Mariental – Hardap governor Salomon April said they have put measures in place for his region to mitigate the effects of the drought the country is experiencing.

“The country is facing its worst drought in a century, and the situation is alarming in that it has resulted in poor crop performance and rangeland conditions,” he said.

He added that to implement livestock support interventions and crop production
incentives, the region has submitted claims amounting to N$2.7 million.

April highlighted the regional drought plans during his recent State of the Region address.

“The Directorate of Agriculture Production, Extension, and Engineering Services focuses its efforts on drought management by enhancing agricultural skills to predict and effectively ensure that farmers respond to the impacts of climate change,” he added. 

In addition, the implementation of
hydroponic fodder production is aimed at ensuring that farmers have fodder within seven days to sustain the core breed during periods of drought. The governor the National Horticulture Value Chain, as one of the schemes implemented under the Harambee Comprehensively Coordinated and Integrated Agriculture Development Programme (HACCIADEP), was allocated N$1.2 million for the year under review.

“The Poultry Value Chain Development Scheme, which started during the 2020/2021 financial year, was further allocated N$600 000,” noted the politician.

The governor said in terms of the Namibia Agricultural Mechanisation and Seed System Improvement Project (NAMSIP), the region has, up to date, received six tractors, 33 walking tractors with matching implements, two balers, two rakers, two mowers, and hand-held equipment.

“The Small Stock Distribution and
Development in Communal Areas is a revolving scheme, where beneficiaries are allocated 20 ewes and one ram. To date, a total of 1 100 ewes and 55 rams have been distributed to 55 beneficiaries,” announced April.

Moving the focus to land delivery, the
governor said security of tenure was provided in communal areas in terms of registration of 137 communal land rights, while two agricultural commercial farms with a combined total size of 10 405 hectares were bought.

“Under Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Services, a total of 476 water points are maintained in the region, of which 37 water points have bad quality water and were, therefore, supplied with water from tankers, until such time that alternative water sources are developed,” he said.

With reference to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes, April said the agriculture ministry has spent N$90 000 on materials to support targeted households to upgrade or improve toilets.

-sklukowski@nepc.com.na