Northern Namibia experiences man-made drought

Ndanki Kahiurika

NAMIBIA’s densely populated North is said to be experiencing a man-made drought, which reportedly came as a result of land mismanagement by farmers who overstocked during rainy seasons.

According to Mary Seely, founder of the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN), the last five years of rain have caused people to overstock beyond the capacity of the land on which they farm. It means farmers have more animals on small land exceeding the potential to sustain the animals, she said.

The drought in the north is reported to be much worse than initially anticipated and will continue to worsen if communal farmers do not learn to manage the land.

“Few people practise crop rotation despite various workshops that educate people on this matter. The question is, the country has the potential but are we managing it well?” Seely asked.

Many workshops are held but people need guidance as some seem resistant to change. “Why would a farmer change his way of farming if he believes his method works just fine?” said Seely.

She added that old people need assistance from the youth to practise crop rotation but with the majority of young people going to towns in search for greener pastures, old people are often left to cater for themselves.

She advised farmers to monitor their livestock, fodder availability, rainfall and their veld location, adding that people need to stay away from using the compact tractor, which only furrows through the top layer of land but should instead use the ripper tractor, which furrows through the hard pan allowing water penetration.

According to rainfall reports recorded by Namibian Meteorological Services (NMS) the north of Namibia received an average rain of 400 millimeters over the period of the last three decades and in 2008 it increased with a good rain of 600mm to a massive amount of 800 mm rain recorded in 2011.

The north of the country had last experienced similar rain back in 1974 to 1979.

Agriculture is reported to play a pivotal role in the country’s economy due to its provision of food for Namibians in addition to its prominence in job creation. This role is allegedly being challenged by impending drought with farmers having to lay off workers in addition to destocking.

The Namibia Agricultural Union’s executive director, Sakkie Coetzee, said it is possible that this could be a man-made drought if one takes into account the capacity of livestock that a farm can take. “I advise society that people should not be short sighted in agriculture but should maintain their land for times like these,” said Coetzee.

According to the National Drought Policy and Strategy of 1997 the farmers were advised to manage agricultural activities in an economical and responsible manner taking into account the country’s low rainfall, crop and grazing thus reducing vulnerability to drought in the longer term.

The Namibian recently reported on over a 100 Affirmative Action Farms to be suffering financially, which in an attempt to recover debts, Agribank might have to take them in to recoup their money.