Agribank has launched the agronomy scheme for grain production at Katima Mulilo for maize farmers to increase production.

The scheme will finance production input of farmers in communal areas.

Agribank's Acting Manager for the Zambezi Region, Etuhole Ingo, says the scheme will enable farmers to apply for grains, fertilizers, water infrastructure, and equipment.

"And also they can apply for solar power whereby they can apply for a solar pump for their boreholes, and this package, the way we introduce it, we would like to assist farmers who like to produce maize in bigger production, and we are trying to improve the small-scale farmers to diversify from being small-scale farmers into commercial farming in the communal areas, and we would really like farmers to take up this scheme; it is a scheme that will assist farmers, and it doesn't have collateral attached to it."

Applicants must register with the Namibia Agronomic Board that will find a market for their produce.

"But we are informing the farmers because we know that the people who are involved and have interest in the farming are the old people that are beyond 60 years old. We are inviting them to say they must come to Agribank to apply, but those that are beyond 70 years old and whose energy might be depleting but still have interest in farming, we are just saying they need to prepare a family member or their own children to take over when the energy in the body is depleting."

The scheme is in response to the President's call to improve food security.

The agronomic board will be responsible for marketing the produce on behalf of the farmers.

"I know there will be fears of people saying no, but look, they've been giving us loans. This is a different story; the other one was requiring you to come up with a house, and you attach it as collateral, or your vehicles are attached as collateral in case you fail them, and they repossess that so that they can. This is different," said Acting CEO of AMTA Percy Misika.

The waiting period for application is one month, while for those who want to put forward collateral, it is three months.

The scheme is also expected to be launched in Rundu.