As much as 54% of Namibia’s land has been designated for conservation and wildlife protection purposes, which limits the amount of arable land available to farmers, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t viable ways to make money off this limited space. The Namibian government knows this, which is why it has opened up the space to genetically modified crops in order to help farmers pay their rent and make some extra money on the side.

What are GMOs?

GMOs are genetically modified organisms. These are plants or animals that have been created through genetic engineering. GMOs are the product of cross-breeding different species and then inserting a gene from another organism, often a virus or bacteria, to give the plant new properties.

What is the process of GMO farming?

GMO farming is growing crops that have been genetically modified to resist certain pests and herbicides. This type of farming is common throughout many parts of the world, including in Namibia. Farmers grow genetically modified crops because they are less vulnerable to certain pests and are more resistant to herbicides. This means the farmer only has to use one product on their land instead of two or three which saves time and money.

How much do GMO farmers get paid in Namibia?

Namibian GMO Farmers are paid per kilo of maize or sorghum harvested. This can vary depending on the type of seed, the quality and yield of the land and other factors. The average price for GMO maize is N$400-600/kg, with an average yield of 2-3 kg/hectare. For sorghum, it’s N$700-800/kg with a yield of 1.5-2 kg/hectare.