sacky Kathindi, presided over the official handover of allotment letters to resettlement beneficiaries allocated farming units at Farm Tsintsabis No. 881 and Farm Urwald No. 1150 in the Guinas Constituency.
15 September 2026 · The Namibian →