Namibia needs research before investing in cloud seeding, says Unam lecturer 

By: Ritta Lotto
 
Unam’s Ogongo Campus Hydrology and Climatology Environmental Science department lecturer, Dr. David Gwapedza, says the country needs detailed climate research to establish whether cloud seeding can help mitigate the effects of drought. 

His comments come as Namibia considers cloud seeding experiments following recent remarks by Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare, on the possibility of reviving the practice as part of the country’s response to drought and the anticipated El Niño conditions. 
 
Cloud seeding is a form of artificial rain enhancement in which substances such as salts are dispersed into existing rain-bearing clouds to encourage precipitation. 
Gwapedza said Namibia’s high cloud bases and dry air beneath the clouds could limit the effectiveness of cloud seeding, particularly because much of the rain may evaporate before reaching the ground. 

He said cloud seeding would require significant investment in aircraft, weather monitoring systems, and specialised expertise. 

Meanwhile, local ecologist Dr. Peter Cunningham said the country should prioritise reducing water wastage and improve water management over cloud seeding. 
He added that the technology carries environmental risks and offers no guarantee that rain will fall where it is needed. 

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