Also known as: FAO · Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations · Food and Agriculture Organisation · Food and Agriculture Organization
UN agency partnering with Namibia on agricultural transformation and food security through a 2025–2029 country programme framework.
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Informanté
Food and Agriculture Organisation launched new Japan-funded project in Otjiwarongo to strengthen drought resilience
“The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform (MAFWLR), the Japanese Embassy and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on Saturday launched a new Japan-funded project in Otjiwarongo aimed at strengthening drought resilience and food security among vulnerable farming communities in the Erongo, Kunene, Omaheke, Otjozondjupa and Hardap regions.”
Japan-funded project launched to boost drought resilience among farmersThe 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 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 →
Namibia has been warned of an increasingly severe El Niño forecast for the 2026/27 rainy season, with the Namibia Meteorological Service predicting below-normal rainfall and above-average temperatures across much of the country, with some areas potentially receiving only 70% to 90% of their long-term average rainfall. The Food and Agriculture Organisation has called for early action including preparing seed, livestock feed and financing before conditions deteriorate.
20 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Windhoek Observer examines the controversy involving US Ambassador John Giordano's denial of entry to the National Fisheries Indaba in Walvis Bay, where accounts of what occurred remain contested—including claims he was not registered and later asked to leave. The editorial urges restraint on calls for his recall, arguing the incident raises separate questions about the ambassador's conduct and Namibian institutions' competence in managing diplomatic protocol.
7 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
An opinion piece argues that Namibia's fishing industry, like mining, leaves behind valuable "heaps"—unexploited wealth that could benefit Namibians more broadly. The author identifies five such opportunities while noting the industry's current N$14.3 billion annual export earnings and constitutional obligation to serve all citizens.
7 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Communities in Omusati region are improving land-use management through a UN-backed drylands sustainability project to address resource scarcity, environmental degradation, and rising agricultural demand. A meeting in Okahao brought together 27 people from three constituencies to develop local land-use plans and discuss restoring degraded land.
2 September 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 →
The government's Strategy for the Transformation of the Agri-food Sector targets 6% annual agricultural growth and aims to double agriculture's contribution to GDP by 2030, focusing on shifting farmers from subsistence to commercial agriculture, developing the Northern Communal Areas, and reducing food imports so that locally produced food meets 60% of national consumption by 2030.
28 July 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's Strategy for the Transformation of the Agri-food Sector aims to drive at least 6% annual sector growth and double agriculture's contribution to GDP by 2030 through increased productivity, value addition, private investment, and reduced food imports. The strategy prioritises commercialisation of agriculture and unlocking the economic potential of Northern Communal Areas, which hold approximately 1.6 million cattle but contribute relatively little to the national agricultural economy.
27 July 2026 · Informanté →
A community seed bank planned for Uuvudhiya constituency in Oshana will primarily benefit farmers in the Kunene-Cuvelai landscape, helping preserve indigenous seeds adapted to local conditions after environmental challenges like drought, floods, and climate change have caused their disappearance.
20 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Omusati Governor Immanuel Shikongo announced that the region has invested more than N$120 million in irrigation, livestock infrastructure, farmer support and fisheries, including the N$78 million Etunda Feedlot project (40% complete, expected commissioned by December 2026) and N$14.5 million in water infrastructure rehabilitation at Etunda Irrigation Scheme.
29 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Small Stock Revolving Scheme redistributed 253 sheep (13 rams and 240 ewes) to farmers in Hardap Region during 2025/26, with a further 168 animals planned for 2026/27. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Investment Fund initiative aims to provide vulnerable communal farmers with breeding flocks for sustainable income and food security.
13 June 2026 · Informanté →
Hardap governor Riaan McNab said the region is investing in farmer support programmes, climate resilience initiatives and tourism development to strengthen the agricultural economy and create jobs. Recent allocations include N$1.1 million for 76 horticulture farmers and N$360 000 for 49 poultry farmers, plus a Japan-funded resilience project to support 1 200 drought-affected farmers.
9 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Small-scale fishers in Namibia support more than 1,500 seasonal and full-time workers and land about 3,000 tonnes worth N$27.6 million annually, but remain overlooked in policy and lack legal recognition under the Marine Resources Act, which classifies only commercial and recreational fishers and effectively prohibits small-scale fishers from selling their catch.
4 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia produces approximately 371,800 metric tonnes of mahangu annually, meeting only 52% of national demand and requiring imports for the rest, according to the FAO Interim Representative. The country launched a project to improve mahangu productivity and value chain development.
26 May 2026 · Informanté →
Fisheries, environment and oceans ministers from Angola, Namibia and South Africa approved a five-year Strategic Action Plan for 2023–2028 to strengthen sustainable management of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem, with key commitments including regional cooperation, scientific research, data sharing and combating illegal fishing.
19 May 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia and China are reviewing progress under a joint agricultural cooperation programme at the Tsumis Arid Zone Agricultural Centre in Hardap, which has conducted five training sessions reaching 121 farmers and staff members—exceeding its initial plan of four sessions for about 80 participants. The China-FAO-Namibia South-South Cooperation Project, now in its second phase through the end of this year, covers poultry farming, seed production, plant protection, aquaculture, and soil fertility management.
18 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The Benguela Current Convention approved a new strategic action plan at its ministerial conference in Luanda, aimed at strengthening marine protection, combating illegal fishing, and promoting sustainable blue economy across Angola, Namibia and South Africa. Namibia handed the BCC chairpersonship to Angola during the meeting.
18 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Namibia has called for stronger coordination and expanded support for small businesses to help Namibia achieve its target of creating 500,000 jobs. According to the Namibia Statistics Agency, youth unemployment stood at around 44% in 2023.
9 May 2026 · Informanté →
Communities, government leaders and development partners gathered in Kavango East on 23 March to commemorate International Day of Forests, emphasizing sustainable forest management and highlighting how forest resources support livelihoods through activities like woodcraft production. The event, hosted under the Dryland Sustainable Landscapes Impact Programme, featured a tree-planting ceremony, an indigenous walk to observe tree species, and an information-sharing session on the ecological, cultural and economic importance of indigenous trees.
10 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Food and Agriculture Organisation and the Namibian government have signed a 2025–2029 country programme framework to address food insecurity affecting 57.2% of the population. The partnership, with three strategic priorities including policy strengthening, value chain development and green growth, aims to reduce dependence on food imports and improve nutrition across the country.
26 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The government warns that invasive fruit fly species, particularly the oriental fruit fly, pose a growing threat to Namibia's horticultural sector and table grape exports along the Orange River. A workshop organised by the EU-funded Stosar II programme brought together stakeholders to strengthen pest surveillance, identification and control systems to meet international phytosanitary requirements and protect market access.
18 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian livestock and veterinary representatives participated in the 2026 International Forum for Transboundary Animal Diseases and Food Safety Conference in Cape Town, where regional and international experts discussed strategies to prevent and control Foot and Mouth Disease in Southern Africa. The conference emphasised the importance of surveillance, early detection, regional coordination, and cross-border communication, with several partners expressing interest in supporting Namibia's efforts to maintain its FMD-free zone without vaccination.
9 March 2026 · Informanté →
The National Plant Protection Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization held a capacity-building workshop in Aussenkehr to train horticultural farmers, especially table grape growers, on managing the Oriental Fruit Fly, which threatens Namibia's table grape industry along the Orange River and limits access to international markets. The workshop aimed to strengthen compliance with international phytosanitary standards and enhance export competitiveness through practical training and farm profiling.
25 February 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Agriculture, Japanese Embassy, and Food and Agriculture Organisation launched a Japan-funded initiative in Otjiwarongo to support farming communities across five regions with adaptive agriculture technologies, training, and improved drought preparedness, targeting about 6,000 households and roughly 24,000 people. The programme will run until November 2027 and will provide climate-smart technologies such as solar-powered irrigation, hydroponics, and shade-net structures, with a focus on empowering women and youth.
8 February 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Agriculture has ramped up operations in Zambezi region after three separate African migratory locust outbreaks since April 2025, with current infestations concentrated in Muyako, Masokotwani and Chinchimani threatening maize and millet crops. Control teams have scouted 3,119 hectares and treated 947 hectares, but face challenges including equipment breakdowns and weather constraints; officials are engaging international partners including the FAO for drone surveillance and aerial spraying support.
27 January 2026 · New Era →