By Kuvee Kangueehi
WINDHOEK
MP McHenry Venaani of the DTA of Namibia has called on the government to support farmers and communities who have been affected by drought.
Motivating his motion on the drought situation in the country in the National Assembly on Tuesday, Venaani said government should as a matter of priority avail some food aid to communities that did not receive good rains and hence were unable to harvest.
“I plead with government to assist with grazing land available on some government-bought farms that are not yet allocated.”
Venaani also called on the government to assist various farmers with fodder subsidy to their animals and to help design a waterproof system that would protect this scheme from corrupt elements. The youthful MP observed that the regions worst hit are the entire Kunene and Karas and very large parts of the Erongo, Oshana, northern Oshikoto and the Eastern Omaheke areas. The rest of the regions have portions that are hit by drought.
The DTA MP noted that there was a need to educate farmers on how to farm to avoid losses during drought. He said several actions need to be taken to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
The Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Dr Nickey Iyambo, urged communities to cooperate with government by following its recommendations. The minister called on farmers to market some of their animals to ease the pressure on the fragile grazing areas as a form of drought-management strategy.
Iyambo said his ministry, through Cabinet, has put in motion assistance to small stock producers by opening the borders to sell some of their stock outside the country. The same has to be emphasized for large stock to local abattoirs. He warned that, as a result of the poor seasonal rains, the water situation in the drought-affected areas was expected to worsen as the winter progresses.
“Shallow watering holes and boreholes are expected to dry up, increasing the distance to water points for livestock and people.” said Iyambo, who also revealed that in all 13 regions, livestock body conditions range from fair to good at this time of the year, except in some areas where the condition of lactating cows and ewes is reported to be lean.
“The negative impact on some grazing land could be significant as the dry season progresses, and this will decrease the value of small and large stock animals. This would certainly deprive communities of vital assets and increase vulnerability to food security,” he said.
Iyambo noted that his ministry, in collaboration with the Directorate of Disaster Management in the Office of the Prime Minister, is conducting a case study to submit to Cabinet to be deliberated on before a pronouncement is made. He urged DTA MP McHenry Venaani not to table the motion on drought, as it would send out unwarranted alarm bells in the country.