Feeding the future

The global imperative for food self-sufficiency

Globally, food self-sufficiency has become critical. Food self-sufficiency is defined as a country’s or community's ability to meet its own consumption needs through its own production, rather than having to buy or import. It directly affects the country's capability to fulfil the nutritional needs of its population.

Considering the globe's increasing demand for food, selfsufficiency represents a major challenge for humanity. Demand is expected to further intensify in the coming years. Coupled with rapid population growth, it gives rise to serious concern. According to predictions, worldwide crop production will need to at least double by 2050 if it is to meet projected food demand. And it is not only population growth driving this projected shortfall: the world is witnessing a shift towards richer diets all over the planet.

According to a report by the United Nations, an estimated 821 million people are currently chronically undernourished. Add increasing demands for clean water supplies to chronic levels of malnutrition and rapid population growth – and the global situation looks alarming.

In the developing world, small-scale food production is at the heart of all food provision. According to a United Nations report, 80% of food consumed in the developing world is provided by some 500 million small farms locally.

Namibia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, is an advocate for food self-reliance. She warns of the urgency of the situation and has emphasised the critical importance of addressing food production aggressively to achieve Namibia's goal of food self-reliance, sufficiency and dignity.

Nandi-Ndaitwah recently spoke at the rice harvest festival at the University of Namibia's Ogongo Campus in the Omusati Region. During the event Debmarine Namibia donated a variety of agricultural equipment to boost the expansion of rice production and poultry development projects. In her speech, the Deputy Prime Minister underscored the pivotal role of agriculture in reducing poverty, ensuring food security and creating employment. She encouraged farmers to seize the opportunity to acquire new skills and techniques to enhance future farm production. She pointed out that rice remains a staple crop sustaining billions of people globally.

Also speaking at the event, the vice-chancellor of the University of Namibia, Professor Kenneth Matengu, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Debmarine Namibia for the invaluable contribution. He said he was confident that the equipment provided would significantly elevate production capacities, ushering the projects into a new era of growth and excellence.

The donated equipment, valued at N$750,000, is an extensive range of tools designed to multiply the capacities of rice production and poultry development initiatives. Debmarine Namibia's CEO, Willy Mertens, underlined the multifaceted utility of the equipment, emphasising its central role in expediting research, facilitating training endeavours and revitalising communal engagement in rice and chicken production.

To face the global challenge of food insecurity, the public and private sector need to stand together. Without progress towards ending hunger in the world, it will be impossible to eradicate poverty or ensure quality health and education for all, let alone reduce inequalities.