Review of drought policy urgent – Schlettwein
Drought policy in force since 1997
Since 1997, with the adoption of the drought policy, the country has experienced substantial shocks arising from periodic and often severe drought incidences, with increasing scale and severity.
The first comprehensive review of Namibia’s drought policy since its inception in 1997 took place in Windhoek last week.
The review took place against the backdrop of regional consultations over the past three weeks across a cluster of regions.
According to agriculture minister, Calle Schlettwein, there is an urgent need to devise a more agile strategy.
The strategy should place the farmer at the centre of drought management and enable the country to fortify its responsiveness and resilience to future drought occurrences.
"This review should take stock of the successes and shortcomings of the past and existing practices, to formulate a comprehensive policy with a clear and measurable implementation strategy."
Substantial shocks
Schlettwein’s speech was read on his behalf by executive director Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata at the National Workshop on the Review of the 1997 Drought Policy and Strategy.
He said that the policy was devised in 1997 by government and has been in force since then.
The policy enables the implementation of multi-dimensional interventions to mitigate the impact of drought incidences in the country.
"The policy outlines the objectives and strategies to respond to, mitigate and adapt to the often severe impact of the drought on the agricultural sector, lives and livelihoods," said Schlettwein.
Over the past 25 years since the adoption of the policy, the country has experienced substantial shocks arising from periodic and often severe drought incidences, with increasing scale and severity, particularly during 1996, 2013, 2016, and most recently in 2019.
"Notably, the review is being held against the backdrop of key cross-cutting strategic interventions made over the years as well as lessons learnt to induce great latitude of better preparedness, adaptation and resilience against the often devastating impacts of recurrent drought spells, to which our country is highly exposed," the minister said.
Limited defence
Schlettwein said that over the past decades, the government, with the support of stakeholders and development partners, has deployed several measures to mitigate the severe impact of drought events on the agricultural, water and land sectors as well as the consequent impact on the economy and households.
Schlettwein said that despite this, deep pockets of water scarcity still prevail, limiting the ability of farmers to respond and adapt to drought shocks.
"Several drought programmes, like the fodder subsidy, have led to unsustainable farming practices, while food distribution programmes during the drought need greater targeting and must be complementary to food security objectives."
He added that the absence of a coordinated financing mechanism such as the drought fund, as envisaged in the policy, has limited the government and stakeholder responsiveness during severe drought manifestations.
Adaptive measures
Schlettwein said that the review of the policy should articulate the policy tools and strategies and take into account the specific needs identified by communities during the regional consultation process.
"Such bottom-up consultation processes have identified specific strategies to be implemented before the drought strikes, sufficiency of responsiveness during the drought event as well as adaptation measures for long-term resilience."
He said for the revised policy to be relevant and impactful, it should benefit from available evidence, address the specific and differentiated needs at the regional level, and be underpinned by a clear implementation framework, hence the significance of the national workshop.
Teamwork
Partnerships between and among farmers, governments, and development partners are among the key issues to consider.
Another issue to consider is increasing farm management responsibility for adaptation and sustainable, climate-smart farming practices, as well as measures to induce greater preparedness, responsiveness, and adaptation to drought and related shocks.
He also mentioned risk mitigation measures at the producer level and nationally, such as national agricultural index insurance, sustainable funding mechanisms for mitigating the impact of drought, equity and efficiency of administration of such mechanisms, and investment in reliable water infrastructure nationally and at the community level.
The review took place against the backdrop of regional consultations over the past three weeks across a cluster of regions.
According to agriculture minister, Calle Schlettwein, there is an urgent need to devise a more agile strategy.
The strategy should place the farmer at the centre of drought management and enable the country to fortify its responsiveness and resilience to future drought occurrences.
"This review should take stock of the successes and shortcomings of the past and existing practices, to formulate a comprehensive policy with a clear and measurable implementation strategy."
Substantial shocks
Schlettwein’s speech was read on his behalf by executive director Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata at the National Workshop on the Review of the 1997 Drought Policy and Strategy.
He said that the policy was devised in 1997 by government and has been in force since then.
The policy enables the implementation of multi-dimensional interventions to mitigate the impact of drought incidences in the country.
"The policy outlines the objectives and strategies to respond to, mitigate and adapt to the often severe impact of the drought on the agricultural sector, lives and livelihoods," said Schlettwein.
Over the past 25 years since the adoption of the policy, the country has experienced substantial shocks arising from periodic and often severe drought incidences, with increasing scale and severity, particularly during 1996, 2013, 2016, and most recently in 2019.
"Notably, the review is being held against the backdrop of key cross-cutting strategic interventions made over the years as well as lessons learnt to induce great latitude of better preparedness, adaptation and resilience against the often devastating impacts of recurrent drought spells, to which our country is highly exposed," the minister said.
Limited defence
Schlettwein said that over the past decades, the government, with the support of stakeholders and development partners, has deployed several measures to mitigate the severe impact of drought events on the agricultural, water and land sectors as well as the consequent impact on the economy and households.
Schlettwein said that despite this, deep pockets of water scarcity still prevail, limiting the ability of farmers to respond and adapt to drought shocks.
"Several drought programmes, like the fodder subsidy, have led to unsustainable farming practices, while food distribution programmes during the drought need greater targeting and must be complementary to food security objectives."
He added that the absence of a coordinated financing mechanism such as the drought fund, as envisaged in the policy, has limited the government and stakeholder responsiveness during severe drought manifestations.
Adaptive measures
Schlettwein said that the review of the policy should articulate the policy tools and strategies and take into account the specific needs identified by communities during the regional consultation process.
"Such bottom-up consultation processes have identified specific strategies to be implemented before the drought strikes, sufficiency of responsiveness during the drought event as well as adaptation measures for long-term resilience."
He said for the revised policy to be relevant and impactful, it should benefit from available evidence, address the specific and differentiated needs at the regional level, and be underpinned by a clear implementation framework, hence the significance of the national workshop.
Teamwork
Partnerships between and among farmers, governments, and development partners are among the key issues to consider.
Another issue to consider is increasing farm management responsibility for adaptation and sustainable, climate-smart farming practices, as well as measures to induce greater preparedness, responsiveness, and adaptation to drought and related shocks.
He also mentioned risk mitigation measures at the producer level and nationally, such as national agricultural index insurance, sustainable funding mechanisms for mitigating the impact of drought, equity and efficiency of administration of such mechanisms, and investment in reliable water infrastructure nationally and at the community level.
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