Drought and FMD threaten Namibia’s agricultural stability

Namibia’s agricultural sector is under serious strain as drought conditions, combined with the risk of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), threaten export markets, food security and farmers’ livelihoods.

The Namibia Meteorological Service confirmed that the country recorded its driest January since 1981.

Hanks Saisai, Agribank’s technical advisor for crops and poultry, said rainfall has been unevenly distributed, leaving many farming regions without enough moisture.

He added that a dry January, followed by erratic rainfall in February, has intensified pressure on both livestock and crop sectors.

For livestock producers, the risks are heightened by the looming threat of a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, which could compromise Namibia’s disease-free status and limit access to key export markets, Saisai said.

“Should major markets be lost, local and regional markets may struggle to absorb the available supply, potentially leading to oversupply and depressed prices.”

Saisai urged farmers to take proactive measures.

“Those with slaughter-ready animals are encouraged to market them promptly. Producers with financial obligations, including loan instalments, are advised to use proceeds from such sales to cover at least 45 to 50% of their annual instalments.”

He said maintaining open communication with creditors is critical for finding amicable solutions during challenging periods.

“The remaining 50% to 55% of proceeds can be invested strategically for herd rebuilding or infrastructure improvements, such as irrigation systems to support cultivated pasture production, including lucerne or grass-growing operations," Saisai said.

He added that crop farmers are equally affected by the dry conditions.

Proactive measures needed

Insufficient rainfall has caused water shortages, Saisai noted, leaving many crops unable to meet daily moisture needs, which has led to stunted growth and poor yields. Early-planted crops are particularly vulnerable during critical growth stages, such as tasselling in maize and pearl millet (mahangu).

Moisture stress during flowering can severely impair pollination and grain setting. While maize is highly sensitive to dry spells, pearl millet shows relatively better, though limited, tolerance, said Saisa. “Prolonged dry conditions could result in outright crop failure.”

Another devastating effect of a dry January and a below-average February is the inadequate replenishment of water sources such as rivers, underground channels and boreholes.

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