The Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) has embarked on a partnership with the Zambia Correctional Service to explore soya bean farming, enhancing food production for inmates and contributing to the country's food security. This initiative follows a delegation from Zambia arriving in Namibia for a five-day technical engagement on soya bean production, concluding their engagements on Friday. The collaboration aims to identify opportunities to improve agricultural production within correctional facilities.
NCS Commissioner Immanuel Ngolo stated that the initiative focuses on soya bean farming to support food production and inmate rehabilitation. The decision to seek technical assistance from Zambia was made after identifying soya bean farming as a viable area for improvement. The programme includes sharing farming knowledge, assessing land for soya bean production, and establishing a demonstration plot to gauge the suitability of soya bean farming in Namibian correctional facilities.
Deputy Commissioner John Kambimbi of Katima Mulilo Correctional Facility noted that the engagement will facilitate the exchange of practical farming knowledge between officials from both countries. A demonstration site will be established where they will work together to plant soya beans. This initiative aims to equip inmates with farming skills and reduce dependence on external food supplies by increasing agricultural production at correctional facilities.
The NCS hopes to learn from Zambia's experience in soya bean production and adapt farming methods suitable for Namibia's conditions. By increasing agricultural production, the service aims to enhance food supplies for inmates and contribute to the country's food security. Agricultural activities form part of the correctional service's responsibility to rehabilitate inmates and provide food during their imprisonment.
Last year, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah revealed that the NCS had produced food worth N$13.9 million through agricultural activities at the Divundu, Oluno, and Hardap correctional facilities. These initiatives saved the government N$6.7 million in food costs, highlighting the potential economic benefits of enhancing agricultural production within correctional facilities.
The partnership between Namibia and Zambia's correctional services underscores the importance of collaboration in addressing food security challenges. By leveraging Zambia's expertise in soya bean production, Namibia aims to bolster its agricultural sector and improve food supplies for its inmates. The programme's success could pave the way for further collaborations in agricultural development.
As the technical engagement between the two countries nears its conclusion, the NCS is expected to implement the knowledge and skills gained from the partnership. The establishment of demonstration plots and the exchange of practical farming knowledge will be crucial in determining the suitability and potential of soya bean farming in Namibian correctional facilities.
Key points
- The Namibian Correctional Service partners with Zambia to enhance soya bean farming for food security.
- The initiative aims to equip inmates with farming skills and reduce dependence on external food supplies.
- The programme's success could lead to further collaborations in agricultural development between Namibia and Zambia.
