Knowing, farming and climate change adaptation in North-Central Namibia

The agro-ecological knowledge held by Ovambo farmers in North Central Namibia has, for centuries, given them resilience to high levels of climate variability and associated impacts. New research, conducted in North Central Namibia, suggests that knowledge co-production between farmers and agricultural extension workers may, in addition, strengthen adaptive capacity to future climate change. However, this useful kind of knowledge co-production is far from automatic, and indeed the conditions which make it more likely to happen are not well understood. This paper explores agro-ecological knowledge in North Central Namibia as adaptive capacity, and suggests avenues for better conceptualising and understanding the conditions for adaptive capacity-enhancing knowledge co-production.

Research highlights► We explore local knowledge in Namibia and climate change adaptation. ► Local knowledge in Namibia is adaptive capacity to climate variability. ► Mixing local knowledge and science can aid future adaptation to climate change. ► Local knowledge should be incorporated into Namibian adaptation policy. ► Despite its promise local knowledge is not a panacea and should not be romanticised.