By Bisola Adeyemo
Namibia youths and young adults have been encouraged to embrace farming and agricultural activities to keep themselves engaged as well a boost the nation’s economy.
The president of the Namibia National Farmers Union, Jason Emvula, made this call during a two-day stakeholders’ engagement meeting organized and hosted by the Kavango East Regional Farmers Union (Kerfu).
Emvula said farming is like any other business involving taking risks to succeed and farmers should change the face of agriculture by adding values to attract young people.
“There is nothing wrong for the youth to come on board, and I hope it would also assist them to succeed in those things that are dragging them down, like alcohol.
“If you’re idling, things will come to you, but if you are busy, there is no time to get involved in the wrong things,” Emvula said.
“We are aware that we are living in a century full of challenges, but we do believe that as partners in the agricultural sector, we can turn these challenges into opportunities,” Emvula said.
At the national level, he said the union is trying to provide an enabling environment for the agricultural sector, especially the communal sub-sector, which is marginalized and complex.
In addition to policy lobbying and advocacy, the union acknowledges the importance of capacity building in regional farmers’ unions because without capacity they are unable to work effectively.
Augustinus Poroto Jr, a young farmer, said: “This type of stakeholder engagements are of the utmost importance if we are to involve the youth in agriculture and enable them to be vocal and contribute to the strategic planning of the future of the region.”
Poroto said the major issues hindering young people remain access to finance, land, capacity building in production, business management skills, and access to markets.