Poor rains delay crop farming
FARMERS in Namibia’s northern regions are worried about the poor rainfall received so far, saying this has delayed crop farming. Meekulu gwaNaka, a communal farmer at Oshigambo in the Oshikoto region’s Oniipa constituency, told Nampa in an interview that normally, by January, her field would have crops and they would have been weeding after cultivating and sowing in December.
This year, however, much like in 2019, the sand is too dry for cultivation – and crops that grew after the first rains they received in December are starting to die.
“We are worried because the rain normally stops by March. We are also worried about the animals. For now, they are fine – but if this goes on, we will have problems,” she said.
Another crop farmer, Nehemia Amadhila at Okatana in the Oshana, said his children usually help him cultivate the land before school starts but by the third week of January, they still have not been able to do so. John Nuab from the //Huab communal conservancy in Kunene said his farm has not received any rain and local farmers are hoping for rain soon, as their animals’ conditions are deteriorating.
“It is disappointing that the rest of the country has received good rains and we have not received any rain,” he said.
The chief of the #Aodaman Tradition Authority, Petrus Uukongo, said Kunene is still suffering under a severe drought.
“We see on television and hear on the radio that good rains were received throughout the county – but in Kunene, it is not the case. I would like to urge the government to assist farmers in any way they can in terms of drought relief,” Uukongo said.
A rainfall report for December and January availed to Nampa by the Namibia Meteorological Service stated that below-average rainfall was observed over Omusati and other northern regions, with the north-western and central-north parts of the country mostly reported to be under dry conditions by the second week of January 2021. Areas such as Onayena in the Oshikoto, Okahao and Outapi in Omusati, as well as Sesfontein in Kunene, are among those that received the lowest rainfall, with no rainfall recorded between 1-17 January.
“Available records show that little to no rainfall was observed over the Kunene, Omusati and parts of Erongo regions for the period under review, with the exception of the Okavango area. The Zambezi, Ohangwena and Oshana regions received below normal rainfall, whereas parts of Oshikoto, Kavango West and Oshana regions also reported below normal rainfall for the same period. This may have negative impacts on the cropping season if these regions do not receive rain during this rainfall season,” the report stated.
Commenting on the prospects for rain, chief meteorological technician Odillo Kgobetsi yesterday said showers are expected in the central-north and northwest areas, which he said covers most of the Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Omusati regions, as well as Kunene, from 20 to 24 January.
“The areas over the Etosha National Park, Ondangwa and Khorixas already received some good showers last night and we expect it to be sustained going into the course of next week,” Kgobetsi said.
He said, between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, areas around Etosha recorded over 50 millimetres of rainfall, while Ondangwa recorded 11mm and Khorixas 10mm.
- Nampa