OTJIMBINGWE – Despite good rains received in various parts of the country, farmers in the Erongo region remain trapped in a relentless drought that has devastated their livestock and livelihoods.
The region, largely covered by desert terrain, has been among the hardest-hit, with many farmers losing nearly everything, forcing them to close both kraals and gardens completely.
Farmers told New Era that they lost over 2 000 cattle and small stock during the last 18 months of the drought.
Abiud Karongee, chairperson of the Otjohorongo Farmers Association in the Daures constituency, said the impact has been so severe that despite the rains, it will take time for farmers to restock their numbers.
He added that even with the recent rainfall, more is needed to break the drought.
Karongee said farmers in their area lost over 800 cattle.
“At least two-thirds of the farmers in our area have been forced to shut down their operations. Only those with financial means were able to transport their livestock to other regions for grazing. But even then, it has been a struggle. Some who moved with 50 cattle only returned with 10, while others returned with nothing. That is how bad our situation was,” he lamented.
Farmers who were forced to stay due to circumstances also endured traumatic experiences, as they had to watch their animals die one by one. Although they still want to continue farming, it will take some time to increase their livestock numbers, he added.
“It will take years to recover. However, we must be realistic, as we know we are not only battling drought, but also climate change. This remains one of the driest areas in Namibia,” Karongee observed. He said farmers in the area indeed acknowledge that drought and climate change will be their biggest challenges, making traditional cattle farming no longer viable. “Farmers must consider reducing their herd sizes, and focusing on quality rather than quantity. Alternative farming methods such as gardening could help, but even that comes with the challenge of human-wildlife conflict. So, we find ourselves in a very difficult situation,” he continued.
Retired teacher and avid farmer Maria Goagus from Otjimbingwe painted a similarly grim reality.
“I had over 200 goats and sheep, but they died one after the other. Some mornings, I would wake up to find two or three dead. Now, I am left with only 30 goats and two cattle. The drought hit us hard.”
She has no means to restock her livestock, as it will take a couple of months to save up and start again.
Goagus thanked the government for the assistance rendered to farmers during the severe drought. However, she said the desired outcome could not be felt as there was simply no water.
“At one stage, Otjimbingwe didn’t even have enough water for human consumption, let alone for our animals. Hopefully, we will receive good rains to ease the water situation,” she stated. Resettled farmer Lazarus Shangombe echoed similar concerns, saying he lost 60 cattle due to the persistent drought.
“The drought in Otjimbingwe has been devastating. Farmers in this constituency lost over 2 000 cattle. Even when the first rains came, the cattle ate the first grass and still died. We are grateful for the rain we received, but we need much more to recover fully,” he added.
Shangombe will thus only start restocking next year as he wants to use this year to prepare properly and experiment with other farming methods to minimise the impact of drought.
Erongo governor Neville Andre called for urgent interventions as water shortages in the region reach critical levels, now posing a direct threat to livelihoods.
“Water scarcity remains one of our most urgent challenges. While efforts have been made, the need to accelerate access to water cannot be overstated,” the governor said.
Settlements such as Uis and Omaruru in the Daures and Karibib constituencies have been battling severe water shortages for nearly a decade, with no immediate relief in sight.
-edeklerk@nepc.com.na