Adapting to Climate Change Through the Improvement of Traditional Crops and Livestock Farming in Namibia

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.