ASSESSMENT OF AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION NEEDS IN AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN & PACIFIC (ACP) STATES SOUTHERN AFRICA Country Study: NAMIBIA Final Report Prepared by: Sylvia K. Katjepunda and Gift T. Kamupingene on behalf of the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) Project: 4-7-41-209-6/b NOVEMBER 2007 Assessment of Agricultural Information Needs: NAMIBIA Disclaimer This report has been commissioned by the CTA to enhance its monitoring of information needs in ACP countries. CTA does not guarantee the accuracy of data included in this report, nor does it accept responsibility for any use made thereof. The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of CTA. CTA reserves the right to select projects and recommendations that fall within its mandate. (ACP-EU) Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) Agro Business Park 2 6708 PW Wageningen The Netherlands Website: www.cta.int E-mail: [email protected] Assessment of Agricultural Information Needs: NAMIBIA i Acknowledgements The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and staff are thanked for affording us the opportunity and availing resources to conduct the study, while the advice and inputs from the regional coordinator are highly appreciated. The various ministries, local institutions and their staff are thanked for their cooperation and, for providing a conducive environment and literature materials pertinent to this study. Assessment of Agricultural Information Needs: NAMIBIA ii List of Acronyms ACP African Caribbean and Pacific ADC Agricultural Development Centre AEO Agricultural Extension Officer AET Agricultural Extension Technician AGRIBANK Agricultural Bank of Namibia AGORA Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome AIMS Agricultural Information Management Systems CCF Cheetah Conservation Fund CGIAR Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research COMESA Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa CBT Computer-Based Training CVL Central Veterinary Laboratory CTA Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation DAPAP Draft Animal Power Acceleration Programme DEES Directorate of Extension and Engineering Services DORA Dissemination of Reference Books on Agriculture DRFN Desert Research Foundation of Namibia DPSIM Department of Public Services Information Technology Management EFTA European Free Trade Association EITRC Erari Information Technology and Resource Centre EIU Economist Intelligence Unit EFSTPP Extended Feasibility Study Tree Planting Project ETSIP Education and Training Sector Improvement Programme FANR Library Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources FANR Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources FAO Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations GDP Gross Domestic Product HINARI Health Inter Network Access to Research Initiative ICART Implementation and Coordination of Agricultural Research and Training Project CGIAR Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research ICRISAT International Crops, Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics ICM Information and Communication Management ICT Information and Communication Technology ITU International Telecommunication Union IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development IFTT Indigenous Fruit Task Team DIS Directorate of Information Systems (MAWF) LAN Local Area Network Assessment of Agricultural Information Needs: NAMIBIA iii M-ADC Mariental Agricultural Development Centre MADI Mashare Agricultural and Rural Development Institute MAWF Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry MET Ministry of Environment and Tourism MLR Ministry of Lands and Resettlement MFMR Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources MoE Ministry of Education MRLGHRD Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing and Rural Development MS Micro Soft (Word, Excel, etc.) MTC Mobile Telecommunication Namibia NAB Namibia Agronomic Board NACOP National Aids Co-ordination Programme NAMIDEF Namibia Internet Development Foundation NANGOF Namibia Non-Governmental Organization Forum NAU Namibia Agricultural Union NATMIRC National Marine Information and Research Centres NAWIC Namibia Agricultural Water and Information Centres NBC Namibia Broadcasting Corporation NBRI National Botanical Research Institute NCC Namibia Communication Commission NCRN Namibia Community Radio Network NDC Namibia Development Corporation NDP National Development Plan NDTF National Drought Task Force NEPAD New Partnership for African Development NEPRU National Economic Policy Research Unit NGO Non Governmental Organizations NNFU Namibia National Farmers Union NPC National Planning Commission NPTH Namibia Post and Telecom Holdings O-ADC Ongwendiva Agricultural Development Centre OIA Ontario Institute of Agrologists OPM Office of the Prime Minister PoN Polytechnic of Namibia PRAIS Programme for Agricultural Information Services QAS Question and Answer Service REMU Rural Education Material Unit RISE Rural People Institute for Social Empowerment in Namibia SACU Southern African Custom Union SADC Southern African Development Community SDI Selective Dissemination of Information TAC Total Allowance Catch Assessment of Agricultural Information Needs: NAMIBIA iv TAZAC Tsumis Arid Zone Agricultural Centre TB Tuberculosis TEEAL The Essential Electronic Agricultural Library UNAM University of Namibia UNESCO United Nation Educational Scientific an Cultural Organization UNDP United Nation Development Program UNU United Nation University UNU-INRA United Nations University – Institute of Natural Resources in Africa WAD Women Action for Development WHO World Health Organization VAN Veterinary Association of Namibia ZERI Zero Emissions Research Initiative ZMT Centre for Tropical Marine Ecology Exchange rate on 12 July 2007: US$ = 6.9649 N$ Euro = 9.1403 N$ Source: Bank of Namibia Assessment of Agricultural Information Needs: NAMIBIA v Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................II LIST OF ACRONYMS.............................................................................................................III CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................... VI LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................................. VIII LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................ IX EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................ X 1. INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................1 2. COUNTRY PROFILE.....................................................................................................3 2.1 AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES, FORESTRY AND LIVESTOCK ..................................................4 2.1.1 Agriculture (crop production)................................................................................4 2.1.2 Fisheries ..............................................................................................................6 2.1.3 Forestry ...............................................................................................................7 2.1.4 Livestock production ............................................................................................8 2.2 STATUS OF ICT INFRASTRUCTURE AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR ............9 3. STATUS OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT.............................................................................................11 3.1 INSTITUTIONAL, REGULATORY AND POLICY FRAMEWORK..............................................11 3.2 OPERATIONAL ASPECTS ............................................................................................11 3.2.1 Description of agricultural information and services ...........................................11 3.2.2 Information sources ...........................................................................................12 3.2.2.1 Medium used to communicate agricultural Information .................................14 3.2.3 Information products and services provided.......................................................14 3.2.4 Information and communication management capacity .....................................16 3.3 INTERVENTIONS SUPPORTING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT ......................................................................................19 4. INSTITUTIONAL NEEDS ANALYSIS ..........................................................................21 4.1 INFORMATION NEEDS ................................................................................................21 4.2 CAPACITY-BUILDING ..................................................................................................24 5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................28 5.1 CONCLUSIONS ..........................................................................................................28 5.1.1 Information needs ..............................................................................................28 5.1.2 Capacity-building needs.....................................................................................29