Today is a blessing and tomorrow is no more than wishful thinking. We are not granted the joys of another day by default. Our life is a gift that must be cherished, and enjoyed.  Think about what you have on a day to day basis.  I think of my vehicle for transportation, internet to stay connected to the world, good food available for me at a moments notice, or even the luxury of a hot shower. Now think of what you need in day to day life.  I’m not talking about the need to call your friends because you want to know whats happening in town later. Think of things that impact your health and well being everyday, but are often looked over due to their ease of access. When thinking of these everyday luxuries try and remember when you last experienced the crippling sensation of hunger.  A hunger so fierce the craving for nourishment pushed you to steal what was not given, or scavenge through anything to find the smallest of crumbs to silence the pain.   imagine water being so scarce it might as well be a fragment of your imagination. Now think of the world and realize that there are individuals without the luxuries we depend on so much.

Access to clean water is something that can easily be taken for granted. It’s not wrong to take hour-long showers, or forget to be conscious about how much water we use in a day. It’s not something that occurs to you if it is always readily available. I ask though for you to try and think of those who must consider where, when, and how they will come across clean water. Most of the moisture in Namibia comes from the Indian Ocean, and spreads from the northeastern region of Namibia to the southwestern portions of the country. Those who live in the southern Regions of Namibia can experience droughts that last over 2 years. With droughts such as these, constant pressure is placed on the Namibian farmers. Without adequate access to water commercial and communal farmers have harder and harder times using irrigation methods. There are four perennial  rivers in Namibia. perennial rivers are rivers that are constantly flowing during both the dry and wet seasons.

The first of these rivers is the Kunene River that flows in the northwestern region of the country. Next is the Kavango River which flows in the northeastern region along with the third, the Zambezi River. Lastly there is the Orange River which is in the southern region of the country. These rivers are essential to life for the inhabitants surrounding the river. For those without access to perineal rivers they must rely on alternative methods to gain access to water. One such method is the drilling of boreholes. Boreholes are drilled deep enough into the ground to reach water. Being conscious of how much water is available, and being used, is not an uncommon mindset here in Namibia. Lives are changed significantly each and every day by the challenges presented from not having access to clean water. When there is little water to drink there are few crops to be grown. When there are few crops to be grown there are more people without food.

Understanding the issues people in Namibia face regarding natural resources, is key to finding solutions for them. During my stay here in Namibia I often wondered how I could make a positive impact on some of the issues that plague this country. I don’t have the resources to make a significant change but one day I hope to be in a position where I can. For now I have my camera, and my blog. I will tell the story of the Namibian people as best as I can, and increase awareness in hopes that one day others along with myself can come together and make a difference. Today is a blessing, and my wish for tomorrow is the ability to bless someone else.

Namibia is the first country in the world to incorporate the protection of the environment into its constitution, some 14% of the land is protected (www.cia.gov/namibia.com). It is no surprise to me that 66% of their National GDP is gained from tourism. In 1999 there were around 30,000 tourist visiting campsites/lodges, in 2004 they approximated that it tripled to 90,000 (www.met.gov.na). One of my favorite lodges we stayed during the trip was Sossuvlei Lodge. The view from the back patio was incredible and the lodge is conveniently located at the Sesriem gate, sanctuary to the highest sand dunes in the oldest desert.

Another top attraction that draws people to Namibia is the conservancies. There are 79 conservancies in Namibia, for a total of 19% of the total land area. We were fortunate enough to venture into Etosha National Park for four days. Here we saw elephants, lions, giraffes, zebra, springbok, impala, kudu, birds, and many other animals. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism overlooks the production of these programs. Since 1999, 10,023 heads of game have been relocated to other countries and other conservancies (www.met.gov.na). This allows for more breeding and an increase in population. We also visited Mahangu National Park were we saw sable and hippos.

The coast of Namibia also is a protected strip of land. While in Swakopmund we visited Doro National Park. Here we were lead by a guide, Chris, on the living desert tour. Chris exuded passion for the conservation of the national park. When four-wheelers were introduced to the park, there were tire marks everywhere. You could see these pathways from space (www.boycottnamibia.com). It would take months and months for these tracks to disappear. In creating the Boycott Namibia website, Chris was able to get the Namibian government attention. Four-wheelers or “four-by-fours” are now only allowed to follow certain pathways through the sand dunes.

Ecotourism is a huge part of Namibia’s economy and way of life. They are paving the way for more and more countries to protect their natural resources and wildlife. When you protect the land and animals, people will flock to partake in the beauty the country holds. Through ecotourism Namibia is able to pour more money into the conservancies and natural resource management programs.

Sometimes the most impactful cultural experiences come at the most unexpected times. Our group was on the way to Popa Falls, driving just north of the red line, when out of nowhere, there was a loud bang. The bus began to swerve, tires screeching across the road. I looked up alarmed, heart pounding. That sound came from under the bus. We hit something. We hit a goat.

My first thought when crossing the Red Line: why are there animals running all over the road? Northern Namibia has very few fences for the animals, especially north of the red line. Not only does most of Namibians population reside here, but the majority of citizens live in communal farms. Driving through this region we saw multiple herds of cattle, goats, and pigs; most of which just roamed loose on the road. Communal farmers in Namibia value their animals more than we value money. Because their animals are their money; how many cattle, sheep, or other animals they have determine one’s wealth. Although you would think people would steal them for this very reason, it’s just not how it works. People recognize their livestock, similar to how we would recognize how personal assets back home.

Instead of driving on, ignoring the dead goat in the road. We did the right thing, we stopped at the village. You have to remember, these animals are their livelihood. Could you imagine if we had just driven away? It would have been like stealing their money that blew across the road. It would it be insensitive and rude, and also disrespectful of their culture. We went into their village and offered to pay for the goat. The man standing over his dead goat said “200,” which is $20 US. We paid the man, gave our apologies and then continued our journey to Popa Falls. We were extra careful, keeping our eyes peeled for any more animals that may run across the road.

 

You don’t know what you like until you try it. You know, going on this trip abroad I thought, “Man, I am going to starve and lose weight on this trip.” I was terribly wrong; I can barely button my pants! “GAME! What is that,” I thought to myself. Trying new things, let alone different foods, terrify me. “How will I ever survive?” Going on this study abroad trip, I wanted to make a new goal of trying different foods and getting out of my comfort zone.

A few years ago, I had the chance to visit China for Green Team America; while I was there I had the opportunity to try their different cultural food groups. At the time I was not open to trying new food, so I ate rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Here in Namibia, it is different, I find myself actually enjoying the variety of Namibian food. Most people think all Africans eat the same food, but that is not true. My college roommates are from Ghana and Liberia. Being an Ethiopian, I noticed that we have different food choices. For example,”FuFu” is a common delicacy for most people in the western region of Africa. So I thought, maybe Namibians eat FuFu too. Here in Namibia, there is a lot of game, including zebra, kudu, ostrich, etc. This trip was my first time trying it all. Wow! It tastes great.

People often ask me, “What exactly do you eat? Are you vegetarian?” I always have a hard time answering these questions because I am unsure of what foods I enjoy. I never know until I try them. Participating in this study abroad program, has given me the opportunity to express to others that trying new food is great. While staying at Neudamm campus in Namibia, I was terrified of eating the food because I wasn’t informed. Before traveling to Namibia, I learned in my “Agriculture cultural pluralism” class that in some cultures, it is offensive to not eat their food. I told myself no matter how hard new food is for me to try, I will do it.  In order to get the best abroad experience being open minded and trying new things is a great idea.

By the first week, we toured the Neudamm campus and had seen the poultry houses. Last week, we witnessed a Himba woman cook a whole chicken, feathers and all, in a boiling pot outside of her hut. My interest was immediately sparked as to what the poultry industry was like here in Namibia. Chicken is produced on a large scale in the United States, but how do you raise enough chicken in the second driest country on the globe?

As we’ve learned, Namibia is a sub-Saharan country, located on the west coast of the continent, northwest of South Africa. The country is a huge net importer of goods and services mainly from South Africa. In response, the government has taken several measures to improve economic conditions and grow the country’s wealth. One of these measures includes limiting the imported poultry products, relying on the few poultry industries in Namibia to meet demands and provide jobs.

Sounds good right? So, what’s the problem? For starters, Namibia’s poultry industry is two years old. Previously, Namibia had been importing its chicken solely from South Africa. It worked out well; Namibia was getting its poultry demand met at a relatively cheap price. However, the Government in Namibia has been hungrily eyeing the idea of complete self-sufficiency. I can’t blame them, what country wants to rely on taxed imported goods?

Last year, the Ministry of Trade and Industry tightened controls on what was imported to Namibia. These controls are known as “Infant Industry Protection.” What used to be unlimited chicken from South Africa was lowered to a certain quota. The Namib Poultry Industry was up to providing the rest to meet Namibia’s demands. By doing this, the meat prices doubled. Chicken remains the meat of choice, but only for those who can afford it. These high prices made it entirely impossible for some to buy local poultry, proving the government’s efforts completely counter-productive.

How can the problem be solved? Poultry is one of the cheapest forms of protein. Ergo, consuming poultry could help solve the issue of global hunger and malnutrition. The problem with the poultry industry everywhere is that the price per head is so insignificant, so the production has to be done in large volumes. If done correctly in this country, it could solve food security for a huge majority of people. To achieve this, however, there has to be a balance between what they can afford, what they can buy, what they can produce themselves, and how many people it will employ. The United States has the manpower to produce poultry on a very large scale, the industry alone is worth $45 billion, and approximately 40 billion pounds is produced annually (See nationalagriculturestatisticsservices.org). Although Namibia only has a population of 2 million, far less than the U.S, the country still has room to grow in the poultry industry.

Our driver, Reggie, suddenly slammed on the breaks. Our tour guide, Bernd, got up to check out the suspicious vehicle, parked off-trail in the tall grass. Bernd stepped off the bus without a word to any of us to go inspect the situation. He spotted empty rifle bags in the front seat of the empty jeep, which alarmed him that poachers may be near-by. Frantic whispers filled the bus as we questioned our safety. Were they going to hurt the animals? Would they hurt us if we witnessed them committing a crime?

Poaching is considered to be one of the most prevalent and heinous crimes in Namibia, carrying severe consequences. We visited Mahango National Park, which is one of the only game parks in Namibia that allows tourists to leave their vehicles to observe the wildlife. While in Mahango, we spotted this suspicious vehicle and we began to learn about the severity and reality of poaching, and the challenge of people coexisting with wildlife.

Namibia is one of few countries that include nature conservation in their constitution. Our guide, Bernd, informed me that these nature protection clauses are as equally important to Namibians as the Bill of Rights is to Americans. The Namibian Constitution has a distinct focus on the link between nature and sustainability as the combining key to a prospering future. This creates conflict between the protection of natural resources and human interest.

The Mahango National Park faces challenges between the Kavango people and the conservation of elephants, antelope, lions, leopards, etc. Some of them don’t mind providing information to poachers if that results in a generous payment. Rural villagers in the closer vicinity need to develop an understanding of the indirect benefit from the protected area. Namibia’s wildlife conservation issues Regardless of any laws in place to face these issues, the quarrel between humans and natural resources will continue to be an issue until more permanent issues are implanted by the government.

The airplane was over the Atlantic Ocean when I first thought of the question that would dwell in my mind until I finally reached Namibia. If Namibia is mostly desert, how does life survive? With average rainfall being less than two inches a year, how is it possible for animals and humans to sustain themselves? I was oblivious to the fact that the answers I would unearth during my time here in this sandy, desert land would completely change my outlook on life altogether.

I remember the first time I experienced the fog. It was an early, chilly morning at Neudamm campus when I stepped outside and saw a dense blanket of fog covering the landscape. Where did it come from? I was smack in the middle of Namibia, one of the driest countries on earth, yet it still managed to produce fog? It just didn’t add up. Finally, after much contemplation, I asked one of the Namibian professors about it. According to Professor Mpofu, the fog is produced from the cold ocean current along the coast and is the main source of water for many plants and animals. One insect in particular uses the fog in a very unique way. The Toktokkie beetle is endemic to Namibia, and is found mainly in sandy desert areas. At night the Toktokkie beetle scurries up the massive sand dunes and points its lower abdomen into the air with its head pointing towards the ground. The beetle does this to capture fog droplets so the water will roll down its back until a single drop trickle into its mouth. I never would have imagined a beetle to be quite so resourceful.

There are thousands of desert insects that survive on fog moisture. In return, there are many animals that survive on insects. Chameleons, bats, geckos, birds, and snakes are a few examples of animals that dwell in the harsh Namibian landscape, living on insects. Even so, bigger animals such as jackals, hawks, and foxes survive by eating the insect-eaters. This delicate ecosystem is what supports the animals and human inhabitants of Namibia.

 

As I learned how life is supported here, I realized that just as the animals depend on the fog, we humans depend on one another for survival. In times of loss, we turn to our family and friends for comfort. In times of happiness, we gather together in celebration. In times of need, we depend on those who we trust to help lead us in the right direction. We need each other. We will always need each other. I would have never thought desert life would teach me such a valuable lesson.

In Namibia there are two types of farming: commercial and communal. As pictured below, commercial farming is for profit and is most commonly found in southern Namibia. Commercial farming is also commonly found in the United States. Communal farming uses one piece of land and its resources to farm (Kalundu). Communal farming includes grazing, harvesting plants, and raising livestock. Communal farming began before Namibian independence in 1994 and continues today in the northern parts of Namibia (Mendelsohn).

Along with the majority of the Namibian population, the majority of the cattle of Namibia are located in the northern, communal regions (pictured below). Unfortunately, the Namibian government has declared a “Red Line,” separating the north and south parts of the country (Schneider). This line has been set to prevent the spread of disease between the two halves. The northern region tends to have less animal health care leading to the spread of disease. Meat products can only be exported from the south to the north, but not vice versa.

Namibia has the potential to become a powerful producer of meat products due to the high volume of cattle, goats, and sheep that are located in the northern region (Mendelsohn). The only obstacle is ridding Namibia of the “Red Line.” To do this, Namibia must first increase the availability of animal health care and then improve the knowledge of animal health care in the northern region.

Next, a controversial topic in Namibia: the commercial farm movement. I believe there should be an increase in commercial farms. Commercial farms have been proven to be more efficient and productive. The United States began farming in communities and struggled until it converted to commercialism. The techniques, knowledge, and technology of commercial farming are reasons for its success. Currently, 50% of the Namibian population depends on subsistence agriculture for their livelihood (Schneider). Converting to commercial farming would create enough produce and animal products to feed families, sell at market, and employ much of the unemployed population.

I believe that Namibia has great economic potential lying in the northern region. The government must take action to unlock its potential. Education of animal husbandry and health care should be encouraged in schools. Technology must be incorporated into new farming techniques. The big question: Where will the money come from to fund these projects?

Imagine that you wake up every morning wondering if you will get to eat that day. Imagine that your mother passes out food to your father and siblings, leaving none for herself because there just isn’t enough food. Imagine that you get sick in the bush where you live with your tribe and cannot get to a clinic because it is more than a day’s walk away. Imagine that this is how more than half of your country lives on a consistent basis. These situations are a little difficult to imagine as an American citizen because a lot of these issues have already been addressed in one way or another for the vast amount of the American population. For the Namibian people though, these are daily realities.

The health care system in Namibia has the unique challenge of supporting a small population spread over a large area. There are about 2.3 million Namibian citizens living over an area just 1.18 times the size of Texas. The state-run clinics are free to the public, but are mostly in populated areas such as towns and cities. Rural clinics and mobile clinics can be found, but they are few and far between, with a varying quality of care. Private clinics exist either as expensive health care centers where the wealthy can get state-of-the-art care for a large fee or as charity clinics that cater to certain cultural groups such as the San Bushmen. Much of the population, however, is not able to access healthcare on a regular basis and thus many diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV spread continuously with little hope of decreasing prevalence or eradication in the near future.

Malnutrition is huge health concern, especially for the indigenous tribal groups, because of their traditional diets and lack of food variety. The San Bushmen females, for example, are very malnourished because of the traditional diet of maize-based foods and game meat and because of their tradition of feeding the men of the family first, then the children, and then the mother, if there’s anything left. This cycle of malnutrition is passed to children, because mother’s bodies lack sufficient nutrition to give babies a healthy pre-natal chance for full development. Also, after birth, infants are breastfed for one to two years with milk that is low in nutritional value; then, they are weaned onto a maize and water diet for another year or two. There are very few sources of micronutrients in this diet that consists largely of starch and protein.

Food security and extreme poverty are the two largest contributors to all these issues, and are concerns Namibia is currently working to correct. The country is only 24 years into their independence and has experienced a lot of growth already. In light of all that we have learned on this study abroad trip, Namibia does have a bright future, especially in the areas of food security, health care, and nutrition.

In Namibia there are three types of cattle ranching. Those are: commercial, communal and cultural. Communal beef cattle ranching is a strange concept to me when I first arrived in Namibia. Communal farming consists of an entire community coming together to take care of their herds of livestock or farmlands. This concept of a community raising cattle together was mind-boggling because it is very different from the U.S. beef industry. Once I learned more about communal farming, I realized that just because it’s different from U.S. methods, doesn’t mean it’s an inferior method.

Communal farming is a huge cultural and economical part of Namibian society. Raising cattle is very labor intensive, so Namibian men are the main caretakers of the cattle. Cattle raised by communal farmers are not always confined by fences, but will roam freely throughout the countryside. Allowing cattle to roam free causes a few problems. Animals will cross the road in front of oncoming vehicles to get to better grazing land. These crossings can cause car accidents and accidental killings of livestock.

Communal farmers own 60% of the cattle in Namibia; however, they only contribute 5-6% of the national agriculture output, partially due to the establishment of the “Red Line.” The Red Line divides Northern Namibia as a Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) prone area, from Southern Namibia, which is a FMD free area. Communal farmers living north of the Red Line cannot participate in the international export markets.

Farmers face tough challenges in any cattle operation. Overgrazing and overstocking is a huge problem in communal areas. Overgrazing land can increase desertification and destroy grazing land. Namibia, just like Texas, has a severe drought problem. About 80% of communal cattle ranchers are affected by droughts. Some ranchers may lose up to 22% of their cattle. To combat this problem, the community must band together to find the best course of action. The main options for communal farmers to combat drought are to buy feed, sell cattle, or move cattle.

While learning about communal cattle ranching in Namibia, I couldn’t help but compare it to U.S. methods of ranching. In the United States, we use antibiotics and growth hormones to protect cattle from disease and help speed their growth rates. In Namibia, no hormones or antibiotics are allowed. Namibians don’t usually dehorn their cattle. Horned cattle can cause bruising and blemishes to the hide.

Although there are many differences between the U.S. and Namibia cattle ranching methods, there are also similarities. Both countries have massive extension programs. The extension programs for communal farmers will help vaccinate their cattle from Anthrax and Brucellosis. Both the U.S. and Namibia programs help educate farmers, and act as points of contact.

Communal ranching helps generate income for ranchers, and allows them to keep strong community ties. The community works together to raise cattle to ensure they are healthy and market ready. Having strong family and community ties is a large part of Namibian culture. Being here in Namibia, has opened my eyes to international agriculture. I want to take what I’ve learned in the four short weeks that I’ve been here, and apply it to my future research. Communal cattle ranching taught me that different methods of agriculture are not wrong, just different. I learn that instead of criticizing these agricultural differences, I should celebrate them and try my best to fully understand them.