Drought and land degradation terrorises Namibia

ABSALOM SHIGWEDHATHERE is a lack of sufficient grazing area and, if the drought continues, humans and animals are going to suffer greatly.

This is how the governor of Omusati region, Erkki Endjala, described the drought situation in his region.

Like in other regions, drought, desertification and land degradation have been accelerated by a long period of insufficient rainfall that started in 2012.

“Drought is very severe in Omusati region and the majority of the people are affected,” Endjala told The Namibian. Many wells have run dry and the Omusati Regional Council are now compelled to provide water to affected communities.

Jacob Vilho, a resident of Okamule village in Oshana region, said there are problems with water for animals as Lake Oponona (located in the Uuvudhiya area), is full of water, but some animals are still being fed from the communal water points.

Amutenya Ndahafa, the regional councillor the Uuvudhiya constituency in Oshana region, said that water was pumped into Lake Oponona in November last year from Etaka by the Ministry of Water, Agriculture and Forestry at his request.

“Lake Oponona is full of water. There is enough water for the animals,” said Ndahafa.

In Kunene region, farmers have described this year’s drought as critical as many areas in the region received below average rainfall in both the 2014 and 2015 rainy seasons.

Even though farmers want to sell some of their livestock to mitigate the impact, prices are very low and buyers have become more selective. Kunene governor Angelika Muharukua said many farmers in the region have lost their livestock due to drought.

A recent study conducted by agricultural technicians in Kunene region also found that poor rainfall during for the past three rainy seasons, continues to negatively impact on pastures in the region, resulting in diminishing perennial water in most villages.

Drought is also terrorising Ohangwena region, where over 1000 households from 60 villages in Eengodi constituency have reportedly been in dire need of water – a situation that is described by the Ohangwena Regional Council as potentially life threatening.

During the 11th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification held in Namibia in September 2013, the former executive secretary, Luc Gnacadja, called on international organisations and businesses to provide support to Namibia in addressing the severe drought the country is facing.

In 2013, farmers in Kunene region lost their livestock due to drought and some children’s deaths were also linked to a lack of food. Climate Change, said Gnacadja, has increased the frequency of droughts, particularly in the arid regions of Africa and Southern Africa, and Namibia in particular.

Namibia’s environmental commissioner Teofilus Nghitila said due to drought, desertification and land degradation experienced in Namibia in 2013, the country spent almost N$80 million on drought-relief programmes.

“Human lives were lost and some 500 000 people were directly affected,” said Nghitila.

He added that Namibia needs a plan and act swiftly to improve its preparedness and resistance to drought events.

In April this year, the Office of the Prime Minister announced that close to 418 000 Namibians who are affected by drought, would start receiving government assistance from May. The permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Nangula Mbako, said Cabinet had authorised the implementation of an interim drought relief programme,which includes the distribution of maize meal to close to 418 000 people from May to July 2015.

Government has set aside N$300 million for drought mitigation purposes and cover measures such as procurement of food for affected communities and households provision of water for human and animal consumption in the form of drilling new boreholes and rehabilitating old ones and assistance to crop producers and livestock farmers.

The Crop Prospects, Food Security and Drought Situation Report, released by the Namibian government on 31 July 2015, says Namibia will have to import almost 210 000 tonnes of cereal to ensure food security as a consequence of the 2013 and 2015 droughts.

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