Better outlook for food security

By: STAFF REPORTER

ABOVE average harvests for the 2009-10 crop season are expected in the north central regions, following significant improvements in rainfall performance in the second part of the season, the latest food security report of the Agriculture Ministry said.

“Despite the general poor rainfall performance in the first part and dry spells in the second part of the season, production prospects indicate that above average harvests can be expected. The Oshana Region will see the highest production, with 46 per cent above average,” said Matheus Ndjodhi Senior Agricultural Economist in the Ministry.
This improvement came as a result of good to very good harvests expected in the various crop producing areas.
“The Oshikoto Region can expect 40 per cent above average, followed by Omusati with a 35 per cent above average harvest,” according to Ndjodhi. However, crop production in Ohangwena  showed a decrease of 12 per cent below average, but 65 per cent better than last season’s harvests.
The area planted to the country’s coarse grain production this season is estimated at 313 100 hectares. This represents a decrease of nearly 10 percent below average but a slight increase of about 2 percent higher than last season.
The country’s aggregate coarse grain production - white maize, sorghum, pearl millet and wheat - is estimated at 155 100 tonnes for this year. This consists of 58 000 t of white maize, 73 300 t of pearl millet, 7 900 t of sorghum and 16 300 t of wheat. This represents an increase in output of nearly 40 per cent of last season’s harvest and 25 per cent when compared to a ten-year average, according to the report.
Most crop producing areas recorded an above average harvests this season. White maize and wheat under commercial production3 recorded an increase of 48 per cent above average and 10 per cent higher than last season’s harvest. Good harvests on pearl millet and sorghum are expected in the northern communal crop producing regions with the Oshana Region being the highest, recording an increase of 46 per cent above average and 133 per cent higher than last season’s production.
The Oshikoto Region recorded an increase of over 40 per cent above average and 104 per cent higher than last seasons, the Ministry’s report stated.
Crop productions in Omusati recorded an increase of 35 per cent above average and 134 per cent more than last season’s production. Ohangwena on the other hand recorded a below average harvest of 12 per cent below average, but yet better than last season’s by more than 65 per cent. “However, harvests for Caprivi and Kavango are worrisome with Caprivi being the hardest hit with an estimated production of 32 per cent below average [due to floods] and 22 per cent lower than last season’s poor harvest.” The Kavango Region recorded a combine cereal production of 26 per cent below average, but much better than last season with 15 per cent higher production than last season.
Poor harvests in Caprivi came as a result of sporadic, erratic and insufficient rainfall received as well as floods, while poor harvests in Kavango region resulted from poor rainfall performances like in Caprivi.

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