Namibia Trains 121 Farmers with Chinese Support

Namibia’s agriculture ministry and the Chinese ambassador recently assessed a joint agricultural program at the Tsumis Arid Zone Agricultural Centre in the Hardap region. The project, a collaboration between China and the Food and Agriculture Organization, has already held five technical training sessions. These sessions reached 121 farmers and staff, exceeding the initial goal of training roughly 80 people.

The training focused on practical skills like poultry biosecurity and egg incubation. Chinese agricultural experts and technicians are providing support in areas including poultry farming and soil fertility. The program began a second phase in September 2024 and is scheduled to conclude later this year.

The agriculture ministry plans to convert centers like Tsumis into full training facilities by 2027. They are currently recruiting staff, developing training materials, and planning to utilize over 13,000 hectares of land. The project team includes five long-term experts, six short-term experts, and three technicians, though future funding and sustained expertise remain to be secured.