Kavango communal farmers in need of seeds

COMMUNAL farmers at the Salem irrigation project near Rundu in the Kavango Region have appealed to Government to provide them with seed to replant their crops, which were damaged by heavy rains recently.

Agricultural activities at the irrigation project have stood still for about a month due to heavy rains experienced in most parts of that region. The flooded irrigation project made cultivating difficult, and access to the garden was impossible.Some of the farmers who work in the garden said 31 of the 36 hectares at the agricultural project are waterlogged and they are left with no choice but to replant.The farmers, who are mainly women, said the heavy rains also damaged their maize, cabbage and carrots.Although water has dried in some parts of the fields, Sikukutu Johannes, who is one of those who work on the project, said the harvest would be poor because many plants died off while submerged in water.”We have to replant again but we don’t have seeds,” said Johannes.Approached for comment, an extension officer in the Agriculture Ministry in Kavango Region, Ersa Juvet, advised farmers to submit their request in writing to the Ministry.Juvet stressed that the Ministry first has to assess their needs and then give advice to the farmers.The Salem Irrigation project consists of about 36 gardens and is a community-owned project where vegetables such as cabbages, maize, sweet potatoes, carrots, oranges and sugar cane are grown and the surplus sold.The annual yield per hectare was around N$12 000 but the recent floods will reduce the project’s income severely.NampaThe flooded irrigation project made cultivating difficult, and access to the garden was impossible.Some of the farmers who work in the garden said 31 of the 36 hectares at the agricultural project are waterlogged and they are left with no choice but to replant.The farmers, who are mainly women, said the heavy rains also damaged their maize, cabbage and carrots.Although water has dried in some parts of the fields, Sikukutu Johannes, who is one of those who work on the project, said the harvest would be poor because many plants died off while submerged in water.”We have to replant again but we don’t have seeds,” said Johannes.Approached for comment, an extension officer in the Agriculture Ministry in Kavango Region, Ersa Juvet, advised farmers to submit their request in writing to the Ministry.Juvet stressed that the Ministry first has to assess their needs and then give advice to the farmers.The Salem Irrigation project consists of about 36 gardens and is a community-owned project where vegetables such as cabbages, maize, sweet potatoes, carrots, oranges and sugar cane are grown and the surplus sold.The annual yield per hectare was around N$12 000 but the recent floods will reduce the project’s income severely.Nampa