President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has questioned the Ministry of Agriculture’s decision to retain management of the Kalimbeza National Rice Project, instead of transferring it to the University of Namibia (UNAM) as she previously recommended.

During her visit to the project on Wednesday, the President expressed concern over the Ministry’s expenditure on consultancy services for designs, surveys, and land levelling, despite similar research already being conducted by UNAM.

The Ministry of Agriculture was allocated N$8 million for the 2024/25 financial year, after requesting N$50 million, to begin revival works at Kalimbeza. The funds were used for the ongoing detailed design, topographic survey, levelling, dyke construction, and installation of irrigation and drainage systems on the 150-hectare project, with completion expected by October of this year. A further N$18 million has been earmarked in the 2025/26 financial year for the construction of a new rice milling plant.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s renewed interest in Kalimbeza follows her recent visit to Madagascar, where she observed significant progress in rice production. She said the experience motivated her to assess and follow up on Namibia’s own revival efforts. As part of strengthening international cooperation, she extended an invitation to the Indonesian ambassador to visit Kalimbeza, ahead of a Memorandum of Understanding on agricultural collaboration between the two countries.