Over 750 000 Namibians face food insecurity in 2023
It is expected that about 750 000 people in Namibia may face acute food insecurity by January to March 2023.
This is due high food prices and localised weather-induced shortfalls in cereal production expected this year, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) said in its latest crop prospects and food situation report.
It found that 45 countries globally, including Namibia, are in need of external assistance for food.
Globally, multi-year high inflation rates - amid challenging macroeconomic environments - are aggravating food insecurity conditions, particularly in low-income food-deficit countries, it said.
According to the FAO, Namibia has experienced localised shortfalls in staple food production and an economic downturn.
The organisation added that the estimated number of people who will be severely food insecure - falling within the IPC Phase 3 (crisis) acute food insecurity classification - corresponds with the number of food insecure people this year.
In Africa, widespread and substantial rainfall deficits are foreseen to cause a decline in harvests in certain countries, while droughts and extreme weather events in some parts of southern Africa caused reduced 2022 cereal outputs in most countries, it said.
Crop production decline
According to the crop prospects and food security situation report for July, which was recently released by the agriculture ministry, aggregate cereal estimates indicate that Namibia is expecting a slight decrease of 1% in crop production for the 2021/2022 cropping season.
This compared to the previous season’s harvest, but is still 23% above the average production.
The revised aggregate crop estimates indicate that the country has recorded 151 723 metric tonnes for the 2021/2022 cropping season, which is slightly below the previous season’s harvest of 153 028 tonnes and above the average annual production of 123 710 tonnes.
It, however, indicated that Namibia will need to import more than 160 000 tonnes of cereal to be able cover its domestic requirements for the 2022/2023 marketing and consumption period.
This period runs from 1 May to 30 April 2023.
It is estimated that 168 700 metric tonnes of cereals are locally available for the 2022/2023 marketing and consumption period in Namibia.
However, this is only about 45% of the domestic cereal requirement of 373 400 tonnes, and therefore a total of 204 600 is needed to cover the shortfall.
“Namibia is not yet food self-sufficient and therefore heavily relies on imports to meet domestic consumption. Under normal circumstances, the country produces approximately 60% of its cereal requirements and covers the remaining 40% through imports.”
However, it said the Russia-Ukraine conflict has impacted Namibia’s economy, particularly on the importation of grains and consequently on food security as it has affected food systems - from production, processing, distribution and marketing to consumption - and also reduces people’s purchasing power due to inflation.
This is due high food prices and localised weather-induced shortfalls in cereal production expected this year, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) said in its latest crop prospects and food situation report.
It found that 45 countries globally, including Namibia, are in need of external assistance for food.
Globally, multi-year high inflation rates - amid challenging macroeconomic environments - are aggravating food insecurity conditions, particularly in low-income food-deficit countries, it said.
According to the FAO, Namibia has experienced localised shortfalls in staple food production and an economic downturn.
The organisation added that the estimated number of people who will be severely food insecure - falling within the IPC Phase 3 (crisis) acute food insecurity classification - corresponds with the number of food insecure people this year.
In Africa, widespread and substantial rainfall deficits are foreseen to cause a decline in harvests in certain countries, while droughts and extreme weather events in some parts of southern Africa caused reduced 2022 cereal outputs in most countries, it said.
Crop production decline
According to the crop prospects and food security situation report for July, which was recently released by the agriculture ministry, aggregate cereal estimates indicate that Namibia is expecting a slight decrease of 1% in crop production for the 2021/2022 cropping season.
This compared to the previous season’s harvest, but is still 23% above the average production.
The revised aggregate crop estimates indicate that the country has recorded 151 723 metric tonnes for the 2021/2022 cropping season, which is slightly below the previous season’s harvest of 153 028 tonnes and above the average annual production of 123 710 tonnes.
It, however, indicated that Namibia will need to import more than 160 000 tonnes of cereal to be able cover its domestic requirements for the 2022/2023 marketing and consumption period.
This period runs from 1 May to 30 April 2023.
It is estimated that 168 700 metric tonnes of cereals are locally available for the 2022/2023 marketing and consumption period in Namibia.
However, this is only about 45% of the domestic cereal requirement of 373 400 tonnes, and therefore a total of 204 600 is needed to cover the shortfall.
“Namibia is not yet food self-sufficient and therefore heavily relies on imports to meet domestic consumption. Under normal circumstances, the country produces approximately 60% of its cereal requirements and covers the remaining 40% through imports.”
However, it said the Russia-Ukraine conflict has impacted Namibia’s economy, particularly on the importation of grains and consequently on food security as it has affected food systems - from production, processing, distribution and marketing to consumption - and also reduces people’s purchasing power due to inflation.
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