VDM Verlag Pearl millet Production Under Climate Variability Conditions, Namibia: Crop Production and Climate Variation in Namibia

The majority of small scale farmers especially in Southern Africa depend on rain-fed crop production for their livelihood.Climate change impacts have been felt in Namibia already over the past years.The analysis of the historical rainfall data shows a change in rainfall intensity in the north central Namibia with shorter rainfall seasons and late arrival of the rainfall. This affected the production due to farmers still practicing cultural planting programmes.The planting date by farmers is 30th November and yield reduction is 31.7 %, while the best planting date scenario simulated in CropWat analysis is 25th December and yield reduction is 20.9 %.