Namibia has recorded export earnings from agriculture, forestry and fishing commodities for the third quarter of 2021 amounted to N$3.7 billion.
The fisheries products including the manufactured fish accounted for the highest in terms of foreign earnings recording N$2.8 billion while in the second place, agriculture commodities brought income of N$564.5 million
Meanwhile, the import bill for the sector stood at N$1 billion. Forestry commodities topped the list with an import bill of N$643.2 million during the third quarter of 2021. Statistician-General of the NSA, Alex Shimuafeni said the value-added for the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector for the third quarter of 2021 was N$3.4 billion in nominal terms (7.6% of GDP).
Growth
“In real terms, the sector recorded a growth of 3.9% in the third quarter of 2021 mainly due the agriculture and forestry subsectors that grew by 5.3% and 12%, respectively. The fishing sector also recorded an increase of 1.9% in real value-added,” Shimuafeni said.
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For the period under review, the food price inflation was lower than other commodities in the CPI basket. Agriculture plays a major role in the economy of Namibia, second only to the mining sector in contributions to exports and GDP (10%) and is by far the greatest source of employment and/or subsistence for the majority of the population (+70%). Of the 82.4 million ha surface area, 15% is not suitable for farming; 15% of the surface area, mainly in the agriculturally unsuitable areas, is state owned (nature reserves, Diamond Area); 44% of the total area is farmed commercially and 41% is communal land.
