Drought puts Namibia’s food goals at risk

Namibia continues to face challenges in producing enough food because of drought, changing rainfall patterns, rising temperatures and water shortages. Deputy minister of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform Ruthy Masake says these conditions are affecting crop production, reducing grazing areas and making it harder for farming households to earn a living. She made the remarks during the World Food Day commemoration in the Onyaanya constituency of the Oshikoto region on Friday. Masake said prolonged dry periods and unpredictable rainfall continue to put pressure on farmers who depend on agriculture to support their families. She warned that these challenges could make it harder for Namibia to meet the growing demand for affordable and nutritious food. Under the sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), Namibia aims to produce 80% of its food needs locally by 2030.

The government also wants to reduce food insecurity from 56% to 34% by increasing agricultural production and reducing dependence on food imports. Masake called for new farming methods to help farmers increase food production and cope with changing weather conditions. She said researchers and agricultural experts should work with farmers to develop affordable solutions that suit Namibia’s farming conditions. Meanwhile, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) assistant representative Ferdinard Mwapopi says Namibia’s dependence on imported food remains a concern. He says farmers can increase production by using water more efficiently, reducing food losses and improving how they sell their products. Mwapopi also encourages farmers to process locally produced food into products that can be sold at higher prices. He says these measures could help farmers earn more money while improving the country’s food…