ACCORDING to Wikipedia, agriculture in Namibia contributes around 5 percent of our national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) though 25 percent to 40 percent of Namibians depend on subsistence agriculture and herding.
Farmers in many parts of Namibia are on the brink of a drought-induced disaster and this can cause not only job losses but also animal tragedy. This can also have a devastating social and economic impact as wool and meat make up part of our main exports.
The devastating drought in the country is being described by many as “the worst in living history” and in fact has already resulted in the death of livestock and according to the United Nations more than 100 000 children are at risk of malnutrition.
This makes me wonder why so many stakeholders are sitting idle. Is this not the time to prepare our people for the second phase of drought relief or is this not the time to educate farmers on how to survive without farming or has our beautiful Namibia exhausted all considerable measures?
When visiting many farming communities in communal lands it has become very evident that drought has caught up with them
Many are now considering migrating to cities in search of better lives but are our cities won’t be able to handle the influx.
Apart from that, while President Hifikepunye Pohamba has declared a countrywide State of Emergency some banks such as Agri Bank are compelling farmers to repay their loans while the crisis is ongoing, which will surely push many households to collapse.
I am urging all Namibians to come together and come up with a remarkable solution to save the drought affected communities as drought will not only have an impact on those affected but can also sow division among them.
What I can say for now is that it looks very scary. Eewa
By Kuzeeko Tjitemisa