Namibia PDNA 2009 - GFDRR

3.2
3.2.1
Sector Impacts: Productive Sectors
Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries
Pre-disaster Situation
Early crop production indications for the 2008/09 farming season for both the north-eastern (Kavango and Caprivi) and north-central
(Oshana, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, and Omusati) farming regions of Namibia were promising due to steady, early rains in October
and November. The country’s aggregate coarse grain production (white maize, pearl millet, wheat and sorghum) was provisionally
forecasted at 165,129 tons, which would represent an increase in output of 56 percent, compared to 2007/08 harvest. However,
the severe flooding that occurred in March and April 2009, affected a total of 94,804 hectares. Flood levels that were reached that
had not been witnessed since 1969. In the north-central Regions, the flat, natural topography combined with undersized drainage
infrastructure further exacerbated the situation.
Damage and Losses
The 2009 floods impacted Namibia’s agricultural sector in a variety of complex and
interrelated ways, aggravating the already dire situation as a result of flooding in 2008,
and infestation of armyworms. The floods occurred in March and April, thus affecting
crop production, due to flooding of crop lands immediately before the harvest.
Livestock was affected by loss of livestock and livestock products, and damage to
infrastructure. Forest plantations and orchards were also flooded, as a result of
which trees and production were lost. The flooding has made traditional fishing
places inaccessible and caused damage and losses to commercial and traditional fish
ponds. In total, at least 350,000 people were affected by the flooding. 8
Figure 20: Flooding of
agricultural lands
Total damages and losses are summarized in Table 15. Total damages to the
agricultural sector are estimated at N$29.1million, and losses are estimated at
N$127.5million. The north-eastern Regions are most severely affected, with a
reduction of 77 percent of the planted area as a result of the floods.
Table 15: Estimates of damage and losses in the agricultural sector
Sector
Damage
(N$ million)
Losses
(N$ million)
Damage
(US$ million)
Losses
(US$ million)
Field crops 4.6 101.2 0.6 12.4
Livestock 8.9 17.0 1.1 2.1
Forestry 3.7 3.2 0.5 0.4
Fish farms 11.9 6.1 1.5 0.7
Total 29.1 127.5 3.6 15.6
Source: Estimates of PDNA Team
Needs
The recovery framework for the agricultural sector can be divided into an early recovery phase, during which the food security needs
of the affected population must be addressed, a medium-term recovery phase during which the needs of the farmers to replant and
ultimate harvest during the 2009/2010 season must be addressed, and finally a long-term recovery phase which should address the
recommendations made in the Risk Management Issues section of this report.
8 This estimate is on the conservative end, with estimates ranging as high as 677,500 people affected.
18
Namibia POST-DISASTER NEEDS ASSESSMENT