Hertta-Maria Amutenja
In an appeal to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR), the Popular Democratic Movement leader, McHenry Venaani has stressed the need for Namibia to modernize its maize production to enhance food security in the country.
The call comes in the wake of disconcerting statistics revealing the import of approximately 82,000 tonnes of maize in 2023, despite the country’s abundant agricultural potential.
Venaani said Namibia, stands at the threshold of an agricultural revolution that could transform its prairies into fields of abundance.
However, reports projecting a mere 42 percent coverage of Namibia’s white maize grain demand for the 2023/24 season underscore the urgency of adopting modern technologies.
Venaani emphasised the need for the agriculture ministry to deploy modernising maize technologies, including drought-tolerant maize varieties, which mitigate adverse climate conditions and reduce the risk of crop failure.
In addition, the PDM urged the ministry to streamline licensing mechanisms for the commercial multiplication of hybrid maize varieties.
The vision extends to the widespread application of blended fertilizers, aiming to significantly increase Biological Nitrogen Fixation to combat soil deficiencies and optimize grain yields.
“Ensuring food security is one of the greatest challenges facing the world community,” stated Venaani.
Moreover, Venaani stressed that the issue forms the pulse of PDM’s priorities, and if entrusted with leadership, modernising maize technologies will be at the core of a PDM-led government.
“We ardently believe that implementing modernising maize technologies would tremendously boost maize yields and outputs and permeate through the creation of robust value chains to absorb jobs. It is through these deep-rooted convictions, that the PDM would seek to alleviate food scarcity and champion robust agricultural change. We urge the government to heed this transformative call,” he said.
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