Status of conservation agriculture implementation in Namibia at the regional conservation agriculture dialogue meeting in Lusaka Zambia from 25 to 27 september 2019

1. STATUS OF CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE
IMPLEMENTATION IN NAMIBIA:
A PRESENTATION TO THE REGIONAL DIALOGUE EVENT FOR
CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE IN LUSAKA, ZAMBIA FROM
25 TO 27 SEPTEMBER 2019
By
James Nzehengwa, CA Focal person, Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry
and
Eugene Kanguatjivi, FAO-Namibia
Republic of Namibia
Ministry of Agriculture Water and
forestry

2. 1. Challenges
Low adoption:
• Weed management
• Limited/access to appropriate CA/CSA
technologies, inputs
• Drought
 Limited research to establish evidence based for
CA in Namibia
 Limited skills in CA both for farmers and extension
workers
 Limited resources to enhance the adoption of
CA/CSA
 Short designed donor projects

3. 2.1 Coordination framework:
• Comprehensive Conservation
Agriculture Programme (CCAP)
2015-2022 was developed by
the Ministry of Agriculture,
Water and Forestry with
stakeholders such as the FAO,
GIZ, SCORE, Farmer Unions,
Agricultural Boards, Parastatals,
Financial institutions etc.
• The CCAP is a framework for the
coordinated implementation of
CA by all stakeholders in
Namibia.
2. Achievements

4. National CA Forum (NCAF)
Chaired by
Government
Farmers
Unions
Agronomic
Boards and
Parastatals
Academia
NGOs i.e FAO,
GIZ, CRAVE
Government
Ministries
(MAWF,
MET)

5. Responsibilities of NCAF
• Responsibilities: Overseeing implementation
of all CA interventions in Namibia including
monitoring and evaluation as well as creating
synergy, alignment & harmonization of CA
activities with broader national visions,
strategies & development programmes;
• Meet annually

6. Regional CA Forum
RCA Forum
Forum Chair:
Government (CASO)
Financial
Institutions
Banks..i.e
Argribank
Regional
Council and
Traditional
Authorities
representatives
Secretariat:
DAPEES staff
RCA Implementing
Projects staff (GIZ,
SCORE, NAFOLA,
FAO)
DAPEES staff;
Sister Directorates
i.e Research,
Forestry,
Veterinary; and
other Ministries
i.e MET
Other stakeholder
i.e AMTA, NAB,
Farmers rep etc.

7. Coordination cont……..
• Responsibilities: Ensure implementation of CA
in the Regions including advocacy, monitoring
and evaluation.
• Regional CA Forum meetings: Meeting
quarterly per annum

8. 2.3 CA policies or Strategies in Namibia
• Comprehensive Conservation Agriculture Programme (CCAP)
for Namibia 2015-2019
• National Development Plan (NDP 5)
• MAWF Strategic Plan (2017/18-2021/22) CA target: 13 000
farmers practicing at least one of the CA principles
• National Policy on Climate Change for Namibia 2011
• National Climate Change Strategy & Action Plan 2013-2020
• National Climate Smart Agriculture Programme 2015-2030
• Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) of The
Republic of Namibia to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 2015

9. 2.4 Lead farmer approach:
• Incentivised to promote CA within their
communities
• 600 Lead farmers trained
• 5050 farmers are practicing at least of the CA
principles

10. 2.5 Lead farmer demo plot

11. Lead farmer training other farmers

12. 2.6 Support from academia (UNAM, NUST)
Research activities
On-going research activities
• Weed management, Crop rotation,
mechanization

13. Most drought tolerant legumes at
Mashare(Lessons learnt)
• Cowpea
• Lablab
• Pigeon pea

14. 2.7 Other opportunities
• Organized agriculture structures (Farmers
Unions, Cooperatives)
• Support from development partners and
academia (FAO, GIZ, CRAVE, SCORE)

15. 3. The future of CA in Namibia
The New Climate Smart Agriculture Programme/Climate
adaptation programme for Namibia
• Current CCAP is ending this year.
• Conservation Agriculture (CA) is one method of
Climate Smart Agriculture to adapt, but very focused
on three principles.
• Development of a new adaptation programme:
Climate Smart Agriculture programme to include all
livelihoods such as crops, livestock, agroforestry etc.
• A broader programme will enable the country to access
funds from the GCF
• Technical support is required to develop the new CSA
programme for Namibia.