Abstract
In 2019, Namibia experienced one of the worst droughts in recent decades, significantly affecting its agricultural economy, especially the livestock production sector. In this context, there is limited literature about how pastoral farmers in the country’s communal agricultural areas navigated this severe dryness. This paper addresses this knowledge gap by introducing a case study involving Ovaherero pastoralists in the Okakarara constituency. Following a mixed-method approach, it describes the practices implemented by local households to keep their cattle herds alive, the challenges they experienced thereby, and the strategies used for recovering their livestock losses. The study reveals that essential drought-coping practices, such as livestock mobility along with various long-term risk reduction mechanisms, such as reservation of emergency pastures, and social institutions of exchange, are limited in the communities described in this research. The paper discusses the main reasons for these conditions and their implications for local farmers, considering that more frequent droughts of similar severity are projected for the coming years in the region.
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of Namibian Studies : History Politics Culture
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
