Food in Namibia

Namibia's dry climate and limited water restrict crop production in many areas. Domestic supply includes mahangu, white maize, sorghum, wheat, horticultural crops, cattle, goats and sheep. The coast benefits from the Benguela Current and supplies hake, horse mackerel, sardines, monkfish, crab and rock lobster. Inland fishing and aquaculture provide additional sources. Namibia remains structurally dependent on food imports, and drought can sharply reduce local production. Cereal production fell by 53% during the 2024 drought; fourth-quarter agronomy production fell from 18,928 tonnes in 2023 to 4,758 tonnes in 2024, a decrease of 74.9%. The 2024 fourth-quarter figures included 1,819 tonnes of white maize, 32 tonnes of millet and 2,907 tonnes of wheat. Food patterns differ across the country. Northern and north-central areas, including Aawambo communities, rely strongly on mahangu and also produce maize, sorghum, beans, melons and onions. Floodwater periods can support fishing, while cattle provide food and income. The Kavango and Zambezi regions combine mahangu, fishing and seasonal production, but storage can be difficult. Central urban areas offer retail shops, restaurants, informal markets and street vendors. The coast has strong access to marine fish, oysters and fish-processing businesses. In the arid south and interior, livestock and purchased staples matter more because crop production is limited. Namibia therefore has no single nationwide food pattern. Common foods and preparation methods reflect these conditions. Oshifima is a thick mahangu porridge, while okatete is a thinner porridge. Oshikundu, also called ontaku, is a fermented non-alcoholic drink made from mahangu or sorghum; households, particularly in rural areas, often produce it in small batches because it has a short shelf life. Oshikuvila is a pancake, olumbololo combines uncooked mahangu flour with sour milk, and onona is boiled dehulled grain. Kapana is street-grilled beef commonly sold at informal markets, especially in Katutura. Coastal meals commonly include fish and oysters. Household processing can involve drying, threshing, winnowing and milling before grain becomes porridge or a fermented drink. Oral cooking knowledge remains significant, while commercial availability varies by region. People obtain food through shops, local markets, household production, fishing, livestock, restaurants, lodges and informal vendors. Formal and informal food businesses operate alongside each other, but hygiene and product quality can vary by setting. There is no fixed nationwide price for a meal because costs depend on the zone, season, outlet and product. In February 2026, the average retail price for beef stew was N$108.99 per kilogram in Zone 1, with averages of N$104.19 in Zone 2 and N$113.96 in Zone 3. A 750 ml bottle of sunflower oil averaged N$32.78 in Zone 1, N$33.99 in Zone 2 and N$34.79 in Zone 3. In the March 2026 consumer price index, food and non-alcoholic beverages carried a 16.5% basket weight; the food subcategory recorded annual inflation of 14.8%. Bread and cereals had a 4.8% basket weight, meat 3.5%, sugar, jam and confectionery 1.4%, vegetables 1.2%, and milk, cheese and eggs 1.2%. The Food and Nutrition Security Policy, abbreviated FNSP, addresses availability, quality, affordability, dietary diversity and food security through a farm-to-fork approach. Nutrition services involve the Ministry of Health and Social Services. Current concerns include inadequate energy intake, micronutrient deficiencies, limited dietary diversity, infant and young-child feeding, overweight and obesity. Estimates cited for 2022 recorded stunting in 16.8% of children under five and acute malnutrition in 7.1%. Namibia's 2024 national SMART survey covered all 14 regions and examined children aged 6 to 59 months, women of reproductive age, food consumption, infant and young-child feeding, water and sanitation, and coping strategies. Individual disease treatment and medical nutrition advice belong to health services rather than general food information. Food safety duties are shared. The Ministry of Health and Social Services protects public health. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform oversees safe primary production of crops and animals and primary processing. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources regulates fish and fishery handling, including chilling, freezing, filleting, transport and packaging. The Namibia Standards Institute develops standards for processing, additives, labelling and packaging. Local authorities deal with markets, premises registration, food sold to the public, cold storage and permits for street trade. The Public and Environmental Health Act 1 of 2015, the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Ordinance 18 of 1979, and the Local Authorities Act form part of the legal framework. Imported food also requires commodity-specific sanitary and phytosanitary documentation, permits or certificates. Clean water, hygienic handling, temperature control, separation of raw and ready-to-eat foods, safe storage and thorough cooking reduce risk. Fermented products and street foods require source-specific hygiene checks because contamination risks vary. The 2024-25 national drought-relief programme covered all 14 regions. It targeted 341,855 households and 1,299,049 food-insecure people. The monthly basket consisted of 20 kg of maize or mahangu meal and either four 400 g tins of fish, 400 g of soya mince or 1.5 kg of frozen beef or game, plus 750 ml of cooking oil. The documented access conditions included a drought-affected rural subsistence household, combined monthly income of no more than N$3,200 and no parallel equivalent food relief. Vouchers and local-retailer distribution could be used in some areas. This was a time-limited intervention, not a permanent nationwide food benefit. Public programmes support climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable water and land management, drought-tolerant crops, crop diversification, local horticulture, storage, lower post-harvest losses and domestic procurement. A 2021 estimate placed food loss and waste at about 24% of the value chain's food calories; losses of communal perishable foods exceeded 40% and grain losses were about 20%. These figures depend on the date and methodology. Marine and inland fisheries use scientific stock assessments, quotas and ecosystem protection. Aquaculture licensing includes site assessment targeted within one month, while inland and aquaculture permits are targeted within 10 working days. The NamiGreen 2026-2031 initiative links aquaculture and horticulture in response to climate, water and land pressures. Domestic production support includes agricultural extension, research, seed and mechanisation programmes, as well as horticulture, dairy and poultry schemes. The Agronomic Board controls aspects of mahangu, white maize and wheat production and marketing.