A large swathe of southern Africa experienced below-average rainfall in the 2014/15 summer cropping season, causing big drops in the yields of many staple and other crops.
A report released by the Namibian government indicates that communal areas of mostly small scale subsistence farming experienced maize production reductions of as much as 80% below average, and 73% below harvests for the 2013/2014 season. Even in areas of large scale commercial farming, the maize harvest showed a drop of 46% less than last season’s harvest and 12% below the average production.
The national coarse aggregate production (maize, millet, sorghum and
wheat) is estimated at 67 800 tonnes, reflecting a substantial decrease
in the harvest of about 46% below the average production and 49% lower
than last season’s harvest. (...more)
Even in normal times a large coastal desert and a generally hot, dry climate contribute to Namibia having among the world's lowest maize yields of less than half a tonne a hectare.
African Agriculture
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