water pump in the kalahari © Adrian Arbib

Land reform in Namibia juggles the cause of social justice with the risk of food insecurity. Securing food production in a drought-prone environment has always been a key challenge for the country. Indeed the post-independence period has uncovered the painful reality that the white farmers with all their advantages were unable to vanquish the harsh arid Namibian climate. Even where adequate skills and investment are available, the subdivision of these farms into half a dozen smaller units tends to exacerbate any underlying weaknesses. Reports suggest that many of the families working on the 800 farms established under the reform programme remain beneath the poverty line.

The total 2006/07 harvest was down 40% on the previous year and 2007/08 is forecast to be only a little better. 24% of children under-age-5 suffer chronic malnutrition. Namibia is not self-sufficient in essential cereals and will be exposed to the dramatic rise in food import costs.

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