Description
The erratic and limited rainfall distribution patterns experienced since the start of the agricultural season (November 2022) has resulted in abnormal dry conditions affecting most parts part of the country and resulted in both poor crop performance and reduced rangeland conditions. Additionally, poor rainfall over the north western and southern parts of the country during the 2022/2023 agricultural season has negatively impacted pasture biomass conditions, particularly in the crop growing regions where crops failed to mature and rather withered before reaching maturity, resulting in lowered cereal production expectations. Some households in Ohangwena, Oshana and Omusati regions experienced flash floods during the ploughing season which resulted in the affected households not being able to cultivate their crop fields.
With little rainfall received this year and flash floods experienced in Ohangwena, Oshana and Omusati, all crop growing regions (Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Kavango East, Kavango West and Zambezi) experienced poor harvest. Trend findings from the Crop Prospects, Food Security and Drought Situation Report (July 2023) by Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) shows that Namibia’s Total Cereal Production for 2022/23 was 153 000 MT compared to 168 200 MT harvested in 2021/22 season, of which 81% of the total production was
from the commercial sector and only 19% produced from the crop production regions, which is 9% lower than the 2021/22 harvest.
Furthermore, the Crop Prospects, Food Security and Drought Situation Report (2023) indicated a significant deterioration of the food security situation as a result of highly unfavorable agricultural production conditions during 2022/2023 cropping season. Ever since, majority of crop farmers have experienced crop failure, which has consequently severely impeded the ability to replenish their food reserves. A considerable number of households in the key communal crop producing regions have reported a depletion of their harvests from the previous season, and currently rely mainly on the market and drought relief food for sustenance. This left most households in a precarious state of food insecurity.
The MAWLR Crop Prospects, Food Security and Drought Situation Report (2023), indicate that grazing condition was generally poor in most regions with //Kharas, Hardap, Otjozondjupa, Oshikoto, Oshana, Omusati, Ohangwena, Kavango West experiencing very poor grazing conditions (fig 2). The condition in Kunene region ranges from fair to poor while that in Omaheke, Zambezi & Kavango East regions ranging from poor to fair grazing conditions. Erongo and Khomas regions have fair grazing conditions. The livestock body condition were reported to be generally poor in most parts of the country except for Zambezi, Kavango East, Kavango West regions ranging from good to fair. (MAWLR, 2023).
According to the Livelihood Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis (VAA 2023/24) results, a total number of 579,000 people in Namibia equivalent to 22% of the total population were projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity during the period of July – September 2023 and required urgent action to reduce food gaps and protect livelihoods. The report further projected that a total of 695,000 people equivalent to 26% of the total population are subjected to experience high levels of acute food insecurity between October 2023 and March 2024. The most affected regions being Kavango West, Kavango East, Omaheke, Ohangwena, //Kharas, Zambezi, Otjozondjupa, Khomas, Oshana, Omusati, Oshikoto and Kunene regions. The recent IPC update projected that between July to September 2024, the entire country is expected to be in phase 3 with a total of 1 434 790 people equivalent to 362 663 in need of humanitarian assistance (Fig 3)
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