Assessing the Impact of Drought on the Livelihoods of the Communal Farmers in Kunene Region, Namibia

Drought is a recurrent climatic phenomenon that poses significant challenges to agricultural communities worldwide, particularly communal farmers who heavily rely on rain-fed agriculture for their livelihoods. This study investigated the socioeconomic impact of drought on communal farmers in Kunene Region, aiming to understand the multifaceted consequences and suggest strategies employed by affected communities. Utilizing a qualitative research methods approach, in which a phenomenological research design was used. The study comprised of twenty-two (22) respondents who were sampled using a convenient sampling. Qualitative data was gathered through key informant interviews. The analysis focused on assessing the direct and indirect effects of drought on various aspects of farmers’ livelihoods, including agricultural productivity, income generation, food security, and social well-being. This was done through thematic analysis. The study revealed that prolonged periods of drought have led to significant crop failures, resulting in reduced agricultural yields and income loss of communal farmers. Moreover, the depletion of water sources has exacerbated livestock mortality rates, further compromising households’ economic resilience. The cascading effects of drought have also strained food security, leading to increased reliance on external assistance and coping mechanisms such as migration and distress sales of assets. However, amidst these challenges, the study recommends that the government works in conjunction with NGOs to offer training and basic education that will equip communal farmers with survival skills in times of severe droughts. Furthermore, the government should work in close liaison with international organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure that appropriate food supplementation is available to the affected areas, as well as support for child, maternal and mental health services which are quite prone during severe droughts. Further studies may focus on other regions and employ quantitative or mixed methods to enable generalizability of the findings. This research contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical insights into the impact of drought on the livelihoods of the communal farmers.