Interview: With UN’s help, Namibia to use advanced technologies to strengthen food security

WINDHOEK, May 23– Namibia, in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, will use advanced technologies to strengthen food security and bolster agricultural productivity in the country, a UN official has said. “This improvement is crucial in providing insights that can inform effective interventions and decision-making…

WINDHOEK, May 23 (Xinhua) — Namibia, in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), will use advanced technologies to strengthen food security and bolster agricultural productivity in the country, a UN official has said.

The South African country has embarked on an initiative in the country’s seven northern regions vulnerable to climate change and environmental factors, said FAO Namibia Communications Officer Phillipus Tobias, adding that the project seeks to significantly improve the accuracy and reliability of yield estimates for various crops.

“This improvement is crucial in providing insights that can inform effective interventions and decision-making processes relating to agriculture and food security,” he told Xinhua on Tuesday.

Tobias explained that the project, aptly named “Improved yield estimates to inform agricultural and food security interventions,” utilizes advanced technologies such as remote sensing, machine learning and artificial intelligence to collect accurate and extensive data on a large scale.

The project will provide data for policymakers, farmers and relevant stakeholders in making well-informed choices, he said.

Agriculture plays a crucial role in Namibia’s economy, employing a large portion of the rural population. However, the adverse effects of climate change, soil degradation and low productivity pose risks to food security and sustainable development in the country.

The project is the result of collaborative efforts between FAO and the University of Maryland (UMD)/NASA Harvest. Namibia was selected as one of the three pilot countries for this project, alongside Malawi and Kazakhstan.

According to Tobias, the availability of precise data on crop yields will also enable strategic resource allocation, effective crop management and efficient food distribution systems. The ultimate goal is to enhance agricultural productivity and ensure a more resilient and sustainable food supply for the people of Namibia.

Currently, the project is actively collecting data to obtain more precise yield estimates, Tobias said, adding that the primary focus of the data collection phases has been on assessing agricultural input availability, estimating crop yields and conducting post-harvest assessments to determine actual harvest yields.

“By gathering accurate and timely data, the project aims to provide tailored interventions that address the specific needs of farmers in these regions. Through the use of advanced technologies, the project can analyze and understand the specific needs of farmers, enabling the design of interventions that directly address these challenges,” he said. Enditem