Windhoek
The latest report compiled by the SADC Regional Early Warning System (REWS) indicates that in many parts of the SADC region – Namibia included – the October to December 2015 period has been the driest in at least the past 35 years.
The net impact of the poor rainfall and high temperatures thus far on crop production is two-fold. The first is a delay in the onset of rains and the subsequent delay in planting, stated the latest REWS report.
The second major impact of the low rainfall and excessive temperature on crop production is the moisture stress and wilting experienced by crop.
Namibia
Namibia experienced an extended delay in the effective onset of rains, with little to no rainfall being received in October and November. In many areas, the onset was delayed by between 20 to 40 days.
This extended dryness, combined with very high temperatures, and a poor 2014/2015 rainfall season, resulted in significant impact on grazing lands and water resources. Veld fires have also contributed to a reduction in the availability of grazin, further stated REWS.
Water availability for livestock was also reported to be a challenge in many areas, as borehole yields were low, and some boreholes had dried up. A recent assessment indicated that many farmers in the northern, central and southern parts of the country had lost many of the cattle to the drought.
In most areas, livestock are in poor to very poor condition. Conditions in the northwestern parts of the country are particularly severe, as the drought conditions there started in 2012.
Movement of livestock had also been restricted in many areas, as one of the measures to control the spread of livestock diseases. December heralded the onset of rains in most parts of the country, which received above-normal rains during this time.
The rains allowed farmers to plant and helped to improve water availability in some areas. However, many dams are still at low levels, and much more rainfall will be required.
Vegetation conditions had not started showing a marked improvement in most areas by the end of December, as significant rainfall and some time will be required for vegetation to recover from the drought which started in the 2014/15 season.
South Africa
Over the last 3 months, some central parts of South Africa received their lowest October-December rainfall totals in at least 35 years. Due to the poor rains, only approximately 50 percent of the intended area for maize this year has been planted to date, according to a survey done by Grain SA, a South African grain farmers’ organisation.
The first official area-planted estimate is scheduled to for release on 27 January. South African agriculture experts suggest that no new maize plantings are likely even if good rains occur, as the planting window has closed.
Crop conditions in areas where planting has occurred range from good in the eastern parts of the main maize growing areas through poor to failure in the central and western parts. Pasture is reported to be in poor condition in the majority of provinces, and water supply for livestock is ranging from sufficient to severe shortages in different areas. Drought-related livestock mortalities have been reported within the last month.
The ministry of Water and Sanitation in South Africa said that 2.7 million households were affected by the drought, with 6 500 rural communities facing critical water shortages. Irrigated crops are also facing moisture stress due to limited water and high temperatures.
It also recently said the country currently had maize stock equivalent to 4 or 5 months’ supply for the country and mentioned the potential need to import more maize grain from America.
Some estimates have suggested approximately 5 million tonnes of grain may need to be imported by South Africa.
Government declared five out of the country’s nine provinces as drought-related disaster areas, and has set aside R236 million (approximately USD 14.5 million) to alleviate the impacts of the drought.
Al Jazeera reports that about 14 million people in southern Africa are facing hunger because of last year’s poor harvest, caused by the El Nino weather pattern, citing the World Food Programme.
In a statement released on Monday, the WFP, which is the UN’s food-assistance branch, gave warning that the number of people without enough food is likely to rise further in 2016, as the drought worsens throughout the region.
“Worst affected in the region by last year’s poor rains are Malawi (2.8 million people facing hunger), Madagascar (nearly 1.9 million people) and Zimbabwe (1.5 million) where last year’s harvest was reduced by half compared with the previous year because of massive crop failure,” AlJazeera quoted the World Food Programme (WFP).
“In Lesotho, the government last month declared a drought emergency and some 650 000 people – one-third of the population – do not have enough food.”