The China–FAO–Namibia South–South Cooperation (SSC) project has been awarded the 6th Global “Best Poverty Reduction Case”. This was announced in an official statement published on the Facebook page of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Namibia on 20 January.
The statement noted that in Namibia, Chinese experts introduced 15 rice varieties and demonstrated mechanised rice transplanting on approximately 1 500 acres (607 ha) of farmland. The use of mechanised transplanting reduced the sowing-to-transplanting cycle from four to five months to one to two months and significantly reduced labour requirements. The award recognises the project’s contribu
tion to food production efficiency, labour savings and support for rural livelihoods, the Embassy stated.
“Through China–Africa poverty reduction cooperation, China has provided important support for Africa’s efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency, eradicate poverty and improve people’s livelihoods,” the statement reads.
What is the SSC?
The China–FAO–Namibia SSC project is a tripartite initiative involving the Government of Namibia, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), and the People’s Republic of China. The first phase of the project was launched in 2014 under a two-year agreement valued at approximately USD1.5 million, as outlined on the FAO website. The project aimed to strengthen Namibia’s agricultural production through technical assistance, the introduction of improved crop varieties, machinery and new methodologies for small-scale farmers and agribusiness enterprises.
According to FAO documentation, the project addressed challenges such as low rainfall, poor soil quality, recurring droughts and limited technical capacity in rice and horticultural production. Key results of the first phase included a more than 10 per cent increase in rice yields at Kalimbeza, the trial of 15 rice varieties from China and one foxtail millet variety, and the training of more than 434 farmers and government officials in rice production, pest and soil management, and horticultural practices. The project also facilitated agribusiness linkages between Namibian farmers and the Hubei Provincial Seed Group Co., Ltd., which provided more than 20 crop varieties, including rice, maize, sorghum, potatoes and vegetables.
SSC second phase
Following the first phase, a second phase of the project was launched in November 2024, according to an FAO press release. Phase II expanded the project’s scope to include plant health, seed production, poultry farming, vocational training, soil fertility and fisheries. The second phase is funded with USD1.7 million from the FAO–China SSC Strategic Alliance Trust Fund and involves 11 experts and three technicians from China working across multiple regions in Namibia, including Hardap, Oshana, Omusati, Kavango East, Khomas and //Kharas.
The project aligns with Namibia’s national development plans, including the Fourth National Development Plan and the Green Scheme Policy, and is designed to support increased food production, technical capacity building and rural livelihoods, while promoting cooperation between Namibia, China and FAO, according to the official programme document.
