Crops Grown in Namibia: Staples, Cash Crops, and Regional Variation

Namibia's agriculture is shaped by aridity; irrigation is limited. Key crops:

Staple Food Crops

• Maize (Corn): Dominant; >45% of cultivated land.
• Pearl Millet (Mahangu): Drought-tolerant; North/East.
• Sorghum: Drought-tolerant; Central/South.

Legumes

• Cowpeas: Widely grown staple protein.
• Groundnuts (Peanuts): North/East.

Cash Crops

• Sunflowers: Oilseed; important cash crop.
• Cotton: North; export-oriented.

Horticulture (Irrigated/High Rainfall Zones)

• Fruits: Mangoes, oranges, bananas, grapes (tropical North).
• Vegetables: Tomatoes, onions, peppers, cabbage (Central/South).

Rain-fed farming dominates; climate vulnerability is high.