Floods and their impacts on rural households’ food security in eastern Caprivi, Namibia

Communities in Kabe and Katima Mulilo constituencies have adapted well to flooding however since 2000 there have been an increase in the intensity of flood even in areas of higher ground. The objectives of the study are to: Estimate the flood extent by using Lands at imagery; estimate the impact on crop production, market access, and food consumption and finally investigate the copying mechanisms by rural households to ensure food security. The methodology involved the use of Tasseled Cap analysis of Lands at TM multi-temporal data to map the extent of the floods. The survey of 100 households was also used to interpret the impact this extent have on food security and investigate the available coping mechanisms adopted by the rural households. The result found out that more area inundated occurred during, 2004, 2009 and 2011 covering 51%, 59% and 50% of the study area respectively. However less extent were observed in 2000, 2002 and 2005 covering 23%, 11% and 10% of the study area respectively. The study has also revealed a positive correlation between peak water level and flooded area. There is also a correspondence between flooded area and crop fields inundated. The duration of flooding have a role to play in the severity of the impact. Respondents indicated that 2012 floods duration ranged between 1-7 months, and in some areas floods can be more than 7 months. This as a result affected the households to an extent of only 41% had access to cultivated land. From these households, only 19.1%, 11.8% and 3.6% cultivated <0.5 ha, 0.5-1 ha and >2 ha respectively. The household survey found out that different copying mechanisms are adopted by household. In addressing food insecurity, it is recommended to grow rice other than maize in Eastern Caprivi as the case now.