Food Security in Africa’s Secondary Cities: No. 2

This is the first research report to examine the nature and
drivers of food insecurity in the northern Namibian towns of Oshakati,
Ongwediva, and Ondangwa. As well as forming part of a new body of
research on secondary urbanization and food security in Africa, the
report makes systematic comparisons between the food security situation
in this urban corridor and the much larger capital city of Windhoek. A
major characteristic of urbanization in Namibia is the perpetuation of
rural-urban linkages through informal rural-to-urban food remittances.
This survey found that 55% of households in the three towns receive food
from relatives in rural areas. Urban households also farm in nearby
rural areas and incorporate that agricultural produce into their diets.
The survey showed that over 90% of households in the three towns
patronize supermarkets, which is a figure far higher than for any other
food source. Overall, food security is better in Namibia’s northern
towns than in Windhoek, where levels of food insecurity are particularly
high. However, just because the food insecurity situation is less
critical in the north, the majority of households in the urban corridor
are not food secure. Like Windhoek, these towns also have considerable
income and food security inequality, with households in the informal
settlements at greatest risk of chronic food insecurity.