As we continue from last week’s column on the concerns of the looming drought, it is important to note that we should not speak of drought in isolation as this may be a consequence of climate change.
At the beginning of the year, there was a prediction of Namibia receiving normal to above-normal rainfall, but noticeably this has not come to fruition.
At a recent event on ‘The Role of Organised Agriculture in the 21st Century’, I enquired about what the government is doing to make sure that timely information is disseminated to create awareness of the looming drought before it hits.
We are mostly reactive and not proactive in crisis management. The feedback I received was a reference to the Drought Policy of 1996, which details the implementation and administration of the drought fund under the drought management plan.
It is pleasing to know that there are solutions to this crisis. However, you as a farmer can safeguard your livelihood by considering some of the steps below as continued from last week.
Relocating livestock and the cost involved – This has been a tradition for most of us, where we temporarily move livestock to another area for a short period of time.
There are costs involved that must be considered and budgeted for such as transportation costs, the monthly rental cost per head, and any other related costs.
Building a fodder bank - A fodder bank is an accumulation of feed that will be used as emergency feed in times when natural grazing is scarce. The idea is to preserve feed to utilise during harsh times, and if you must buy to fill your feed bank, the time to do it is now as we are noticing the prices going up already.
Drought-resistant fodder crops - Consider options for growing cheap and drought-resistant fodder crops which can be harvested and stored for later use. Implement water-saving strategies. Invest in water-saving strategies such as drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting (for the areas that are still getting rain), and other water-efficient practices.
Drought subsidy - Look for financial assistance programmes offered by the government (if they come up), or other organisations. These programmes can provide funding to help you cover the cost of implementing water-saving strategies or other drought-mitigation methods.
Cut back on unnecessary expenses - Reduce your farming operations’ expenses by looking at what may not be necessary to ensure that you have extra funds during tough times.
Most importantly, you should monitor what is happening in the market to understand and analyse alternatives in response. For instance, the prices of livestock have reduced substantially in the last few
months.
Taking these steps may help you prepare your finances for a drought before it hits, reducing the financial impact of this natural disaster on your household.
-Mekupi Kambatuku:
Managing Consultant at Simpli
Business Advisory