Placido Hilukilwa
THE Northern subsistence farmers’ dream of a bumper harvest this year is turning into a nightmare. The effects of the El Nino weather phenomenon have become clear: prolonged dry spells in some parts; sporadic and insufficient rainfalls, as well as raging storms in other areas. Mahangu plants have mostly dried up due to lack of rain or been destroyed by violent windy storms, thereby dashing the hopes of residents whose livelihood mainly depends on crop farming.
“I am starting to doubt whether our traditional way of farming is still relevant. We spend lots of money on tractors, seed, fertilizer, and labour, but year after year we gain nothing. It is either a drought or flooding … or violent windy storms,” said Nghiluudile Jonas, who farms on the outskirts of the Eenhana town in the Ohangwena Region.
Traditional authorities and farmers across the northern regions of Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Oshana, and Omusati are unanimous in declaring that their initial optimism and hope of a good harvest have turned into despair, stating that a large-scale drought is an accomplished fact.
“If it rains before the weekend, some mahangu crops can still survive, depending on the fertility or infertility of the soil,” said Moses Amukoto, a subsistence farmer in the Onanke area of the Oshikoto Region. “Ironically,” he said, “mahangu plants survive longer on loose and less fertile soil.”
Deeply Christian businessman and village headman Simon Moses Itashipu is still optimistic. “The situation is really bad, but we still have hope and keep entreating the Almighty to have mercy on His people,” he said.
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