PM urges extension of drought emergency programmes
Drought a nationwide crisis
Most parts of Namibia received adequate rainfall only in January this year, followed by a dry spell in the ensuing months that has resulted in poor agricultural production.
Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has submitted a motion to the National Assembly seeking to extend the drought state of emergency by another six months.
Namibia declared the severe drought as a state of emergency in May.
This follows a crop assessment report confirming the severe drought's impact on food security and the deterioration of grazing conditions and water supply across all regions.
“As a country, we witnessed below-average rainfall during the 2023–2024 rainy season. This has caused devastating effects on the population, which is primarily dependent on rain-fed agriculture," Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.
The prime minister said the El Niño-induced drought is also affecting other southern African countries, prompting Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia to declare their respective states of national disaster.
According to the Namibia Meteorological Services' Climate Watch, Namibia has experienced below-normal rainfall, with a significant delay in the onset of the rainy season. Most parts of Namibia received adequate rainfall only in January this year, followed by a dry spell in the subsequent months, particularly February, resulting in poor agricultural production and pasture establishment.
Livelihoods threatened
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila added that the agriculture ministry’s Crop Prospects, Food Security, and Drought Situation report, published in March, projected a sharp decline in the anticipated harvest, with all crop-growing regions in the communal areas expected to yield less than the previous season's harvest.
The report estimated the national cereal production of white maize, sorghum, pearl millet and wheat for 2024 to be 72 150 tonnes, representing a 53% decrease from last season's harvest of 153 012 tonnes.
In many communal crop-growing areas, numerous households have depleted their reserves from the previous season and now heavily rely on the market and drought relief assistance for food.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila emphasised that it has become clear that the livelihoods of the majority of Namibians, especially those dependent on agricultural activities, are threatened by the prevailing drought conditions.
“Further, the resources available are for targeted interventions for those severely affected. The scale of the drought is nationwide,” she said.
Alleviating suffering
She added that Cabinet considered the current situation and approved drought interventions aimed at providing assistance to those affected, with the goal of safeguarding and alleviating the impact on the livelihoods of affected communities and farmers.
She further stated that these interventions include the Office of the Prime Minister continuing food assistance to eligible beneficiaries from 1 July to 30 June 2025.
Subsidies on the purchase of animal feed will continue until 31 March 2025, while the sale of subsidised fodder to farmers through Agricultural Development Centres began this month and will continue until 31 December.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila further stated that her office, in collaboration with the water ministry, will continue the water provision programme in drought-stricken areas.
To implement these interventions, government has made N$825 million available from the National Emergency Disaster Fund.
Namibia declared the severe drought as a state of emergency in May.
This follows a crop assessment report confirming the severe drought's impact on food security and the deterioration of grazing conditions and water supply across all regions.
“As a country, we witnessed below-average rainfall during the 2023–2024 rainy season. This has caused devastating effects on the population, which is primarily dependent on rain-fed agriculture," Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.
The prime minister said the El Niño-induced drought is also affecting other southern African countries, prompting Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia to declare their respective states of national disaster.
According to the Namibia Meteorological Services' Climate Watch, Namibia has experienced below-normal rainfall, with a significant delay in the onset of the rainy season. Most parts of Namibia received adequate rainfall only in January this year, followed by a dry spell in the subsequent months, particularly February, resulting in poor agricultural production and pasture establishment.
Livelihoods threatened
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila added that the agriculture ministry’s Crop Prospects, Food Security, and Drought Situation report, published in March, projected a sharp decline in the anticipated harvest, with all crop-growing regions in the communal areas expected to yield less than the previous season's harvest.
The report estimated the national cereal production of white maize, sorghum, pearl millet and wheat for 2024 to be 72 150 tonnes, representing a 53% decrease from last season's harvest of 153 012 tonnes.
In many communal crop-growing areas, numerous households have depleted their reserves from the previous season and now heavily rely on the market and drought relief assistance for food.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila emphasised that it has become clear that the livelihoods of the majority of Namibians, especially those dependent on agricultural activities, are threatened by the prevailing drought conditions.
“Further, the resources available are for targeted interventions for those severely affected. The scale of the drought is nationwide,” she said.
Alleviating suffering
She added that Cabinet considered the current situation and approved drought interventions aimed at providing assistance to those affected, with the goal of safeguarding and alleviating the impact on the livelihoods of affected communities and farmers.
She further stated that these interventions include the Office of the Prime Minister continuing food assistance to eligible beneficiaries from 1 July to 30 June 2025.
Subsidies on the purchase of animal feed will continue until 31 March 2025, while the sale of subsidised fodder to farmers through Agricultural Development Centres began this month and will continue until 31 December.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila further stated that her office, in collaboration with the water ministry, will continue the water provision programme in drought-stricken areas.
To implement these interventions, government has made N$825 million available from the National Emergency Disaster Fund.
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