Endjala envisions bumper harvests amid good rains
Food security could get a boost
The Omusati region has experienced good rainfall, raising hopes for better harvests this year.
Omusati regional governor Erginus Endjala says hopes are high that good rains across the northern parts of the country lead to bumper harvests for subsistence farmers in the region and improving food security.
If the current rainfall continues and food security increases, this, in turn, would likely reduce reliance on government food aid which has been distributed since a state of emergency was declared due to drought.
The governor made the remarks in an interview with Ewi lyaNooli this week.
"We are very hopeful that maybe we may have [a] bumper harvest this year if everything continues as it is,” Endjala said.
“We just need a few more rain showers so that all the crops that we have in the field will grow more, and then I think the prospect is good.”
Endjala added that while some farmers had delayed ploughing, they are now making positive strides with their crop fields and working the land while the rains are falling.
Drought relief
Government has committed N$800 million towards this year’s drought relief programme.
Nevertheless, Endjala last month encouraged farmers to work their land and reminded them that the programme is a temporary initiative during drought emergencies.
“The drought relief actually is not a permanent programme. It's a programme that we put in place just as a preventive measure when we are faced with droughts and our harvest is affected,” he said at the time.
“It's where we have now to start compensating the farmers due to low production and then lack of harvest. That is why we are doing it. But people must not take it for granted to think like drought relief is a permanent type of arrangement.”
Harvest water
Meanwhile, Endjala also encouraged farmers to make use of the rain by storing as much water as possible.
During the rainy season, the floodplains are filled with water; however, after a dry spell, they dry up and livestock farmers find themselves in a difficult situation where their animals have to travel long distances to access drinking water.
“The issue of water harvesting is a very serious one,” Endjala said.
“We asked at one time to get a design [for a dam], but the problem is there's a debate going on to see if our soil apparently is good soil for those types of dams,” he explained.
"[Scientists] say because we don't have the stones underneath... our sand is not suitable. But those are just theories. We know that traditionally we used to have those things," he noted.
“I think that is the only way in the north that can really save us from our water scarcity.”
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If the current rainfall continues and food security increases, this, in turn, would likely reduce reliance on government food aid which has been distributed since a state of emergency was declared due to drought.
The governor made the remarks in an interview with Ewi lyaNooli this week.
"We are very hopeful that maybe we may have [a] bumper harvest this year if everything continues as it is,” Endjala said.
“We just need a few more rain showers so that all the crops that we have in the field will grow more, and then I think the prospect is good.”
Endjala added that while some farmers had delayed ploughing, they are now making positive strides with their crop fields and working the land while the rains are falling.
Drought relief
Government has committed N$800 million towards this year’s drought relief programme.
Nevertheless, Endjala last month encouraged farmers to work their land and reminded them that the programme is a temporary initiative during drought emergencies.
“The drought relief actually is not a permanent programme. It's a programme that we put in place just as a preventive measure when we are faced with droughts and our harvest is affected,” he said at the time.
“It's where we have now to start compensating the farmers due to low production and then lack of harvest. That is why we are doing it. But people must not take it for granted to think like drought relief is a permanent type of arrangement.”
Harvest water
Meanwhile, Endjala also encouraged farmers to make use of the rain by storing as much water as possible.
During the rainy season, the floodplains are filled with water; however, after a dry spell, they dry up and livestock farmers find themselves in a difficult situation where their animals have to travel long distances to access drinking water.
“The issue of water harvesting is a very serious one,” Endjala said.
“We asked at one time to get a design [for a dam], but the problem is there's a debate going on to see if our soil apparently is good soil for those types of dams,” he explained.
"[Scientists] say because we don't have the stones underneath... our sand is not suitable. But those are just theories. We know that traditionally we used to have those things," he noted.
“I think that is the only way in the north that can really save us from our water scarcity.”
[email protected]
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