Many Southern African countries, including Zambia and Namibia, face food insecurity challenges especially among people living in rural areas who depend mainly on rain fed agriculture for their livelihoods. The severity of the food insecurity partly explains the high stunting rates, 30 percent and 36 percent, in the rural parts of Namibia and Zambia respectively. The food insecurity situations have been attributed to climate change, declining soil fertility, low diversification in terms of crop production, crop pests and post-harvest losses. In order to tackle these challenges, this study intends to use Area Specific Crop Diversification (ASCD), an approach that looks at promoting three or more sets of different crops in one area and a different set in another. In addition to promoting drought resilient crops, Climate Smart Agricultural practices will be promoted to mitigate effects of drought on crops. Furthermore, future crop suitability over selected areas will be determined using current climatic trends and future projections. Other activities will include: conducting nutrition sensitisation and cooking demos in order to promote sound nutritional practices among the farmers; and exposing farmers to potential markets through market linkage platforms. Results on crop performance and climate change projections and analysis will inform policy on the importance of ASCD and future crop suitability within the selected areas.

Timeframe: 2022 – 2025

Funders: SASSCAL

Output (so far): interim reports

For further details contact: Olivier Crespo, Chris Lennard, Chris Jack