Staff Reporter
GLOBAL geopolitical tensions are increasingly impacting Namibia’s agricultural sector, driving up input costs, disrupting supply chains, and influencing local food prices, according to Agricultural Economist Leigh-Ann Nehoya of the Namibia Agricultural Union.
Nehoya said that although global conflicts may seem distant, their effects are quickly felt by Namibian farmers through rising costs of fertiliser, fuel, and animal feed, as well as shifts in export markets. Namibia remains heavily reliant on imported agricultural inputs, making the sector vulnerable to international disruptions.
“Recent geopolitical conflicts highlight the importance of building resilience within Namibia’s agricultural sector,” Nehoya said, adding that strengthening supply chains and diversifying input sourcing will be critical to maintaining farm profitability and ensuring national food security.
She explained that input price shocks are often the first impact of global instability. During the Russia–Ukraine war, sanctions and export disruptions caused fertiliser prices to surge, contributing to agricultural inflation in Namibia reaching nearly 30% between 2021 and 2022. Similar concerns are emerging due to tensions in the Middle East, where key fertiliser components and oil supplies pass through strategic trade routes.
Global commodity and energy shocks also affect local food prices. Disruptions in major exporting regions, such as the Black Sea, led to increased wheat prices globally, while rising oil prices continue to push up transport and logistics costs. In Namibia, this effect is amplified by reliance on imported food and long internal transport distances.
Nehoya further added that supply chain vulnerability remains a major concern, as global agricultural systems are highly interconnected. Namibia’s livestock sector, particularly sheep farming, is closely tied to regional markets such as South Africa. Reduced international demand can affect slaughter rates in neighbouring countries, ultimately lowering demand and prices for Namibian livestock exports.
She cautioned that farmers should prepare for continued volatility, including fluctuating input costs, higher transport expenses, shifting market demand, and potential delays in the delivery of agricultural supplies.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: borgenproject
