Summary

SAI Namibia conducted a comprehensive assessment, including compliance and performance audit with an environmental element, of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform's progress in achieving SDG 2 (targets 2.3 and 2.4) on doubling food production and promoting sustainable agriculture. According to the auditors, the Ministry lacks coordination and cross-sector synergies, creating a risk of duplication of efforts in SDG targets achievement. Audit also found that the Namibia Statistics Agency, the Ministry, and key stakeholders did not improve the quality of a government-led statistical system for developing periodic targets for SDGs and establishing data management systems for accurate reporting. Audit showed ineffective agricultural research centers, inadequate storage of agricultural equipment and hazardous substances, a lack of assessments of farms for eligibility for benefits, procurement of conservation agriculture implements with incompatible components and lack of service maintenance, failure to monitor mineral fertilizer use, and a lack of inclusivity in the implemented programs. SAI Namibia recommended that the Ministry, among other things, ensure the coherence of existing policies, establish baseline indicators and set periodic targets, enhance mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices, conduct a needs assessment and modernize reporting mechanisms to ensure timely and adequate supplies of equipment, seeds and fertilizers to farmers, and ensure that officers are adequately equipped to carry out farm inspections.