Contemporary Challenges Facing the Small Farmers in the Green Scheme Projects in Namibia

Abstract

The paper uses a combination of theory and both quantitative and qualitative evidence to demonstrate the significance and challenges of agricultural development in Namibian green scheme projects. For quantitative, a structured questionnaire to produce descriptive statistics was administered to 135 small farmers while eight (8) project manager who were interviewed at the studied schemes as key informant served as source of qualitative information that pin pointed out challenges and opportunities, faced by the small farmers in these schemes. The evidence points to the fact that although there are myriad of challenges, such as challenges related to production, access to efficient and effective market and access to credit faced by farmers, production and access to efficient and effect market challenges emerged as the most stumbling blocks to the optimal production and sales of small farmers' produce. Usually access to agricultural credit is seen as one of the major challenges of smallholder farmers in Africa. In this study access to agricultural credit was less seen as a major stumbling block to the smallholder farmers' productivity. This is attributed to the current farmers' agricultural credit support scheme in place between Agricultural Bank of Namibia (Agribank) and the government of Namibia.

Factors affecting farmers’ entrepreneurial action at Etunda Green scheme project, Namibia

“…On the other hand, livestock farming includes cattle, goats, sheep and pig production. According to Shapi (2017), the agricultural sector remains one of the key sectors in the Namibian economy as it has been the major provider of food, employment, income, and foreign exchange in the economy. The agricultural sector also supports other sectors such as transport and manufacturing among others, in providing the inputs for further processing of other products, thus, making it crucial to other sectors of the Namibian economy (Mubita, 2019).…”

“…In 1995, the Namibian government formulated the National Agriculture Policy (NAP) to guide agricultural development in the agricultural sector (Shapi, 2017). The policy aimed at increasing agricultural production, agro-processing, and marketing.…”

“…The aim of the policy is to increase the contribution of the agricultural sector to the country's gross domestic product and achieve social development of communities located within suitable irrigation areas as well as promote human resources and skills development (Agribusdev, 2015). Studies by Shapi (2017), Mubita (2019), andFirst Capital Namibia (2020) all concur that Namibia's agricultural sector is currently underdeveloped as the sector's production, contribution to GDP declines and agricultural imports keep increasing.…”

Production and Marketing Constraints of Small Stock Farming: Evidence From Limid and Non-Limid Farmers in Boteti Sub-District, Botswana

“…The government normally buys small stock with the main purpose of supplying it to the beneficiaries of public programs to encourage their participation in livestock farming. Shapi (2017) reported that lack of access to effective and efficient markets is one of the factors that impede the sale of smallholder farmers' produce. Another marketing constraint were low prices offered at the market place.…”

“…Literature also revealed that smallholder farmers face marketing constraints. Shapi (2017) reported the lack of effective markets as a constraint faced by smallholder farmers. Purchase of small stock at very low prices is another major concern (Bahta et al, 2013).…”