Ongwediva
Lake Oponona, which is normally a dependable water body for thousands of cattle in Uuvudhiya and Ompundja constituencies, has almost completely dried up. The puddles of water left in the lake are said to be too saline for either human or animal consumption.
“The lake is almost completely dry. It catered for so many farmers, approximately 2 000 farmers from this region. Some farmers from the regions of Oshikoto, Omusati and Ohangwena also depended on the lake. We have thus approached NamWater to pump water from Oshakati-Calueque towards Oponona and the process is underway,” said Adolf Uunona the councillor for Ompundja constituency. When New Era visited the lake, there were about 15 carcases of cattle lying around the area, an indication of the severity of the drought. Addressing farmers and stakeholders at the Oshana stakeholder fields visit, Uunona stated that there has been little rainfall in the area this year, which has affected the growth of crops.
Uunona added that mice in the area have also been feeding on omahangu seeds, thus affecting the growth of plants. He further said that because of the drought, the government is left to look for food aid from external donors.
On Tuesday, Uunona and a group of officials carried out a field visit where a ripper tractor was introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry and the Oshana Regional Livestock Marketing Cooperative (RLMC). The tractor helps deliver better crop production.
According to Mary Elago, the RLMC manager in Oshana region, the use of ripper tractors was launched in Namibia in 2014.
“So far ten farmers in Oshana have used this cultivating method. Agriculture is encouraging farmers to use modernised machinery and equipment for better results and good harvesting. Shareholders only pay N$500 per annum to use this ripper tractor. It is a good way of farming,” Elago added. Technical advisor of RLMC Augustus Shikomba said farmers should plant more than one crop in their fields and develop a culture of rotational cultivation for soil improvement.