This edition’s front-page article spells out varying rain pattens for Namibia during the just-started rain season. This is not something to be taken lightly. What it means is that some parts of the country could receive good rainfall, while other parts may be left dry.

Such prediction calls for urgent action to put the country in a state where it can effectively mitigate the effects of the drought. We may be banking on good rains as predicted in some parts, but the reality is that Namibia is a dry country that is often hit by drought. Therefore, preparation across all spheres of society is vital.

On 22 May 2024, the government declared a state of emergency following the worst drought that the country has experienced in 100 years. 

According to media reports, every one in five Namibians was considered food insecure. 

Against the backdrop of scarce rains, over 331000 households registered for the government-funded drought relief programme to assist the affected communities.

A few years earlier in 2019, Windhoek experienced its driest year on record since 1891, contributing to Namibia’s most severe drought on record.

The adverse effects of the prolonged drought were felt far and wide, with communities grappling with water scarcity, food insecurity and economic hardship.

Agriculture production plummeted to its lowest levels, which led to increased livestock deaths and widespread disruption to the livelihoods of many families across the nation.

This prolonged period of low rainfall had a devastating effect, with more than 500 000 people in Namibia suffering from the impact.

In addition, drought has resulted in the loss of more than 60 000 livestock and has left many locals facing significant challenges, including food insecurity and water shortages.

Namibia’s deteriorating food security is mainly driven by dry spells and erratic rainfall. Water availability for crop production, livestock and domestic use is at the lowest level due to these climate shocks. Many households depend on crop and livestock farming, which relies heavily on seasonal rains. Consecutive years of low productivity are leading to a high market price for food commodities too.

Many households, especially those in communal farming areas, have reported depleting their food stocks from the previous season and are now largely reliant on market supplies and drought relief aid.

Additionally, livestock production had suffered due to poor pasture conditions and water shortages in 2024, leading to fair to poor livestock body conditions, especially in the southern, western and eastern parts of the country.

The National Drought Policy and Strategy aim to ensure that household food security is not compromised by drought and most importantly support farmers to adopt self-reliant approaches to drought.

The policy aims to shift responsibility for managing drought risk from government to the farmer, with financial assistance and food security interventions only being considered in the event of an extreme or ‘disaster’ drought being declared. 

The thrust of the policy is to move away from regular financial assistance to large numbers of private-tenure and communal-tenure farmers to measures that support the on-farm management of risk. 

The government’s involvement with drought intends to move beyond an exclusive focus on emergency drought programmes to a broader, longer-term perspective.

The situation reinforces the urgent need for comprehensive drought management strategies and the importance of building resilience to climate-related challenges in Namibia.

Given the detrimental effect of drought on communities, economies and ecosystems, the importance of accurately modelling drought conditions cannot be overstated. 

This is especially true in the development of effective early warning indicators and strategies, which is crucial for mitigating the impact of drought and minimising its adverse effects.