African small-scale farmers need more than just land to survive climate change

The import of climate change is lessened by teamwork
The import of climate change is lessened by teamwork

When drought hits a region as dry as northern Namibia, subsistence farmers can weather the crisis better if they have more than just their land to depend on for food or a source of livelihood. Many communities do better if they can rely on state support or a family member sending wages back from an urban economy. How people on the Namibian-Angolan border are coping with the current drought gives vital lessons for how small farming communities in southern Africa need many layers of support if they are to adapt to a hotter, drier climate, writes LEONIE JOUBERT*

It was cloudy and cool on the day when a team of researchers met Berina (not her real name) in the summer of 2017. She was standing near the rusty carcass of a car that was abandoned beneath the giant baobab that had become the regular gathering point in Onesi, a district capital in northern Namibia, about 25km from the Angolan border. 

Berina was tall, her skin darker than the locals, her hair woven in a tightly braided spiral. She had the distinctive colourful earrings and necklace that suggested she’d come across the border from Angola. Her frame was wrapped in a blanket, and she clutched an ostrich leather purse.

Editor's Comment
Congratulations Anicia Gaothuse!

The contest had 10 beautiful young girls as finalists and unfortunately only one could wear the crown.The judges picked Anicia Gaothuse. To all those who feel their contestant should have won ahead of Anicia for whatever reason, hardly; the judges found Anicia to be the best among the best, so desist from disrespecting our newly crowned queen on social media or anywhere else, for that matter! Each of the 10 beautiful young women had supporters...

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