China-backed agricultural project trains 121 farmers
Namibia and China are reviewing progress made under a joint agricultural cooperation programme being implemented at the Tsumis Arid Zone Agricultural Centre (Tazac) in the Hardap region. According to the ministry, the project initially planned four technical training sessions for about 80 participants, but five sessions have already been conducted, reaching 121 farmers and staff […] The post China-backed agricultural project trains 121 farmers appeared first on The Namibian.
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Namibia and China are reviewing progress made under a joint agricultural cooperation programme being implemented at the Tsumis Arid Zone Agricultural Centre (Tazac) in the Hardap region.
According to the ministry, the project initially planned four technical training sessions for about 80 participants, but five sessions have already been conducted, reaching 121 farmers and staff members.
The training covered poultry biosecurity, chick brooding, poultry feed management, composting of chicken manure and egg incubation techniques.
The assessment follows a visit to the centre by the agriculture ministry’s acting executive director, Alfred Sikopo, and Chinese ambassador Zhao Weiping.
“Agriculture has been identified as the number one priority sector under the Sixth National Development Plan in order to ensure the country achieves food and nutrition security,” Sikopo said during the visit.
The visit focused on the implementation of the China-FAO-Namibia South-South Cooperation Project, which entered its second phase in September 2024 and is expected to end this year.
The programme involves the deployment of Chinese agricultural experts and technicians to Namibia to provide technical support in areas including poultry farming, seed production, plant protection, aquaculture, and soil fertility management.
According to information shared during the visit, the project team consists of five long-term, six short-term experts and three long-term technicians working with local institutions and farmers.
Tazac was selected as one of the participating institutions under the programme and received a Chinese poultry expert in September 2024.
Between November 2024 and August 2025, the poultry expert and Tazac staff carried out farm assessments at six farms and engaged with 10 farmers on poultry production, disease prevention, biosecurity measures and training requirements.
The centre currently operates a poultry section with more than 1 000 dual-purpose chickens used for meat and egg production.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations in Namibia also supplied poultry production equipment and materials valued at about N$133 000, including feed crushers, feed mixers, heaters and straw shredders.
Sikopo said the ministry is working to convert agricultural centres into training facilities by 2027.
“Operationalisation of agricultural training centres presents another potential area of cooperation that the Chinese government can explore as the two countries continue to identify additional areas of collaboration,” said Sikopo.
He added that preparations currently underway include the recruitment of personnel, development of training manuals, and implementation of a farm plan aimed at utilising more than 13 000 hectares available at Tsumis.
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