Africa-Press – Namibia. ACUTE food insecurity is expected to remain a major concern in Namibia in 2023 as inflation rates stay high in the coming months, worsening food access for households.
This was revealed by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) in its global information and early warning system report, which says at least 750 000 Namibians are facing food insecurity.
“The good 2022 cereal output is expected to benefit farming households both in terms of bolstering food supplies and incomes from crop sales.
“However, the prevalence of acute food insecurity in the first quarter of 2023 is expected to remain at a similar level to conditions experienced in early 2022, as inflation rates are foreseen to stay high in the coming months, worsening households’ access to food,” the report said.
Namibia is a net importer of cereals, with imports accounting on average for about two thirds of the national cereal consumption requirement.
However, the large domestic cereal out-turns in 2021 and 2022 have reduced import needs.
The FAO says import requirements of maize, mostly sourced from South Africa, are forecast at 12 000 tonnes, a quarter lower than the five-year average. Import requirements of wheat are forecast at about 110 000 tonnes, slightly above the average level.
“In the previous three marketing years, more than 50% of wheat imports originated from the Russian Federation.
“If disruptions to exports in the Black Sea region persist, Namibia is likely to try and seek alternative import sources,” the report reads.
In August 2022, the headline annual inflation rate surpassed the government’s upper-bound target range (6%), reaching 7,3%, adding to elevated food prices, with high fuel prices also driving up inflation rates.
The report says favourable weather conditions maintained above average yields of maize and millet, which underpinned the good crop out-turns and expected to benefit farming households – both in terms of bolstering food supplies and income from crop sales.
“Wheat-based products increased by the largest proportion, while maize products increased to a lesser extent, reflecting both the more muted price growth in the international market during the first half of the year and the country’s lower dependence on maize imports,” the report states.
Livestock conditions are reported to be generally satisfactory, reflecting adequate availability of pasture and water resources, despite the impact of brown locust infestations on grazing land in the //Kharas and Hardap regions.
In response to an outbreak of lung sickness reported in February, the government introduced movement restrictions for cattle to stem the spread of the disease, and implemented a vaccination campaign.
Director of Nutrition and Food Security Alliance of Namibia Ben Schernick says as much as increased production is good news, the constant increase in prices is worrying, with the majority of the Namibian population unable to reach minimal nutritional requirements on a daily basis.
“We acknowledge that inflation is very difficult to deal with, yet there are actionable national priorities that are doable and necessary to be implemented as soon as possible, such as ensuring the effective functioning of the revived food and nutrition security coordination structures through proper budgeting by the government for coordination and smart partnerships with the United Nations and other international partners, such as Jica and/or GIZ,” he says.
Schernick says introducing a universal basic income grant (BIG) for every Namibian would be easily implementable with low administrative costs and a huge impact in return on the economy.
It would be empowering for all Namibians – especially those with no or low-income employment, while those who have sufficient income can donate their BIG or otherwise feed it back into the economy.
“Also introducing a sugar tax, for instance on unhealthy/sweetened beverages to not only encourage healthier consumer habits, but to also reduce medical costs for treating diseases related to being overweight and obesity, which are worryingly on the rise in Namibia,” he says.
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