Agro-Marketing and Trade Agency (AMTA)

The government of the Republic of Namibia developed Vision 2030 to address various developmental issues for a developed and industrialized nation by 2030. As a result, several national developmental plans, policies and strategies were enacted. NDP5 under pillar 1, deals with economic progression on increasing productivity in agriculture, especially for smallholder farmers and Improve value addition in natural resources identified agriculture as a key sector to drive employment creation, address income inequality, food shortages, import dependency, poverty eradication and overall food security. In addition, the National Agriculture Policy and the Growth at Home Strategy were also developed to address issues related to market access for local producers, post-harvest losses management, storage and local Industries support amongst other objectives. As a result, the Government in 2013, established AMTA under the ambit of the then Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF), through a Cabinet Decision Number 7th/10.05.11/015 as a section 21 Company under the Companies Act, 2004 (Act No. 28 of 2004). Upon its inception as an Agency operating AMTA was mandated with the responsibilities managing the National Strategic Food Reserves (NSFR) of the country, and National Fresh Produce Business Hubs (NFPBH), to support Government initiatives pertaining to national and household food and nutrition security and safety. In line with its mandate, AMTA manages and operates five grain storage facilities, a milling facility under National Strategic Food Reserve (NSFR) and three Fresh Produce Business Hubs infrastructure across the various geographic locations of the country. Since 2019, AMTA has been classified as a commercial public entity under the ministry of Finance and Public enterprises (MFPE) and has thus far embarked upon that journey to make it a reality. AMTA’s business operations are overseen by a Board of Directors appointed by the shareholder (GRN).