Palapye.com Weather Blog

source: allAfrica
The Namibian (Windhoek)

6 December 2007
Posted to the web 6 December 2007

Absalom Shigwedha
Windhoek

Namibia’s agricultural production could drop by 13 per cent because of climate change, says a recent study by the University of Namibia.

Livestock production will also decrease. The report, titled ‘Millennium Development Goals 7 and Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities’, was presented by Dr John Mfune, a lecturer at Unam, last Thursday.

Mfune, who was the co-ordinator of the study, said the country will also lose biodiversity and revenue from wildlife-based tourism because of climate change. However, Mfune said his team was happy to see that some rural people in the Oshana Region have already taken measures to adapt to climate change. Instead of sowing the traditional pearl millet (mahangu) that needs a lot rain, they have turned to drought-resistant Okashana mahangu, which matures fast even in drought conditions.

Mfune said climate change would mean more frequent and [continue reading]

source: allAfrica
New Era (Windhoek)

13 June 2007
Posted to the web 13 June 2007

Petronella Sibeene
Windhoek

The current crop and food situation for 2006/7 does not warrant declaring a “drought disaster” despite poor yields, says a report.

The Namibia Early Warning and Food Information Unit (NEWFIU) Report released last Friday by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry says although the past year’s rainy season was generally dry, most of the affected areas do not require emergency food assistance for drought-affected villagers.

The report explains that following a good 2006 cereal harvest, those threatened by possible hunger could survive from sufficient carryover stocks and alternative orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) food relief and other income sources such as pension, remittances and piece work. But on the contrary, the report says, the poorest households may quickly deplete their household supplies and will be unable to meet their food needs up to the next harvest period.

“Although the country is generally hit by drought conditions this year, the national food situation remains generally stable with fewer areas of food insecurity. Many households are able to meet their food needs from this year’s harvest,” the report says.

Domestic cereal production in 2006/7 is estimated at 114 100 tonnes.

From this, 52 100 tonnes are white maize, 44 500 tonnes are pearl millet, 4 500 tonnes are sorghum and 13 500 tonnes comprise winter wheat.

Cereal import requirements for the 2007/8 marketing year are estimated at 132 699 tonnes of which 89 400 tonnes are expected to be imported commercially with a deficit of 43 200 tonnes.

Compared to the 2005/6 farming season, production for 2006/7 is lower by 40 percent.

Namibia’s green belt area - the principal communal crop growing regions of Caprivi, Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshana and Oshikoto regions - has suffered poor harvests due to poor rains, prolonged dry spells, high temperatures and an outbreak of pests such as the red-bellied quelea birds, at critical stages of crop development. The pests reduced the yields by 10 percent.

Coping activities for poor households, the report recommends, could include casual labour, production and sale of alcoholic beverages, consumption of wild fruits, sale of livestock, handcrafts and firewood, and charcoal burning, fishing and hunting.

Meanwhile, animal farmers are likely to feel the drought situation more as the report warns of poor pastures.

Farmers are encouraged to consider [continue reading]