Farming cannot thrive in isolation

Namibian farmers need to move away from working in isolation and embrace greater collaboration, knowledge-sharing and commercially sustainable farming if the country’s agricultural sector is to thrive.

This is the view of Aminuis farmer, mentor and agricultural student Metarere Ngeenguno, who believes the future of agriculture will increasingly depend on farmers recognising that the challenges facing individual producers are often shared across the sector.

“Agriculture may happen on individual farms, but the challenges and opportunities we face are shared. No farmer has all the answers, and that is why I believe we become stronger when we work together,” Ngeenguno said.

He said collaboration allows farmers to exchange practical knowledge and learn from one another’s successes and failures, while opening doors to markets, technology, services and information.

“For me, bringing farmers together is about building a culture where we understand that another farmer’s success does not take away from our own. In fact, a stronger farming community creates a stronger agricultural industry for everyone,” he said.

Ngeenguno has put that philosophy into practice through initiatives such as the Aminuis Agricultural and Business Expo, which brings together farmers, businesses and other players in the agricultural sector.

“An agricultural expo should be much more than a place where people display their animals or products. It should be a meeting point for the agricultural community,” he said. “One secret about shows is that you are not going there only to make money today. You are going there to make your name and build relationships that can create opportunities and money tomorrow.”

Production alone not enough

For Ngeenguno, collaboration must be accompanied by a shift in how farmers measure success. He argues that agricultural discussions often focus on production without giving enough attention to profitability and long-term sustainability.

“We need to talk more openly about profitability and sustainability, not only production,” he said.

Farmers, he said, should increasingly scrutinise production costs, genetics, natural-resource management, value addition, market access and the use of technology and data. “Ultimately, productivity is important, but productivity must translate into profitability. A farmer can produce more animals and still not make more money if costs are not properly managed,” he said.

“This is one of my biggest concerns in my constituency. We need to transform towards sustainable and profitable agriculture. Agriculture must not only produce; it must also be profitable and sustainable in the long term,” Ngeenguno said.

As an agricultural student at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Ngeenguno said his studies have reinforced the importance of record-keeping and using information to inform farming decisions. “Good records allow a farmer to know what is actually happening in the herd. We can track breeding performance, growth, health, treatments, mortality and other important information. That makes decision-making much more objective,” he said.

His philosophy is simple: “You cannot improve what you are not measuring.”

Learning from others

Ngeenguno said much of his own development has come from interacting with other producers. He identified Canu Korupanda, Mbamana Katuuo and Botswana farmer Toy Katjiova among those with whom he has exchanged ideas.

“Sometimes those conversations seemed small at the time, but they changed the way I looked at my own operation,” he said.

Three years ago, Ngeenguno and several friends he plays rugby with established Assist In Farming, through which members share farming knowledge, pool money each month and collectively purchase animal feed. “By the end of the year, that group had become friends. A few of them started buying more livestock than they used to,” he said.

He believes similar initiatives could help connect established farmers with younger producers entering the industry.

“We have experienced farmers with decades of practical knowledge, and we have young and emerging farmers who are eager to learn. We need to create more structured opportunities for those two groups to connect.”

Government lagging

Ngeenguno also called for greater cooperation between farmers, businesses, extension officers and government, particularly in value addition and market development.

“Agriculture is an ecosystem. If one part is weak, it affects everyone else,” he said.

He identified opportunities in meat processing, animal products, feed production, genetics, agricultural services and logistics, arguing that Namibia should retain more economic value locally.

“To be honest, I believe our government is still behind when it comes to working closely enough with farmers on various issues. We need stronger cooperation and communication if we want to move the agricultural sector forward,” Ngeenguno said.

Looking towards the next decade, he wants young Namibians to view agriculture as a modern profession and commercially viable business. “I would like to see young people becoming more involved in agriculture and viewing it not simply as a traditional way of life, but as a modern business and profession with opportunities in technology, livestock, research, finance, marketing and value addition,” he said.

His message to emerging farmers is equally clear. “We must treat agriculture seriously as a viable, professional career rather than a fallback option,” Ngeenguno said. “Agriculture is more than farming. It is community. It is knowledge. It is opportunity. It is our future,” he said.