Rundu — The latest National Early Warning and Food Information System (NEWFIU) paints a gloomy picture regarding production of the staple millet crop in the Kavango Region, where the bulk of subsistence farmers have expressed deep concern over shortage of seed.

The NEWFIU report, compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry's Directorate of Planning, warns the lack of seed could spell doom for the 2008/9 season.

One of the factors that led to this situation is the fact there has been poor harvests for the past two cropping seasons and demand for seed has outweighed supply.

Farmers, however, drew consolation from the fact that supplies of uncertified seeds of pearl millet, maize, beans and groundnuts were readily available on the open market though at exorbitant prices.

Although communal grain farmers have over generations been self-reliant in terms of seed by keeping a certain quantity from each harvest in preparation for the next planting season, most of those interviewed indicated that last season's poor harvest could not permit them to retain sufficient and good quality seeds, hence the seed shortage afflicting the entire Kavango Region.

But in the face of these challenges subsistence farmers in the Kahenge Constituency in Kavango wasted no time and harnessed their oxen to till their land after some good showers that fell in this and other parts of the country.

In Kapako Constituency, some beasts of burden are said to be in good enough condition to pull ploughs, though the main concern raised was the fact that the entire constituency is being serviced by 'only two tractors' which, according to the extension officer for this area, cannot meet the constituency's growing demand.

With regard to household food security, most households have depleted the little harvest from the previous cropping season and are currently dependent on the market or have to rely on handouts being dished out through the food relief programme.

At the time of the NEWFIU assessment, most farmers were said to own ploughs in Mashare, and the few that didn't had to borrow from those with ox-drawn ploughs.

In Mpungu Constituency, where farmers heavily rely on oxen and in some cases on donkeys to pull their ploughs, the animals were reported to be weak and this was more evident in settlements along the river. Household food security is said to be "tight", according to the report issued during the 2008/9 festive season.

A Government-funded and initiated food relief programme is taking place and as a starting point, food distributions focused on vulnerable members of society such as the elderly and the infirm in Mpungu.

Most communal farmers interviewed at Diyana, Shadikongoro and in villages at Bagani in Mukwe Constituency complained about not having been able to benefit from food relief.

They told the assessment team that "no drought food distribution is taking place in their areas. They allege that, only villagers along the rivers were targeted".

Cases of foot and mouth disease suspected to have spread from the far north-eastern Caprivi Region, have been reported in most parts of the constituency which is located at the border separating Caprivi from Kavango region. But in efforts to curb the further spread of the disease that impacts negatively on beef exports, the Directorate of Veterinary Services has deployed its staff around this area.

In Ndiyona Constituency, many farmers registered for a programme through which their seed and fertilizer is subsidised. And because foot and mouth is also prevalent in the area, farmers have been unable to sell thatching grass, which had become one of their main sources of income. They are not allowed to butcher or sell their cattle and goats, as part of measures intended to quell the further spread of foot and mouth.

In Rundu Rural East Constituency, some farmers especially from the inland, also ploughed or are still ploughing their fields following the good showers received.

"All the households interviewed indicated the shortage of seeds for pearl millet, maize and leguminous crops due to poor harvests for the past two seasons," states NEWFIU.

It wraps up the situation in Rundu Rural East Constituency with the observation that in this area, there are no private tractors. The only tractor dispatched to the area is from Rundu. On this score it has failed to meet increasing demand for tractors.

In Rundu Rural West Constituency, pastures were reduced to ashes by bush fires.