Namibia PDNA 2009 - GFDRR

Annex 4
Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries
Introduction
The agricultural sector, which includes crop production, livestock,
forestry and fisheries, accounts for about 10 percent of GDP,
yet an estimated 68 percent of the population derives at least
part of its income from agriculture and forestry. Unlike in many
Sub-Saharan African countries, agriculture does not play a
central role in Namibia’s economy. The extraction sector is the
leading sector economically. However, the agriculture sector
employs 47 percent of the nation’s labour force. Subsistence
farming is the main source of income for almost 40 percent of
households in the country. Livestock production accounts for
75-80 percent of agriculture’s contribution to GDP. Annual per
capita income from farming in the sub-sector is approximately
N$260. Namibia has six major food producing regions, all of
which are located in the northern portion of the country. These
are: Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, and Ohangwena (collectively
referred to as the north-central Regions) and Kavango and
Caprivi (collectively referred to as the north-east Regions).
Namibia’s cultivable area is estimated to be 25 million ha. In
2002, the cultivated area was 820,000 ha, of which 816,000
ha was arable land; the other 4,000 ha were under permanent
crops, accounting together for about 1 percent of the total
land area of the country and 3 percent of the cultivable area.
Total water consumption in Namibia was 300 million m3 in
2000. Agriculture was the largest water user accounting for
213 million m3, of which 136 million m3 was for irrigation (45
percent of total) and the remaining 77 million m3 for livestock
(26 percent). In 2002, 7,573 ha were equipped for irrigation,
representing less than 1 percent of the cultivated area. The
main irrigated areas include schemes along the Okavango
River and with about 1,350 ha equipped area and schemes
on the Zambezi River. In addition, flood recession cropping
(mainly maize) is practiced in the flood plains of the Okavango
and Zambezi Rivers. The Government has adopted a Green
Scheme Policy which aims to develop some 20,000 hectares of
irrigated agriculture in a joint venture between the Government,
commercial, and small-holder farmers. Commercial farmers are
expected to provide irrigation services to small-scale farmers
associated with the Green Scheme.
The agricultural sector is divided into a commercial farming
sub-sector, where farms are privately-owned, and a communal
farming sub-sector, where farmers operate on lands that are
held in communal tenure. The communal areas directly support
95 percent of their population, but occupy only 48 percent of
the total agricultural land. Farmers in the communal areas are
mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and extensive livestock
production. The commercial farming sub-sector occupies about
36.2 million ha which are mainly used for extensive ranching,
accounting for 72 percent of agriculture’s contribution to the
GDP, and provides employment for about 8 percent of the
working population. The Namibian Agronomic Board produces
and disseminates market prices for food staples. Controlled
crops include millet, maize, and wheat.
The MAWF has a mandate to promote, develop, manage and
utilize agriculture, water and forestry resources. The Ministry
of Fisheries and Marine Resources has the overall mandate for
promoting sustainable fish production both inland and marine.
The Government has adopted comprehensive policies for each
of the agricultural sub-sectors, including an Agricultural Policy
(1995), a National Drought Policy (1997), a Seed Policy (2005),
a National Forest Policy, and a National Fisheries Policy (1991).
Associated legislation has been prepared and enacted.
The National Assembly adopted the Decentralization Policy
in 1997 and passed the Decentralization Enabling Act in 2000
to ensure that government services are brought closer to the
people. Regional Councils and Local Authorities have been
established in accordance with the Regional Councils and
Local Authorities Acts that was enacted in August 1992. A
Trust Fund for Regional Development and Equity Provisions
Act was passed in 2000. The Act provides for financial and
technical support to development projects in regions and local
authorities.
Functions are being decentralized in two phases—delegation
and devolution. During the first phase, sub-national
governments are delegated to perform certain tasks on behalf
of the line ministries. During the second phase, decentralization
takes full effect and sub-national governments have the full
responsibility over the tasks delegated to them. So far, only
one of the functions earmarked for decentralization in the
Decentralization Policy, rural water supply, has been handed
over to the Regional Councils.
Pre-disaster Situation
Agricultural production in the four north-central and two northeast
regions is mainly for subsistence and, despite the events of
the past two years; crop production is generally constrained by
low and erratic rainfall. Rain-fed agricultural production is only
possible in areas receiving more than 400mm annual rainfall,
which is the case for 34 percent of the country’s land mass.
The sector is strongly influenced by climatic conditions and as
a result the contribution to the GDP has varied between 6.8
percent and 12.3 percent since 1990, with low contributions in
drought years. Crop production is further constrained by low
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Namibia POST-DISASTER NEEDS ASSESSMENT