Namibia project trains farmers to turn livestock farming into a business

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Namibian Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform are implementing the Northern Namibia Small-Scale Farmers’ Livelihood Enhancement Project (N-SHEP) to improve rural livelihoods.

The project uses the Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) approach to help small-scale farmers move from subsistence farming to market-oriented business models. The program trains farmers to identify market opportunities, plan production, and sell livestock based on demand rather than just for cultural status.

Because many communal farmers in northern Namibia traditionally keep animals for status, they often suffer losses during droughts by refusing to sell. N-SHEP encourages these farmers to assess production costs and identify potential buyers before making production decisions. The project has already trained approximately 500 farmers and 41 agricultural extension staff across four regions. Participants like Eufemia Hashondishi and Joseph Mbwiti Haufiku reported that the training provided practical skills in feeding, vaccination, dehorning, and branding.

The ministry says beneficiaries are increasingly adopting better animal husbandry practices and investing in quality breeding stock and supplementary feed. The project also hosted a study visit in October for officials from Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa to share best practices. The program intends to expand its reach by integrating the SHEP approach into the ministry's national agricultural extension strategy. A workshop planned for February 2027 aims to support the expansion of the approach to all 14 regions of Namibia.