The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has allocated over N$34 million to the implementation of its Rain-Fed Agronomic Programmes for the 2025/26 financial year.

It's part of efforts to enhance food security along cereal value chains and to create resilience to climate change.

In an implementation report, the ministry states it will provide subsidies to cereal producers in the form of seeds, fertiliser and mechanised tillage services in the 10 crop-growing regions of the country.

The ministry implements rain-fed agronomic programmes, including the Dryland Crop Production Programme – an ongoing government subsidy programme approved by Cabinet and complemented by the Cereal Value Chain Development Programme.

The scheme is implemented through a Memorandum of Understanding with regional councils.

Of the N$34 million available, about N$3.8 million will be allocated to the Zambezi.

Ohangwena, Omusati and Oshikoto regions will each get about N$2.9 million.

Kavango East, Kavango West and Oshana regions are each expected to receive about N$2.8 million, while Otjozondjupa will receive N$1.7 million.

N$1.5 million is allocated to the Omaheke Region, while Kunene is earmarked for N$1.4 million.

Through the programme, the government will provide tillage services, utilising both publicly and privately operated tractors.

Farmers will be provided with improved seeds at a subsidised rate and provided a subsidy of between N$300 and N$500 to improve soil fertility and production.

The government will also provide a 50 percent subsidy on pesticides and herbicides and will also subsidise weeding services at a rate of N$400 per hectare, to a maximum of five hectares per household.

A maximum subsidy of N$10,000 will go towards increasing grain storage capacity per household, a maximum of N$30,000 for a hammer miller and a maximum of N$30,000 for a thresher.

Interested farmers are encouraged to register at the nearest Agriculture Development Centres to access these subsidies.