Northern farmers fear a drought if rain doesn’t fall this month

SOME communal farmers in the North are worried that if the rain does not come this month, they will have a poor harvest this year.

Some people ploughed their mahangu fields after the rain that fell in October and November, but this was followed by a dry spell which continues to date and some of the seeds did not germinate. Some communal farmers have small crops but they are wilting in the heat and could die if no rain comes this month.”If the rain does not come in January things will not go well,” said Martin Iyambo from Otshuulo village in the Oshana Region, about 11 km west of Oshakati.Iyambo, who is a homestead and mahangu field owner at Otshuulo, told The Namibian yesterday that cattle in their area are also going hungry and thirsty.”It is just hot.No rain,” he said.Oswin Mukulu, the chairperson of the Ombalantu Traditional Authority, says many people in his area are worried about the prospect of drought.Mukulu said although some farmers have young crops from the November rain, these might wither and die.But Tarah Daniel, a homestead owner at Uukwangula village about eight km west of Oshakati, is not so worried about the situation.He said he was hopeful that the rain would come, as there were some promising clouds yesterday.Weatherman Simon Dirkse at the Windhoek Weather Bureau told The Namibian yesterday that no rain is expected in the country this weekend.Dirkse said the situation was caused by a high-pressure system over central Namibia.The period from January to March is Namibia’s main rainy season.Some communal farmers have small crops but they are wilting in the heat and could die if no rain comes this month.”If the rain does not come in January things will not go well,” said Martin Iyambo from Otshuulo village in the Oshana Region, about 11 km west of Oshakati.Iyambo, who is a homestead and mahangu field owner at Otshuulo, told The Namibian yesterday that cattle in their area are also going hungry and thirsty.”It is just hot.No rain,” he said.Oswin Mukulu, the chairperson of the Ombalantu Traditional Authority, says many people in his area are worried about the prospect of drought.Mukulu said although some farmers have young crops from the November rain, these might wither and die.But Tarah Daniel, a homestead owner at Uukwangula village about eight km west of Oshakati, is not so worried about the situation.He said he was hopeful that the rain would come, as there were some promising clouds yesterday.Weatherman Simon Dirkse at the Windhoek Weather Bureau told The Namibian yesterday that no rain is expected in the country this weekend.Dirkse said the situation was caused by a high-pressure system over central Namibia.The period from January to March is Namibia’s main rainy season.