Climate Change threatens Namibia’s Agricultural Sector

4 June, 2024

A rural woman harvests pearl millet in her basket, locally known as “mahangu” in northern Namibia near Rundu 13 May 2006 , some 750 kilometres northeast of Windhoek along the border to Angola. AFP Photo/Brigitte Weidlich (Photo credit should read BRIGITTE WEIDLICH/AFP via Getty Images)

The agricultural sector is vital for sustaining livelihoods in Namibia but faces significant climate change challenges. Namibian farmers frequently experience adverse rainfall seasons, leading to floods, droughts, and pest and disease outbreaks. Droughts, occurring every other year with varying severity, have particularly harmed crop and livestock farmers, reducing productivity and income due to poor yields, livestock performance, and market prices.

Technical Advisor of Livestock and Rangeland from AgriBank, Erastus Ngaruka: