Chrispin Inambao
5 January 2009
Windhoek — Good rains that prevailed in most of the country's 13 regions revived pastures. The generally catastrophic scenario of previous rainy seasons that saw many herds of cattle succumb to drought could thus be largely averted.
More positively, states the National Early Warning and Food Information System (NEWFIU) report issued in December 2008, no water shortages for livestock were reported.
Livestock conditions in the north central regions range between "fair" in most areas to good in the eastern part of the Oshikoto Region, namely Guinas, Eenghodi, Okankolo and around Omuthiya, and the southern parts of Oshana and Omusati due to good pasture.
No livestock deaths have been reported in these areas though a few cases of internal parasites in cattle, goats and in donkeys have been reported in Etayi, Onesi, and Ruacana constituencies in Omusati and Oshikango.
Oshikango Constituency in the Ohangwena Region reported cases of black quarter that debilitates and rapidly kills infected cattle, while cases of rabies in dogs were detected.
And more worryingly, a number of pigs died suddenly at Onandjaba Village in Omusati.
In the Kavango Region, the condition of livestock ranges between fair in settlements along the river and good for the rest of the region.
Agriculture extension officers and villagers alike are alarmed by the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
It is suspected a wild buffalo herd that is roaming in that area might have spread the disease, NEWFIU stated in its report compiled after its staff undertook field visits. Pasture conditions in Kavango are generally good particularly in inland areas except at villages along the Kavango River where there is a high concentration of goats and cattle.
The periodic field report states that the eastern part of Caprivi is characterised by wild animals, more so an exploding elephant population.
These giant free-roaming pachyderms have caused unspecified damage to property.
In desperation, farmers confessed to having set on fire shrubs and grass with the intent to scare away these beasts that have trampled many villagers.
On crops, farmers in Caprivi started planting their river fields last September taking advantage of moist, fertile river fields on which maize germinated successfully.
There were widespread shortages of hybrid seed at the time of planting but subsistence farmers managed to plant using own traditional seed sourced from the previous harvest.
"At the time of the assessment, crop stages ranged between vegetative to flowering, which signifies good harvest prospects. But many farmers are very sceptical about a good harvest due to the prevalence of wild animals, particularly elephants that are reducing chances of good harvest of the crops planted alongside the river," NEWFIU stated.
The other obstacle that got in the way of farmers in the north-eastern region is the fact that the distribution of fertilisers mainly nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was delayed because the price for these fertilisers had not yet been determined.
One of the major challenges facing the agricultural sector is the rising cost of production worldwide due to the high cost of agricultural inputs.
Government on the other hand fully comprehends this and has kick-started policies and programmes that are aimed at boosting food production particularly in communal areas. T
he Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry has introduced subsidy services in the communal crop producing areas.
Among these programmes is a seed and fertiliser subsidy that allows farmers to buy seed and fertiliser (NPK) at a 50 percent subsidy but the scheme is limited to up to three hectares.
Under the ploughing services subsidy farmers have the privilege to enlist the services of private tractor owners who are paid a subsidy of N$150 per hectare up to three hectares.
Another State-funded motivation comes in the form of a N$100 weeding subsidy paid per hectare but also limited to a maximum of three hectares for each farmer. On the availability of seed, most farmers in Linyanti Constituency are gratified by the ongoing supply of seeds with the majority of them showing an interest to participate in the Government seed, fertiliser and ploughing services subsidy programme.
Some of the farmers that in 2007 participated in the Draft Animal Power Acceleration Programme (DAPAP) of the European Commission in collaboration with the Namibia Agronomic Board (NAB) appreciate the Government scheme.
Farmers at Omega III in Kongola Constituency are still waiting for free seed from the Government.
The farmers were promised free seed until such time they are able to retain their own seed or they are able to buy seed from the market.
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