WINDHOEK, 28 MAR – There is a need to establish financial lending schemes for small-scale agricultural activities in Namibia, Minister of Urban and Rural Development Peya Mushelenga has said.
This would in turn help to develop agronomic industries on a large scale, Mushelenga said while making his contribution on the 2018/19 National Budget in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
He said investment in agriculture is important to help alleviate the plight of rural farmers.
“Local agricultural production promotes domestic food supply, increases employment and addresses the rate of rural-urban migration,” Mushelenga said.
He thus supported the allocation of over N.dollars 233 million in the 2018/19 financial year (FY) for the acquisition of capital assets for agriculture and N.dollars 328 million for 40 research projects on water and the construction of 13 earth dams in northern Namibia.
Mushelenga further expressed support for the allocation of N.dollars 136.8 million for vocational training, saying rural development is needed among the youth to help alleviate unemployment.
NAMPA
