AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is a vital sector and key contributor to the Namibian economy, particularly in terms of contribution to employment, food and income. By 2018, it was the largest employer and had the highest concentration of self-employed persons (23%), mostly in the subsistence-sub sector. During the past five years, 2019 - 2023, the agricultural sector’s contribution to GDP averaged at 8.5% with production - predominated by livestock production, mainly cattle, sheep and goats.

 

Due to the dry climatic conditions in Namibia, farmers are predominantly engaged in livestock farming, with small stock dominating the activities in the south, while the central and northern parts of the country produce both large and small stock.

 

Namibia is a net exporter of prime, free-range, grass-fed beef and is the only African country certified to export quality beef to three global markets, namely China, the European Union and the United States. However, international trade regulations restrict the movement of livestock products from the Northern Communal Areas which lie north of the Veterinary Cordon Fence (VCF). The VCF is a disease control mechanism that was introduced in 1897, effectively resulting in Namibia being divided into a northern and southern part of the VCF, stretching from the Atlantic coast to the borders with Botswana. The Government of Namibia is currently working with its continental and international partners to also open export markets for producers farming north of the VCF with the view to add similar value to its counterparts to the south of the VCF.

 

There are also other emerging sectors, in particular poultry production which is likely to increase in scale over the next decade as new start-ups enter the market. Namibia has a well-established dairy industry. Although there are a small number of large players dominating the sector, a rise in export of long-life dairy to northern neighbours has seen an increase in production in recent years.

 

Crop production, on the other hand, includes maize and millet as staple crops, whereas horticultural production entails grapes, dates, blueberries, tomatoes, onions, carrots, cabbages and pumpkin, amongst others. In order to promote local production of fruit and vegetables and to reduce the country’s dependence on imported horticulture fresh produce, a Horticulture Market Promotion Scheme is in place. The scheme requires importers of fresh fruit and vegetables to procure Namibian horticultural products as a prerequisite for obtaining an import permit.