The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has launched the Namibia Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the period 2019-2023. The CPF will guide FAO’s partnership with the government of Namibia for five years in the areas of agriculture, fisheries, forestry, food security, nutrition and rural development.
FAO is mobilising resources and giving technical support to mitigate the effects of climate change and droughts on agricultural production and people’s livelihoods and made good of this two weeks ago by donating 180 tonnes of multi-nutrient blocks to help drought-hit farmers in Omaheke Region Farayi Zumudzi, the FAO representative in Namibia, says FAO will also donate 180 bales of hay to the region. The blocks contain proteins, trace minerals and provide energy to the livestock that are struggling to keep alive.
Zimudzi says the assistance will go a long way in saving the few remaining livestock which is mainly the core breeding herd, lessening the burden on farmers who are unable to access feed or grazing areas. The situation is dire and this drought not only affects livestock productivity, but it has also caused an increase in animal disease prevalence, immense pasture degradation and has severely reduced overall access to water, she noted.
FAO will also provide multi-nutrient blocks and hay to farmers and households in Erongo, Kunene and Otjozondjupa regions.
Zumudzi says in addition to helping farmers, the organisation will also train 42 agricultural extension officers from the country’s 14 regions from September 9 to 19 on livestock emergency guidelines and standards.
The training aims to equip them with the necessary information and skills needed during emergencies such as drought.