Flood- and Drought-Adaptive Cropping Systems to Conserve Water Environments in Semi-arid Regions

Agriculture that supplies a constant yield in years with flooding and droughts
Many areas of southern Africa suffer from food shortages as a result of flooding and drought. The instability of seasonal wetlands that is formed during the rainy season is forcing the desert nation of Namibia to redesign its agriculture to ensure sufficient food supplies. The aim of this project is to develop new agricultural techniques that supply a constant yield even in years of flooding and drought. Specifically, rice, a newly introduced crop, is being grown with pearl millet, the local staple, to assess water requirements and economic feasibility, and develop a new cultivation model.

Analyzing data on water, farming, and wetlands to introduce a new cultivation model
We are investigating appropriate mixed cropping combinations and arrangements to ensure economic water use. By investigating wetland water quantity and the degree of dependence of crop growth on flooding, we aim to establish and introduce a new sustainable cultivation model in southern Africa that both protects the aquatic environment and makes maximum use of seasonal wetlands to help raise the living standards of subsistence farmers.