He was addressing parliamentarians and non governmental organizations on the current state of sustainable natural resource management in Namibia meant to find ways of unlocking a bioeconomy potential.
Katjavivi said for more than two years, the Namibia economy is also severely affected by an economic downturn.
Katjavivi added that there is a need to find ways to deal with natural calamities as more than 60 percent of the population in Namibia depend directly or indirectly from agriculture, forestry as well as freshwater fishery to maintain their livelihoods.
"An increasing population relying on natural resources in the northern communal areas has caused many environmental challenges, which interact also with each other. Some of the impacts of land degradation include reduction in agricultural productivity, reduction in water quality and quantity, as well as soil erosion and increased flooding. The degradation of land is caused by both natural as well as human-induced factors. " he said.
Katjavivi said given these challenges, the concept of sustainable management of natural resources appeals to most or all of us as a country.
Comment: According to the ministry of agriculture, over 60 000 livestock, including 41 949 cattle, 10 377 sheep, 25 651 goats and 584 donkeys have perished due to drought between October 2018 and July this year. About 312 horses have also died it has been reported.