Food security prospects in central north looks bleak

HOUSEHOLD food security is worsening in the four north-central regions as most households have depleted their small harvest from the previous season, which was poor due to disastrous floods, according to the latest Agricultural Inputs and Household Food Security Assessment Report.

‘The food relief programme is taking place in those regions but is reported to be ineffective due to some shortcomings identified in the distribution process,’ says Matheus Ndjodhi, Agricultural Economist in the Agriculture Ministry, who compiled the review just before Christmas.
‘This included insufficient food stock received and delayed distributions due to inadequate transport. Food supplies are also delayed because certain companies that were awarded tenders to supply some food items could not honour their contractual obligation and as result, their service were terminated.
‘Household food security (in the north) is tightening as most households have depleted their food stock last August. Transitory food insecurity was observed in most parts of the communal crop producing regions. Most households interviewed indicated that they have depleted their harvest in August 2008 and are currently dependent on the market for maize meal,’ according to Ndjodhi.
The north-central regions and Kavango have also not yet received the supply of improved seed despite good rains received since the beginning of this season.
At the time of the assessment just before Christmas, the north-central regions of Oshana, Omusati, Oshikoto and Ohangwena were still waiting for the improved pearl millet seeds from the Mahenene Seed Co-operative.
According to Mahenene Seed, the delay was the result of limited supply. ‘Due to a poor harvest last season, most of their seed growers could not produce enough seeds because of flood impacts coupled with the scourge of army worms,’ the Review stated.
The Co-operative could only produce 48 tonnes of different varieties of pearl millet compared to an average of 75 tonnes plus 100 tonnes as a Government reserve.
The Co-operative disposed of the entire Government seed reserve last season as part of its stock management strategy with the aim to restock with new seed.
‘To its surprise, the harvest was reduced drastically (due to floods).’
Meanwhile, Government through Mahenene Seed has imported pearl millet and sorghum seed from South Africa, but only received 34 tonnes in December, which still had to be packaged.
Delivery to the regions will only be made once the packaging process is completed.
Most farmers have registered for the seed and fertiliser package as well as ploughing services with tractors.
Farmers in the Epembe constituency of the Ohangwena Region expressed concern about a lack of tractors in their constituency since last season. Farmers in areas where there are few or no tractors requested Government to extend the ploughing subsidy programme to those who use draught animals, according to the review.