NAB pushes for digital infrastructure to transform agriculture

Namibia’s agronomic sector is undergoing a digital shift that could redefine how farmers access markets, financing, and climate information. At the heart of this transformation is the Namibian Agronomic Board’s (NAB) push for a national digital public infrastructure system, framed not as a technical upgrade, but as a strategic foundation for agricultural growth.Speaking at the 2025 Commonwealth Business Summit, NAB chief executive Dr Fidelis Mwazi said: “We see digital public infrastructure not just as a tool, but as a foundation. A foundation for production, trade, investment, and resilience in the face of climate change.”Mwazi highlighted the shift in how infrastructure is now defined. While physical infrastructure like silos, roads, and irrigation systems remains essential, modern agricultural development also requires “soft” infrastructure: databases, digital ID systems, and market platforms. These systems, he said, will be central to unlocking Namibia’s full agronomic potential.A key example is NAB’s E-Crop system, which registers and monitors farmers and their production activities. It enables compliance with national trade rules, supports policy decisions, and contributes to national food security through structured data collection.Mwazi described E-Crop not merely as a database, but as a national asset: “It facilitates informed policymaking, strengthens service delivery, and enables inclusive participation in the economy.”IntegrationAnother tool is the National Single Window system, which NAB is working to integrate with its own certification and import-export procedures. The platform allows for the digital processing of trade documents and is expected to cut red tape, reduce delays, and improve Namibia’s competitiveness in regional and international markets.Digital public infrastructure also opens new channels for market access and service delivery. Farmers can be linked directly to buyers via digital marketplaces. Financial institutions can utilise farm-level data to assess creditworthiness and provide tailored lending solutions. In addition, mobile-based advisory services can deliver weather alerts and climate-smart information directly to producers.“These are achievable realities if we coordinate our systems and align our efforts,” Mwazi said. NAB is currently working with agencies such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Namibia Revenue Agency, and Namibia Standards Institution to build an integrated, digital ecosystem for agriculture.Crop forecasting is another area where digital systems play a growing role. NAB is using digital tools to align production data with climate variability and trade needs. But beyond data collection, Mwazi emphasised the importance of ensuring farmers have ownership of their information.“Data must serve both the state and the farmer,” he said. “That is what we intend to drive through the NAB E-Crop system.”Why data coordination mattersResponding to questions during the summit, Mwazi addressed the central role of data coordination across NAB’s systems. “Digitisation alone is not enough,” he said. “Data coordination is the true enabler. It ensures systems don’t operate in silos, but instead work seamlessly and strategically together.”He listed several areas where coordination is critical – from linking e-Crop records to inspection systems to aligning data across border and certification authorities. This approach supports real-time decision-making, accurate policy formulation, and targeted service delivery to farmers.Mwazi outlined several next steps in NAB’s digitisation strategy. These include expanding the E-Crop system to cover all major crop value chains, integrating NAB certification services with the National Single Window, and extending digital infrastructure to rural farming areas.Partnerships with the private sector and support for youth-led innovation are also seen as critical to the long-term success of this digital transformation.“Digital public infrastructure must be more than a buzzword. It must be a bridge to prosperity for every farmer, every trader, and every consumer,” Mwazi concluded.

NAB pushes for digital infrastructure to transform agriculture

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Republikein 2025-07-04

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NAB pushes for digital infrastructure to transform agriculture

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