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CSA adoption in Namibia. Research involved a review of existing literature and the
collection of empirical data through 60 semi-structured interviews. These interviews
were conducted with farmers in the semi-arid north-central region
1
of Namibia in
July 2017 as part of the Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions (ASSAR)
2
research project.
The agricultural sector contributes to only 3.7% of the country’s gross domestic
product, but small-scale and subsistence crop and livestock farming remains an
important aspect of livelihood security in rural areas, where more than half of the
national population resides (MAWF 2015). Farming, moreover, is fundamental to
the cultural identity of Namibian people, particularly in the Oshiwambo culture.
Increasing the resilience of Namibia’s agricultural sector is thus key not only for
alleviating poverty and food insecurity but also for preserving local socio-cultural
identities.
In recent years the government of Namibia has developed policies and plans to
enhance agricultural growth, improve natural resource management and upscale
climate-change interventions.
3
In 2015 a draft national CSA programme was
adopted (MET 2015). Farmers, with support from the government, non- governmental
organisations and national research institutions, have begun implementing CSA
practices. These include initiatives such as drip irrigation, planting early-maturing
mahangu (pearl millet), engaging in small-scale rice farming, using draught-animal
power and farm tools (instead of tractors) for ripping fields, and selecting more
hardy, drought-tolerant cattle breeds.
Some farmers, however, have been slow to adopt such approaches. Our study
found that cultural factors—especially religious belief, reliance on traditional
knowledge and the symbolic significance of certain agricultural practices—have
played a role in the low uptake of CSA in Namibia. We argue, however, that these
barriers can be turned into opportunities: By working with rather than against religious and traditional value systems, extension workers could promote the adoption
of CSA and thereby help to reduce the impacts of climate change and variability.
These benefits could be achieved through one or more of the following avenues: (i)
positioning religious and traditional leaders as climate change champions; (ii) integrating scientific information with traditional knowledge; and (iii) framing CSA in
such a way that it complements rather than conflicts with religious beliefs or traditional practices.
1 Interviews were conducted in the Onesi Constituency, which falls within the Omusati Region.
The specific study sites were the Okathitukeengombe, Oshihau and Omaenene villages.
2 The ASSAR project (2014–2018) aims to deepen the understanding of climate vulnerability and
adaptation in semi-arid regions of Africa and Asia, where millions of people are highly vulnerable
to climate-related impacts and risks. See http://www.assar.uct.ac.za/
3 Some key policies relevant for CSA implementation and scale-out in Namibia include: Namibia
Vision 2030; National Development Plan 4 (2012/13–2016/17); National Agricultural Policy
(2015); National Disaster Risk Management Policy (2009); National Drought Policy and Strategy
(1997) and National Climate Change Policy (2011) (as cited in MET 2015).
J. Davies et al.
CSA adoption in Namibia. Research involved a review of existing literature and the
collection of empirical data through 60 semi-structured interviews. These interviews
were conducted with farmers in the semi-arid north-central region
1
of Namibia in
July 2017 as part of the Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions (ASSAR)
2
research project.
The agricultural sector contributes to only 3.7% of the country’s gross domestic
product, but small-scale and subsistence crop and livestock farming remains an
important aspect of livelihood security in rural areas, where more than half of the
national population resides (MAWF 2015). Farming, moreover, is fundamental to
the cultural identity of Namibian people, particularly in the Oshiwambo culture.
Increasing the resilience of Namibia’s agricultural sector is thus key not only for
alleviating poverty and food insecurity but also for preserving local socio-cultural
identities.
In recent years the government of Namibia has developed policies and plans to
enhance agricultural growth, improve natural resource management and upscale
climate-change interventions.
3
In 2015 a draft national CSA programme was
adopted (MET 2015). Farmers, with support from the government, non- governmental
organisations and national research institutions, have begun implementing CSA
practices. These include initiatives such as drip irrigation, planting early-maturing
mahangu (pearl millet), engaging in small-scale rice farming, using draught-animal
power and farm tools (instead of tractors) for ripping fields, and selecting more
hardy, drought-tolerant cattle breeds.
Some farmers, however, have been slow to adopt such approaches. Our study
found that cultural factors—especially religious belief, reliance on traditional
knowledge and the symbolic significance of certain agricultural practices—have
played a role in the low uptake of CSA in Namibia. We argue, however, that these
barriers can be turned into opportunities: By working with rather than against religious and traditional value systems, extension workers could promote the adoption
of CSA and thereby help to reduce the impacts of climate change and variability.
These benefits could be achieved through one or more of the following avenues: (i)
positioning religious and traditional leaders as climate change champions; (ii) integrating scientific information with traditional knowledge; and (iii) framing CSA in
such a way that it complements rather than conflicts with religious beliefs or traditional practices.
1 Interviews were conducted in the Onesi Constituency, which falls within the Omusati Region.
The specific study sites were the Okathitukeengombe, Oshihau and Omaenene villages.
2 The ASSAR project (2014–2018) aims to deepen the understanding of climate vulnerability and
adaptation in semi-arid regions of Africa and Asia, where millions of people are highly vulnerable
to climate-related impacts and risks. See http://www.assar.uct.ac.za/
3 Some key policies relevant for CSA implementation and scale-out in Namibia include: Namibia
Vision 2030; National Development Plan 4 (2012/13–2016/17); National Agricultural Policy
(2015); National Disaster Risk Management Policy (2009); National Drought Policy and Strategy
(1997) and National Climate Change Policy (2011) (as cited in MET 2015).
J. Davies et al.