Assessing drought readiness and recovery efforts of communal farmers: A case study of Outapi Constituency

This study aimed at assessing the preparedness of communal farmers of Outapi Constituency prior to the 2018/2019 drought, response approaches employed, and post-drought recovery strategies employed. Literature shows that appropriate distribution of resources is key, while building resilience at the household level. A mixed-methods research approach was employed to gather data from sampled communal households and key informants. The study findings show that the 2018/2019 drought was associated with severe negative impacts such as high crop failure, high livestock mortalities, lack of water, and poor grazing, as 71% of households relied primarily on pensions, and subsistence farming. The majority of communal households (90%) relied on livestock supplementary feed for drought preparation. The majority of households (58%) cultivated drought-resistant crops as a strategy for crop and vegetable production drought preparation. Communal households (78%) strengthened their coping capacities by relying on existing food reserves. Conservation of soil and water management (69%) was employed on water management strategies, while 82% relied on livestock supplement fodder support. Post-recovery measures employed were to rebuild livestock herds (72%), and 49% applied better crop management practices. Structural support systems play a role in community service delivery, whereby 96% acknowledges the services conveyed by the GRN and affiliated institutions. The study recommends enhanced market access for crops and livestock products; livestock destocking; strengthening existing institutional coordination; establishment of additional water harvesting infrastructure; finalisation of the National Drought Policy and Strategy of 1997; creation of a fodder bank; and establishment of a Government of the Republic of Namibia drought recovery programme.