Namibia is looking to explore Kenya's successful dairy cow feeding system, particularly the zero-grazing model, as part of efforts to strengthen food security, boost local milk production and promote mixed agriculture.

This is 54-year-old Suzan Nungira, an avocado farmer from Goudiguri, Kenya.

Nungira inherited the farm, which grows a variety of crops including avocados, bananas, guavas and sugar cane, from her father.

She also keeps dairy cattle and chickens, which together sustain her five children and her mother.

Kenya's rich vegetation and strong agricultural output are largely attributed to its fertile land, allowing small-scale farmers like Nungira to diversify production and support their livelihoods through mixed farming.

Despite the progress, Nungira says insecurity remains a major challenge, as thieves frequently damage farm fences and steal produce, affecting productivity and income.

Nungira also adds value to her avocado harvest by producing avocado oil, creating an additional source of income.

She is also in the process of securing financial support to expand and maximise production on the farm.

Thanks to her dairy cows, Nungira is also able to produce milk for sale, helping to sustain her family. However, she says access to funding remains a major challenge in maximising production.

In Kenya, dairy farming commonly uses a zero-grazing or semi-zero-grazing system, where cows are kept in controlled spaces and fed cut-and-carry fodder instead of roaming freely.

Farmers often grow Napier grass and other fodder crops at home to improve milk yields, with support from dairy cooperatives.

For Namibia, this method presents a strong opportunity to boost income generation, create employment and promote sustainable farming practices, particularly in rural communities and drought-stricken areas.

Another concept, Agibank's acting chief officer Abel Akayombokwa says, is the idea of "Building Namibia by Namibians", where even insurance services could be developed within the same cooperative ecosystem to help farmers and communities insure themselves against risks.

Agriculture and food self-sufficiency are among the priorities that have also been strongly emphasised by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as Namibia seeks to strengthen local food production and agricultural resilience.

The Namibian delegation visited Nungira's avocado farm after the Africa Forward Summit in Kenya.