(3 Minutes Read)
Protein deficiency is a significant cause of malnutrition in low- and middle-income nations, where many people’s diets are largely based on staple crops. To address this issue in Namibia, researchers launched a food and nutrition project to teach farmers how to use a biofertiliser to grow protein-enriched legumes.
The project, led by researchers from the Namibia University of Science and Technology, introduces biotechnology techniques to smallholder farmers in the Mayana community of Kavango East, aiming to address significant challenges in agricultural productivity and nutrition. Natilia Rengi, a local farmer, once struggled to provide enough food for her family of 12 but has experienced a significant increase in yields since adopting the biofertiliser. “We didn’t use to cultivate as much,” she says. “But now, I can proudly say we harvest enough to feed our family.” For Rengi, the project has made the difference between struggling to feed her large family and providing them with nutritious meals.
Her success story reflects the experiences of many farmers in the region who are seeing improved food production and livelihoods as a result of the initiative, which is funded by the Science Granting Councils Initiative. Oswald Mughongora, senior program officer for grant management at Namibia’s National Commission on Research, Science, and Technology, notes that the project aligns with the nation’s broader goals of promoting climate-smart agriculture and integrating indigenous knowledge.
Launched in 2021, the project, named the Food Security and Nutrition Improvement through Protein-Rich Legume and Low-Cost Biotechnology in Namibia (FOODSECBIO), is set to conclude in July 2025. A key outcome of the initiative is the development of a locally produced biofertilizer that addresses both soil fertility and malnutrition.
Percy Chimwamurombe, the project’s lead researcher from the Namibia University of Science and Technology, explains that his team developed five biofertilisers by identifying bacteria in the soil of legume plants that promote growth. They focused on bacteria with nitrogen-fixing capabilities. So far, 30 farmers have been trained in the use of these biofertilisers, as well as in the cultivation of protein-rich crops such as cowpea, pearl millet, and bambara nut. They also learned how to produce protein-enriched pearl millet flour for feeding infants.
Sofia Kamburu, a 34-year-old farmer, has expanded her crop varieties to include beans, pearl millet, groundnuts, and bambara nuts. “We’ve learned how to plan and when to plant, depending on the seasons,” she says. By preparing fields before the rainy season, she improved crop germination compared to past reliance on good rainfall in November and December.
Read Also:
Chimwamurombe believes that the FOODSECBIO project could help combat child malnutrition in Namibia by providing alternative sources of nutrition. He is confident that addressing protein deficiency is a challenge the project can overcome if everyone works together. Lydia Horn, Namibia’s first PhD holder in plant breeding, emphasises that access to affordable seeds is critical for improving food security and combating hunger. “Jobs can be created, and food security can be enhanced by making seeds available at a low cost, allowing everyone to grow their food,” she says.
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Danish
English
French
Hindi
Italian
Norwegian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Swedish