By: Fransina Nghidengwa

Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Minister Calle Schlettwein is of the view that transport is a missing link in the agricultural value chain of Namibia, and the donation of the new vehicles by the European Union (EU) will enable the Ministry to have a visible presence in rural areas.

Schlettwein said this when handing over 10 vehicles to the government-run Programme for Communal Land Development (PCLD), supported jointly by KfW, the European Union and the Government of Namibia.

The overall PCLD objective is to improve livelihoods of communal farmers through enhanced sustainable land management practices, improved productivity and market-orientation through securing land rights, infrastructure investments, access to advisory services and their better integration into the mainstream economy.

The vehicles, worth about N$6.5 million, were donated by the the EU to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform.

“Agriculture is the mainstay of the real economy if Namibia wants to make an impact quickly in [slashing] unemployment and poverty reduction,” Schlettwein said.

He stated that the PCLD programmes will be roll-out to regions such as Ohangwena, Omusati and parts of Northern Kunene region as well as in the two Kavango East and West regions including surrounding areas.

He added that the Ministry wants to increase productive capacity of communal farmers in order to improve production and leverage better existing facilities such as financial facilities, training and mentorship in the production, management and marketing of the commodities..

Schlettwein said the donation of the new vehicles will enable the Ministry to have a visible presence in these areas to address the needs which may arise in these areas. Given the fact that activities in agriculture are time-bounding, transportation will play an essential role in ensuring farmers access market value to deliver their products promptly, he added.

The EU Ambassador to Namibia, Sinikka Antila, said the vehicles will be used to further support the mapping and verification of communal land rights in the different regions of Namibia, to fast-track security of tenure for more than 70% of subsistence farmers living on communal land to obtain their rights to land.

“We are currently at 148,190 of communal land registration of the final target of 245,000 that we have set to achieve,” she said, adding that it presents a backlog of 96,810 communal land parcels that they still need to register.

Antil noted that she is impressed by the amount of land rights registered, but said progress has been very slow in recent years.

“I assume that this is mostly due to the unavailability of vehicles and hence acquiring these ten vehicles is very crucial for this exercise,” she said.

The EU became part of the collaboration agreement in 2013, to which they contributed a total amount of EUR 17.2 million, including the delegation agreement with GIZ which lapsed in September 2021.

The EU’s support towards the PCLD terminated on 31 March 2023.

The EU had committed a budget of EUR 13.5 million towards the implementation agreement with kfW and Namibia.

While financing towards PCLD has stopped, the EU remains interested in the progress of the PCLD until the end. Without creating a burden for the Ministry and KfW, Antil they would like to continue to be informed of what is happening with the PCLD to still be part of the PSC as non-voting members and to receive the final implementation report.