Many young farmers are breaking barriers through agricultural innovation.

WINDHOEK. — Young Namibians are abandoning traditional ways of farming and adopting unconventional agricultural methods to transform food systems in Namibia.

At his village in the Omusati region in the northern part of Namibia, Otto Kapuka, a young farmer, toiled away at field, tilling the soil, setting up an irrigation system and inspecting plants.

“Agriculture is now my lifeline,” said Kapuka.

With passion and stamina, he is one of many young farmers breaking barriers through agricultural innovation.

According to the young farmer, in the past, the field he set up his garden on would stand idle, waiting for the next farming season for the farming activity to resume. But with an irrigation system and new approaches employed at the project, they now utilize the land all seasons.

But, water scarcity and limited land for farming thwart the dreams of many aspiring farmers.

“Just drilling alone can cost up to 78,000 Namibian dollars (about 5,348 U.S. dollars) toward putting up a water system. Water harvesting has become common practice for the young farmers too,” Kapuka said.

Agriculture has become an integral part of many Namibian youths despite the challenges, gradually becoming a career option. As the project grows, Kapuka shares best practices with other youth by helping fellow youth with their agricultural projects.

“We teach others and assist them to start the project,” Kapuka said, adding he also gave advice on equipment identification and explained the agricultural supply chain to ensure thorough understanding.

For Nelson Ashipala, a young horticulture farmer who benefited from the Agricultural Bank of Namibia’’s production loan scheme, farming is more than food production. He strives to create employment opportunities for locals in the Kavango West region where his farm is based.

“I have a full-time farm manager, four permanent employees and seven seasonal workers,” Ashipala said.

The efforts are also envisaged to shun the broad perception held by many young people that agriculture is “dirty.” — Xinhua.