OMUTHIYA - Ondonga Traditional Authority (OTA) spokesperson Enkali Frans says they plan maximising harvests by growing more maize to feed people during droughts.

He told Nampa in an interview on Tuesday that it is only the government which feeds the nation when disaster strikes, hence the need to build food reserves for use during difficult times.

“We want to contribute to food security in our country, and we have learnt from experience that it costs us more when there is insufficient food during a disaster.

During this rainy season, we want to grow enough maize so we produce enough food to build on our reserves,” Frans said. He said the traditional authority currently does not receive any financial grant from the government, so they sell some maize to raise funds to run the administration, including paying workers.

Frans further said they do not raise much from the payment for homesteads because they only charge N$20 every year.

“This harvest reserve will not only benefit the Oshindonga-speaking people, but also those who came to settle in Ondonga,” he continued.

He stated that they want at least two more pieces of land to add to the 100 hectares they have at Omuthiya in the Oshikoto region on which to grow more food, and also create job opportunities in the agricultural sector for the youth.

Frans urged members of the community to venture into more agricultural activities to reduce the importation of food. - Nampa