Agriculture remains critical to Namibia’s trade development agenda. The sector directly and indirectly supports 70% of the population while contributing 8% (2021) to GDP and employing 26% of the labour force (NSA, 2016 labour force).
Namibia is a net exporter of beef and live animals on hoof. Beef export markets for beef include Norway under the SACU-EFTA, European Union (EU) under SADC-EPA, South Africa and other African markets such as Angola, Zambia, DRC Congo and of recent Ghana.
The crop sector remains a net importer of grains and horticulture. White maize, wheat and pearl millet are the main grains consumed and domestic production is at 34% of national consumption estimated at 322 019 tonnage per annum. White maize makes up 56%, wheat 43% and pearl millet 1% of national demand. National demand of horticulture stands at 89 082 tonnage and domestic production contributes 35% to national demand.