Namibia: Govt Avails 508 Tractors for Ploughing Season - Sets Aside N$8m for Repairs

What the report says

Namibia’s agriculture ministry has launched preparations for the 2026/27 rain-fed cropping season, with a focus on getting farm machinery ready and improving access to equipment for farmers across the country. According to New Era, distributed by AllAfrica, the programme is scheduled to run from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027 and will support planting activity in all 14 regions.

The ministry said 508 tractors will be deployed nationwide, while its fleet will first undergo servicing and repairs. Of those tractors, 385 need minor maintenance and 112 require major repairs. Work will be split between Agricultural Development Centres and the ministry’s Agricultural Technology Centres in Ongwediva and Rundu, with the overall repair effort estimated at about N$8 million. The funding is intended to cover spare parts, fuel, transport and logistics.

The ministry also plans to sell selected machinery and equipment to eligible farmers at subsidized prices. Items listed include seedling transplanters, jab seed drills, walking tractors, cultivators, sprayers, hammer mills, veterinary kits and livestock scales. An official notice with application details and eligibility rules was expected on 18 August 2026 through ministry communication channels.

The report said the government is also bringing in young people for training, including graduate artisans on fixed-term contracts and vocational trainees as assistants. The effort follows last season’s difficulties, when fuel shortages affected planting in some areas, making the current preparations important for agricultural resilience and food production.