Namibia PDNA 2009 - GFDRR

In 1998, the Government launched a major review of current water resource management practices, approaches and policies through
the Namibia Water Resources Management Review, with the long-term objective of achieving equitable access to, and the sustainable
development of, water resources by all sectors of the national population. A National Water Policy was adopted in 2000 and paved
the way for the implementation of integrated water resources management. A Water Resources Management Act was passed by
Parliament in 2004.
The wage bill and transfers to numerous parastatals account for about 60 percent of the total Government spending. In the agricultural
sector, these relate in particular to state farming carried out by the National Development Corporation (NDC). These farms are
commercially operated as state farms, with management and paid labour. Several schemes under the NDC have been settled by
farmers on 3 to 4 ha plots. The NDC manages and provides inputs to farmers as credits under soft loans. Any new Government
development is normally executed by the NDC.
Needs
In terms of medium-term recovery actions to enable farmers to successfully harvest in the 2009/2010 season, significant government
interventions are needed. The main harvest next year may be affected due to the reduction in seed availability, as it is likely that the
most vulnerable households might consume the seeds, and at the same time, the household annual budget to purchase seeds might
be used to obtain food commodities. Furthermore, as mentioned previously, the Seed Cooperative crops were severely damaged by
the floods and hence it will need to import seed. Without external assistance, long-term reduction in household food availability is
forecasted in the area. The total cropland area affected by the flooding was over 90,000 ha. Required inputs will be seed, fertilizer, and
ploughing assistance. The Table below itemizes these inputs. Fertilizer represents the majority of the cost for cropland recovery.
Table 58: Crop rehabilitation needs for flood-affected areas
Inputs
Application
Requirement
Unit
Total
Requirement
Unit Cost
(N$)
Unit
Total Cost
(N$ million)
Seed 50 kg/ha 4,713,238 7 /kg 33.0
Fertilizer 10 kg/ha 942,648 700 /kg 659.8
Ploughing n/a 300 /ha $28.3
Total 721.1
In addition to inputs required for cropland rehabilitation, inputs will be required for livestock and fisheries. Costs for replacing livestock
are accounted for in the assessment of damages, as are costs for commercial fisheries. Fish ponds belonging to small farmers or villages
will need restocking with fingerlings. Of the 811 fish ponds registered with the IAC, 639 are located in areas affected by the flooding.
The table below summarizes the inputs required to restock these ponds.
Table 59: Needs for restocking small-farmer and communally-owned fish ponds
Inputs
Application
Requirement
Unit
Total
Requirement
Unit Cost
(N$)
Unit
Total Cost
(N$ million)
Fingerlings 1500 fish pond 958,500 0.20 /fingerling 0.19
Fish Food 4 kg/1000 fish 239,625 2.40 /kg 0.57
Total 0.76
Source: Inland Aquaculture Centre
Table 60 summarizes all calculated needs arising from flood damages and losses. As discussed in the risk reduction section, the northcentral
and north-eastern Regions are affected by drought as well as flood. In terms of long-term recovery, therefore, multi-use flood
protection and irrigation schemes are recommended to reduce the regions’ vulnerability to disasters and improve reliable access to
agricultural water”. In order to effectively implement such a multi-use scheme on a regional scale, however, changes in the farming
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Namibia POST-DISASTER NEEDS ASSESSMENT