AMTA was created following a Cabinet Decision 7th/10.05.11/015, in which it was approved that AMTA would be established as a specialised Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF), to coordinate and manage the marketing and trading of Agricultural Produce in Namibia. AMTA’s mandate is to manage the Fresh Produce Business Hubs (FPBHs) and National Strategic Food Reserve (NSFR) infrastructure, towards the attainment of food safety and security. In performing its role, AMTA works closely with AgriBusDev and the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB).

National Strategic Food Reserve:

Operating in Katima Mulilo, Rundu, Okongo, Omuthiya and Tsandi. Current capacity 18900 MT future expansion plan is 68000MT.

Fresh Produce Business Hubs:

Rundu and Ongwediva, 5000m² each • Windhoek’s Fresh Produce Business Hub is under construction and it will be 10 000 m², the hub will have a Laboratory to carry out physical, biological and chemical tests.

• Satellite offices will be established

The Hubs were built because Namibia’s horticulture industry had missing linkage of:

• Bulk cold storage facilities
• Marketing facilities
• Logistical facilities esp. for small scale farmers
• Processing facilities

Fresh Produce Business Hubs (FPBHs)

The development of the FPBHs has its roots in the Vision 2030, National Development Plans of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and forestry (MAWF). It is part of the Government’s programmes aimed at contributing production,
processing, marketing and distribution. The facilities are very important in that they will present a platform for farmers to market their produce as well as provide a common place where local retailers can source their produce for distribution in the domestic and international markets. Furthermore, they will also potentially contribute to skills development and transfer to Namibians that will be employed in the processing and value addition facilities.

It is common knowledge that the absence of these facilities has resulted in a substantial tonnage of Namibian originating horticultural fresh produce being marketed through third parties/countries. As a result, Namibian consumers suff er the most, as they have to pay the transportation and foreign handling charges, which are passed on to them. It is logically expected that the new development should mitigate such costs, while improving Namibia’s trade balance for these commodities. The rationale for the development of FPBHs is that the Government through MAWF is rendering services to crop producers to increase food production, thereby contributing to food security in the country both at national and household levels. FPBHs will create business opportunities for processing, marketing and value addition of fresh produce, through industrial activities such as sorting, cleaning, grading, juicing, packing, branding, drying, bottling and canning.

Other economic benefi ts expected from the FPBHs include, but are not limited to the stimulation of the domestic economic activity, employment creation, technology and skills transfer, quality assurance, aff ordable access to nutrition, increase domestic market share of Namibian horticultural produce, increase foreign currency earnings from horticultural exports, etc.