KEETMANSHOOP – //Kharas governor, Aletha Frederick said government is conscious of the numerous challenges it is confronted with and that in pursuit of economic growth, Namibians are encouraged to make the most of internal resources and external opportunities.
She said this during her sate of the region (Sora) address in Keetmanshoop recently.
According to the seasonal report for 2022–2023, the nation experienced occasional rainfall that was below average, which led to flash floods and dry spells in some regions.
As a result, Cabinet instructed the Office of the Prime Minister to conduct a rapid assessment of the drought in the Omaheke, //Kharas, and Hardap regions, that has been carried out in May 2023,” she added.
Frederick reported the rapid assessment found that due to the insufficient rainfall received, adverse impacts are expected on community livelihoods. “These challenges will affect livestock farmers, and include weakened food security at household levels, a shortage of water, and an increased challenge of salty water in certain areas which may culminate in increased malnutrition cases,” she said.
She also said, based on these findings, she is relieved to announce that the government has included the //Kharas region to benefit from the interim relief that is earmarked for the drought-stricken regions. “Hence, the government will provide food assistance to the drought-stricken households for nine months, namely 1 July 2023 to 31 March 2024 and in addition run a livestock support programme for six-month period as from 1 July 2023 until 31 December 2023,” she revealed.
The politician also reported that the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare has been tasked to fast-track the roll out of the food bank programme in urban centres and among marginalised communities. “The ministry of agriculture is also tasked to ensure regular maintenance and repair of boreholes and water points and should alternatively provide water through tanker services whilst the health ministry must also see to it that water purification tablets as well as ready-to-use supplementary food sachets are consistently distributed to malnourished patients,” she reported accordingly.
According to her, the National Poultry Value Chain Project for the year under review has received a budget allocation of N$400 000, from which a total of 41 farmers benefitted whilst about 270 farmers were trained in poultry production. To enhance the sustainable utilisation of our natural resources and to address food security, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources gave 4 800 fingerlings to aquaculture projects in the //Kharas region during the year under review,” she said. The line ministry also successfully registered 12 small-scale fish farmers whilst at least 10 farmers were trained in fish farming.
–sklukowski@nepc.com.na