Namibian start-up Fudlink to launch agri-food app at Windhoek Agricultural Show

NAMIBIA – Namibian start-up, Fudlink, is gearing up to introduce a mobile application designed to reshape agricultural trade in the country.

The app will be pre-launched at the Windhoek Agricultural and Livestock Show 2024, according to the company’s founder, Twama Nghidinwa.

Fudlink’s app is set to become a central platform where farmers, buyers, logistics providers, and retailers can connect directly.

This digital solution aims to tackle inefficiencies, cut down food waste, and reinforce local supply chains across Namibia. “Our goal is to empower small-scale farmers by giving them access to formal markets and building a logistics ecosystem that supports Namibia’s agricultural sector,” Nghidinwa explained.

This innovative step comes in the wake of discussions held at a recent ICT summit in Windhoek. The summit explored ways technology could be used to address the agricultural sector’s persistent challenges, including food security for vulnerable communities.

Established in 2021, Fudlink first gained national recognition when it won a digital marketplace competition in 2023, organized by the GIZ Farming for Resilience (F4R) project.

The competition was aimed at boosting agribusiness and marketing efforts in rural areas, bringing together various stakeholders, including the Namibian Agronomic Board and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform.

Fudlink’s success in this competition paved the way for the development of its mobile application. The app is designed to support both producers and buyers, while logistics providers ensure a smooth supply chain, from farm to market.

The pre-launch event will showcase the app’s features, allowing agricultural stakeholders to register and start using the platform.

Namibia’s fresh produce market is projected to reach approximately USD 7.83 million in 2024, with an annual growth rate of 6.92% expected between 2024 and 2029.

However, the sector still faces significant challenges. Namibia continues to import a large portion of its fresh produce, with avocados alone accounting for USD 8.6 million in imports due to local production difficulties.

Despite these hurdles, the Namibian agricultural sector made progress, harvesting 53,006 tons of fresh produce between April and December 2023.

The Fudlink app aims to address some of the sector’s persistent problems, especially by creating better access to markets and reducing food wastage.

The agricultural sector in Namibia is constrained by limited budgetary support, with only 2.3% of the total non-interest expenditure allocated to it in the 2024/25 national budget.

This has raised concerns about whether the sector can scale and better integrate with broader markets.

Nevertheless, the Namibia Agronomic Board (NAB) has provided promising production forecasts for various horticultural products.

This indicates the country’s continued focus on boosting local production and meeting the growing demand for fresh produce.