Zambia helps Namibia explore soya bean farming

The Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) is working to strengthen food production through soya bean farming to improve food supplies for inmates and contribute to the country’s food security. This comes as a delegation from the Zambia Correctional Service arrived in Namibia this week for a five-day technical engagement on soya bean production. The delegation will conclude their engagements on Friday. NCS commissioner Immanuel Ngolo says the initiative identifies opportunities to improve agricultural production. Ngolo says the NCS decided to seek technical assistance from the Zambia Correctional Service after identifying soya bean farming as an area that could support food production and inmate rehabilitation. “We decided to focus on the production of soya beans,” he says.

The initiative aims to help correctional facilities produce more of their own food while supporting agricultural activities that equip inmates with farming skills. The programme focuses on sharing farming knowledge, assessing land for soya bean production and establishing a demonstration plot. Katima Mulilo Correctional Facility officer in charge deputy commissioner John Kambimbi says the engagement will help determine whether soya bean farming is suitable for correctional facilities at Katima Mulilo and Otavi. He says officials from both countries will exchange practical farming knowledge and work together to plant soya beans at a demonstration site. The NCS hopes to learn from Zambia’s experience in soya bean production and introduce farming methods suitable for Namibia’s conditions.…