Seize the moment to plant crops, Endjala says
Good rains received
Omusati governor Erginus Endjala has urged communities benefitting from recent rains to begin planting crops to secure food for themselves and their families.
Following the good rains experienced over the past few weeks in the northern parts of the country, Omusati governor Erginus Endjala has urged subsistence farmers to prepare their land for ploughing, anticipating a bumper harvest this season.
In an interview with Ewi lyaNooli, Endjala described the rainfall as promising and encouraged farmers to seize the opportunity by clearing their crop fields.
He also advised farmers to secure enough seeds and register for government-subsidised tractors, enabling them to plough their fields at lower costs.
“I think at this present moment it has presented a very good opportunity for our farmers,” Endjala said.
“Farmers should start already this time around by buying enough seeds. Start by preparing their mahangu fields. I am also encouraging them to register with the programme of the government tractors, which are subsidised," he said.
“At least we now have enough tractors in our region. People can now register and then get these ploughing services [as early as possible]. We must avoid the late production, or, let me say, late ploughing, that will lead to a poor harvest," he cautioned.
Diversify
Endjala also called upon farmers to not only focus on growing mahangu and maize but to also explore horticulture.
Endjala urged farmers to diversify beyond growing mahangu and maize and to explore other horticulture opportunities.
He specifically noted that butternut is in high demand.
"Literally, there are some horticulture crops that can germinate whatever way you plant them. Let me say, for argument's sake, if you want to plant butternut now, butternut is the same family of the pumpkin,” Endjala said.
"Maybe this time around we have to also take advantage of this water to increase our own food security at home," he pointed out.
"If you start already planting the butternuts now, I think... [by] January and February, you will be harvesting them. It means you are not only kind of relying on the mahangu and the maize, but now you have the butternut that is additional that was not there."
Temporary help
With the government committing over N$800 million to this year’s drought relief programme, Endjala warned that the initiative is temporary and urged farmers to take advantage of the rain now to enhance their food security.
"The drought relief actually is not a permanent programme. It's a programme that we put in place just as a preventive measure."
He said: “People must not take it for granted to think like drought relief is a permanent type of arrangement. That is why I am calling on people to work the land and feed their families since we are receiving good rain.”
[email protected]
In an interview with Ewi lyaNooli, Endjala described the rainfall as promising and encouraged farmers to seize the opportunity by clearing their crop fields.
He also advised farmers to secure enough seeds and register for government-subsidised tractors, enabling them to plough their fields at lower costs.
“I think at this present moment it has presented a very good opportunity for our farmers,” Endjala said.
“Farmers should start already this time around by buying enough seeds. Start by preparing their mahangu fields. I am also encouraging them to register with the programme of the government tractors, which are subsidised," he said.
“At least we now have enough tractors in our region. People can now register and then get these ploughing services [as early as possible]. We must avoid the late production, or, let me say, late ploughing, that will lead to a poor harvest," he cautioned.
Diversify
Endjala also called upon farmers to not only focus on growing mahangu and maize but to also explore horticulture.
Endjala urged farmers to diversify beyond growing mahangu and maize and to explore other horticulture opportunities.
He specifically noted that butternut is in high demand.
"Literally, there are some horticulture crops that can germinate whatever way you plant them. Let me say, for argument's sake, if you want to plant butternut now, butternut is the same family of the pumpkin,” Endjala said.
"Maybe this time around we have to also take advantage of this water to increase our own food security at home," he pointed out.
"If you start already planting the butternuts now, I think... [by] January and February, you will be harvesting them. It means you are not only kind of relying on the mahangu and the maize, but now you have the butternut that is additional that was not there."
Temporary help
With the government committing over N$800 million to this year’s drought relief programme, Endjala warned that the initiative is temporary and urged farmers to take advantage of the rain now to enhance their food security.
"The drought relief actually is not a permanent programme. It's a programme that we put in place just as a preventive measure."
He said: “People must not take it for granted to think like drought relief is a permanent type of arrangement. That is why I am calling on people to work the land and feed their families since we are receiving good rain.”
[email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article