The Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) has funded two projects to the tune of US$9,5 million while the government has contributed US$500 000 to the initiative.
The funding, which is done through the Green Climate Fund (GCF) projects, aims to reduce climate vulnerability, increase the adaptive capacity and resilience of vulnerable small-scale farming communities in vulnerable extreme northern crop producing regions that are threatened by climate variability.
The “Climate Resilient Agriculture in three of the Vulnerable Extreme northern crop-growing regions (CRAVE) Project” is being executed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) through an agreement with the Fund.
This is a 5-year investment that covers the implementation period of 2016-2022.
The “Improving rangeland and ecosystem management practices of smallholder farmers under conditions of climate change in Sesfontein, Fransfontein, and Warmquelle areas of the Republic of Namibia (IREMA Kunene Project” is exclusively ring-fenced for the drought-stricken Kunene Region and runs over a 5-year period (2019 – 2024).
The project aims to reduce the vulnerability of smallholder farmers under climate change conditions by safeguarding natural capital that generates ecosystem services to sustain agricultural production systems.
Some of its notable activities include the development of an early warning system for disaster risk management, solar-retrofitting and rehabilitation of selected boreholes/water points, development of backyard gardens and rehabilitation of Warmquelle and Khowarib Green Schemes.
The two projects hosted their Steering Committee (Board) meetings on the 16th of May 2022, in Katima Mulilo, Zambezi Region.
The aim of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting was to create a platform where members interrogate and discuss issues pertaining to the project implementation and make harmonized decisions for accurate implementation of the project activities.
Among the discussions held, the PSC deliberated on the sustainability of the two projects beyond their implementation periods, and the challenges that are poised towards the effective sustainability of the projects beyond completion.
The PSC members further deliberated on the incorporation of the two projects into the MAWLR annual work plans for ease of implementation and execution.
A field excursion was organised for the PSC members to visit several project sites and farmers in the Zambezi Region under the CRAVE Project.
The delegation visited Mulyokela garden, situated approximately 40km south of Katima Mulilo on the main road to Ngoma Border Post. On the farm were tomatoes on two plots of 0.25ha each and cabbage on 3 plots of 0.15 each.
About 5000 and 7500 seedlings of tomatoes and cabbages are in a nursery ready for transplanting.
Another farmer visited was Klemens Makumbi, located in Kopano area, about 3km, north-east of Katima Mulilo on the main Road to Wenela Border Post. In production was cabbage (0.25ha0, Onion (0.1ha), Potatoes (0.1ha) and tomatoes (0.15ha). The farmer produces throughout the year with various crops depending on the season.
The last site visited was the Makanga Demo plot about 70km West of Katima Mulilo on the main road to Kongola.
