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Agriculture in Namibia plays a critical role in the formal and informal economy supporting 70% of the population directly or indirectly through employment and income generation. The agricultural sector in Namibia contributes over 10% to the GDP of which 75-80% can be attributed to livestock farming. The livestock industry accounts for 90% of all agricultural production in Namibia with approximately 60% of households owning cattle, including nearly 40% of poor households. Crop production activities in Namibia are limited, mainly due to the arid climate and low rainfall patterns. Rain-fed crops include pearl millet, sorghum and maize are the most dominant crops grown in Namibia. The average yield for these crops ranges from 24.7 ton for pearl millet, 72,438 for maize and 14,819 for wheat. The dependence on rain-fed agriculture increases the vulnerability of farming systems and predisposes rural households to food insecurity and poverty. However, the reduction in crop yields will have devastating impacts on food security at both national and household levels. Under the current conditions, the agriculture sector in Namibia needs to grow by 4% a year to meet the food requirements for the expanding population. In light of these challenges, Namibia needs to adapt its agricultural practices and increase the resilience of livelihoods to be able to withstand the challenges posed by climate change to sustain development and growth of the country.

The Validation Workshop for the draft Climate-Smart Agriculture Manual brought together senior technocrats in the Government of Zimbabwe Ministries: Agriculture, Mechanization and Irrigation Development and Environment, Water and Climate, with other approved experts to give the final input to the draft Manual.

The work funded by the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) and with the lead implementer, United Nations Environment Programme – Technical University of Denmark, has brought to the forefront issues that concern agriculture and climate change to the attention of all stakeholders in Zimbabwe.

The draft Manual was approved (with amendments) by the senior technocrats in the Government of Zimbabwe and stakeholders represented. What follows next, is the official launch of the Climate-Smart Agriculture Manual for Agricultural Education in Zimbabwe, followed by the Training of Trainers and concluding work to the year-long Technical Assistance to Zimbabwe.

The eyes of some 180 000 Namibia’s communal crop farmers  are firmly focused on the implementation of the European Union’s Conservation Agriculture Project for Namibia via the International Food Organisation (FAO) after N$40 million was approved for this proven practice. This will be emphasised in strong terms after the Ministry of Environment and Tourism has indicated that it will celebrate the World Day to Combat Desertification on June 17 in Omuthiya with special focus on conservation agriculture (CA). 

Scientific trials on farms on Namibia-specific Conservation Agriculture or Tillage (NSCA) over the last ten years have been revolutionising rain fed grain crop yields to the extent that Namibia could become self sufficient in millet and maize production in the not too distant future despite the effects of climate change.

This is the expert opinion of independent consultant and acknowledged conservation agriculturalist beyond Namibian borders, Rod Davis. “Far from our crop production being liable to drop by 50% because of climate change according to the ‘experts’, we are presently seeing millet yields increasing from the national average of 300 kilogrammes per hectare to 3000 kilogrammes and more even during the current severe drought. Would interested and affected parties, including ministries, please take note. (CA) Conservation Agriculture practises, such as no-till, that work in other countries don’t work here because of our low and erratic rainfall and degraded soils,” says Davis.

He adds that Conservation Tillage (CT) is specifically designed for Namibian conditions and it really works and its benefits extend to soil degradation reversal; farmer livelihood improvement; food security; combating deforestation and labour saving per unit of yield, the list goes on. The system employs, as part of the package, Namibian unique Ripper Furrowing (RF) tillage technology. RF is a combined operation where the implement rips 30 centimtres deep, shattering the hard pan caused mainly by the compacting effect of disc harrowing, whilst at the same time forming water harvesting furrows. The rip line is at the base of the furrow where the crop is planted while the furrow sides deliver 75% more moisture to the crop. Crop rotation with legumes is also part of the system with indigenous cowpea, bambara nut and ground nut which are all highly nutritious as well as marketable.

“To us and also to the rapidly growing number of CT/CA farmers, to whom we have introduced the system, there is no need to spend any more time dithering and wondering what to do next! The system definitely works really very well whether small or large scale.

However; some problems need to be addressed, as follows:

RF alone, without the rest of the package, will not improve the soil. Yields will increase initially with deeper rooting finding leached nutrients plus the additional moisture. Therefore, in the medium term yields are likely to drop back meaning farmers will become disillusioned,

Presently there are no less than ten Namibian based organisations involved in CT/CA, six directly and four indirectly with some variances in approach and methodology. To ensure that farmers are basically told the same thing by these initiatives, a more associative approach between these organisations for better harmonised introduction and adoption should be considered. This would hopefully also assist in more collaboration and less competition as at present,CT/CA should be regarded as a continuum with changes made when needed and recognised, and of course agreed upon. For example Conservation Agriculture Namibia (C.A.N.) have introduced what is called the 2,2,2, crop rotation system where two rows of a grain crop next to two rows legume and two rows grain crop are planted (grains are either indigenous mahangu or short season drought resistant maize). This works well in that nitrification by the legume adjoining the mahangu or maize is quicker.

On the farmers’ side, the most important element is, as always, management. This is the golden rule for the extraordinary high yields being achieved.

Namibia is one of the most arid countries south of the Sahara. Around 70 % of the population lives in rural areas. Fishery, tourism and agriculture form the basis of the country's economy. However, the economy is held back by low demand for domestic products as well as high transport costs and competition with products from South Africa. Climatic variability is a common phenomenon in Namibia, exhibited by persistent droughts, and unpredictable and variable rainfall and temperatures. Land degradation - soil erosion, bush encroachment, deforestation - and desertification are increasingly a threat to agricultural productivity. Climate change reports predict an increase in temperature and a lower amount of rainfall. Changing patterns and intensity of rainfall are likely to increase the rate of soil erosion, affecting crop production and livestock. An increased incidence and severity of extreme weather events such as flooding will worsen soil erosion and destroy crops. Climate change will affect the agricultural yield directly through changes in temperature and precipitation, and indirectly through changes in soil quality, pests, and diseases. In response this project aims at enhancing the adaptive capacities of farmers, pastoralists and natural resource managers to climate change in agricultural and pastoral systems. The project is working to develop and pilot a range of effective coping mechanisms for the reduction of the farmers' and pastoralists' vulnerability to climate change and variability. The following coping mechanisms were chosen for the project intervention: Improved seeds, Aquaculture, Livestock, Rainwater harvesting, Conservation agriculture, Drip irrigation, Buffalo grass. As target group 500 farming households were chosen. 

A brief overview of adaptation options and measurements

No information is available on responses of South African taro landraces to water stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate the responses, and mechanisms thereof, of taro to water stress under controlled and field conditions. Taro landraces were collected from rural areas in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A pot trial was planted in tunnels at the University of KwaZulu-Natal with two factors: three landraces and water stress (NS – no stress, IS – intermittent stress and TS – terminal stress), replicated six times. For NS, soil water content (SWC) was maintained at 75% field capacity (FC). IS involved watering pots to 75% FC during crop establishment, and allowing SWC to deplete to 30% FC during the vegetative stage, before returning to 75% until harvest maturity. For TS, SWC was maintained at 30% FC for the entire growing period. Field trials were planted in October 2010, with irrigation (full irrigation versus rainfed) as a main factor and landrace type as sub-factor, replicated three times. SWC was monitored weekly. Emergence, plant height, leaf number, leaf area, LAI, vegetative growth index (VGI) and stomatal conductance (SC) were determined weekly. Results from both pot and field trials showed that taro landraces were slow to emerge (~49 days). There were significant differences (P<0.001) between landraces with respect to final emergence. Taro growth (plant height, leaf number and leaf area), for both trials, was shown to be significantly (P<0.05) reduced by water stress. Under field conditions, SC, LAI and VGI were significantly (P<0.05) lower under rainfed conditions compared with irrigated conditions. It is concluded that emergence and vegetative growth parameters of KwaZulu-Natal taro landraces are sensitive to water stress. Data from this study will be used to calibrate AquaCrop and presented as a possible option to manage taro under dryland and irrigated conditions in the warm subtropical areas of South Africa.

Historically, traditional cropping systems are based on diversification, thus making a significant contribution to food security for the household. Intercropping may offer farmers the opportunity to mimic this diversity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the productivity of a taro-bambara intercrop. The intercrop combinations were 1:1 and 1:2, compared with taro and bambara sole crops. Growth parameters and yield components were determined separately for each crop. Thereafter, land equivalent ratio (LER) was calculated to evaluate the productivity of the intercrop. Plant height of taro, as the main crop, was not significantly affected by intercropping. However, leaf number was significantly affected (P<0.001). Intercropping taro resulted in reduced leaf number compared with the sole crop; leaf number in response to the 1:2 intercrop was significantly lower than that of 1:1 intercrop. Bambara growth was significantly (P<0.05) affected by intercropping in that plants were taller and had more leaves when intercropped with taro. Taro yield was not significantly affected by intercropping, although yield generally decreased under intercropping compared with the sole crop. Bambara yield was also not significantly affected by intercropping. The LER showed that intercropping was more productive than sole cropping. The 1:1 intercrop had a LER of 1.71 compared with 1.36 for the 1:2 intercrop. It is concluded that although intercropping had variable effects on the growth of both taro and bambara, there was an agronomic advantage to intercropping.

The CCARDESA Secretariat wishes to invite applications from qualified and competent candidates who are nationals of the SADC member countries to fill the position of Internal Auditor.

The main aim of the Conference was to have a dialogue on matters relating to climate change as it affects agriculture in Southern Africa, to share lessons and progress made. The first part of the conference dealt with presentations from a number of countries in Southern Africa on their experiences and coping mechanisms, and this was followed by a session primarily dedicated to South African experiences.