LÜDERITZ – Namibia, With a flourishing vegetable business and the ability to employ her own farm workers, Maria Magdalena Shilongo (33) is changing stereotypes about what Namibian youth can accomplish when given the right support and opportunity.

In 2020, Maria started the Namapopo Irrigation Project, a small farm to grow tomatoes, green peppers, butternuts, small chilies, watermelons, sweet potatoes (red and white), and onions. Today she is able to make a good income from her two-hectare plot. The young businesswoman supplies Spar Supermarkets in Ongwediva and Oshakati. 

But Maria is not yet done and she has her sights set on bigger things. She hopes to acquire more land so that she can plant more vegetables and serve the entire country as well as export to other countries. A self-taught farmer, Maria employs two men to help her in her fields. “I need support to acquire more land so that I can plant more vegetables and employ more people. Currently, the land that I have is too small and does not allow me to do that,” she said. 

Maria was exhibiting her business alongside other youth agri-preneurs during the National Youth Day and Youth Week held in Lüderitz from 26 - 29 April 2022 under the theme, “Promotion of Youth Agri-preneurship: An Avenue for Self-Employment and Work Readiness.” 

The National Youth Week was organised by the National Youth Council of Namibia (NYC) with the support of the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service (MSYNS), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Namibia Country Office and other partners.  

Through the National Youth Council Act of 2009, Namibia has elected the National Youth Day to be on the 27th of April of each year, and the National Youth Week during the last week of each year April.

With hard work, dedication, and commitment you are giving yourself the best chance to succeed. Let’s invest in agriculture

Believe in yourself

Maria is proof that it is never too late to make a change and to follow your dreams.

“My uncle, Paulus Amutenya, is one of the most hardworking farmers and the best uncle in the whole world.  He is the one who inspired me to become a farmer, as well as the young hardworking farmer, Maria Lazarus.”

Her advice to fellow youth is, “believe in yourself, and understand that age is not a barrier when it comes to agriculture. Start small and grow as you learn. There are fantastic opportunities out there, look for them and grasp them with both hands.” 

“With hard work, dedication, and commitment you are giving yourself the best chance to succeed. Let’s invest in agriculture,” she adds.

Youth agribusiness, a stimulus for economic growth 

Hon. Agnes Tjongarero, Minister of youth when launching the National Youth Day and Week celebrations in Lüderitz, welcomed the theme of this year as “it’s responsive to the present needs of young people in our country and is instructive of how we can holistically empower each other through agriculture, and with the skills of entrepreneurship, self-reliance and resilience”.

“Agriculture as a commercial activity has the potential to significantly empower Namibians, if we can re-organise smallholder farmers in a manner that increases production, productivity, food security and income, subsequently enabling the creation of opportunities for value addition and further development of the agribusiness,” she stated.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the United Nations system in Namibia, Sheila Roseau, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Namibia Representative said the UN is proud to be a partner in Namibia’s youth development. “Through our advocacy, projects and engagements, we are actively working to help unlock Namibia’s youth potential.

UNFPA's response

UNFPA interventions in Namibia are aimed at improving the quality of life of young people.  UNFPA continues to collaborate with the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service and other various youth serving and youth-led organisations to empower young people. The UNFPA Namibia Country Office through different programmes such as the Safeguard Young People (SYP) continues to empower young people to access sexual and reproductive health (SRH). UNFPA is working with non-traditional partners such as agricultural to ensure economic empowerment for young people in order to have every young person’s potential fulfilled.