State of Emergency Declared as Namibia Runs Out of Forage

Drought forces state of emergency declaration in Namibia livestock industry

Namibia has declared a state of emergency, as drought across the country continues to severely impact the livestock industry, affecting  the livelihood of 72 percent of all Namibians who depend on the industry, directly or otherwise.

“The dramatic announcement of an emergency drought strategy follows hot on the heels of the the crop farming industry announcing a dismal total harvest in both the commercial and communal areas during a similar meeting two weeks ago,” said a report.

The worsening crisis will have far worse repercussions than the drought two years ago “as cattle and small stock producers have used up all available grazing with no reserve grazing available.”

Farmers have been urged to sell their animals as prices for cattle have dropped from more than N$19 p/kg to just N$14 p/kg in the past week alone.

“[However,] local abattoirs are struggling to accommodate volumes of livestock delivered to them by desperate farmers who are trying to get rid of their animals.”