Govt warns of lean times ahead

GOVERNMENT has urged farmers to get rid of non-productive animals, as the poor rainy season has started taking its toll and there are fears of livestock deaths in the dry season and higher food prices later in the year.

The Early Warning and Food Information System (NEWFIS) warns that the value of animals would decrease in the coming months as the dry season progresses and farmers would face a die-off of small stock and cattle. “This in turn would further deprive households of vital assets usually exchanged for grain, thus increasing vulnerability to food insecurity,” the bulletin said.Though the 2006/2007 rainfall season had been below average in most parts of the country, the bulletin said the situation did not warrant a “declaration of drought disaster in Namibia”.”Most of the affected areas do not require emergency food assistance following a good 2006 cereal harvest with sufficient on-farm carryover stocks anticipated, as well as alternative food (for vulnerable children) and income sources,” the early warning bulletin said.However, support such as seeds and tools for farmers will be essential during the next crop season.”Markets need to be monitored closely as trends indicate that food prices could increase to levels that would be beyond the reach of the poorer households,” the bulletin warned.For now, the bulletin said, many households were still able to meet their food needs from this year’s harvest and on-farm reserves, but pockets of food insecurity already exist among vulnerable populations.”The food security situation at household level will be very tight in the 2007/08 consumption year, especially during the lean season, as a direct result of the drought conditions,” NEWFIS said.The early warning bulletin said domestic cereal production was provisionally estimated at 114 100 tonnes, consisting of 52 100 tonnes of white maize, 44 500 tonnes of pearl millet (mahangu), about 4 500 tonnes of sorghum and a forecasted production of 13 500 tonnes of winter wheat.”The production is lower than last year by about 40 per cent and represents 95 per cent of the five-year average,” the bulletin said.The bulletin said extended dry conditions and ensuing water shortages would cause severe stress on livestock, which continue to provide a significant source of rural income, with cattle and goats equally important.”This in turn would further deprive households of vital assets usually exchanged for grain, thus increasing vulnerability to food insecurity,” the bulletin said.Though the 2006/2007 rainfall season had been below average in most parts of the country, the bulletin said the situation did not warrant a “declaration of drought disaster in Namibia”.”Most of the affected areas do not require emergency food assistance following a good 2006 cereal harvest with sufficient on-farm carryover stocks anticipated, as well as alternative food (for vulnerable children) and income sources,” the early warning bulletin said. However, support such as seeds and tools for farmers will be essential during the next crop season.”Markets need to be monitored closely as trends indicate that food prices could increase to levels that would be beyond the reach of the poorer households,” the bulletin warned.For now, the bulletin said, many households were still able to meet their food needs from this year’s harvest and on-farm reserves, but pockets of food insecurity already exist among vulnerable populations.”The food security situation at household level will be very tight in the 2007/08 consumption year, especially during the lean season, as a direct result of the drought conditions,” NEWFIS said.The early warning bulletin said domestic cereal production was provisionally estimated at 114 100 tonnes, consisting of 52 100 tonnes of white maize, 44 500 tonnes of pearl millet (mahangu), about 4 500 tonnes of sorghum and a forecasted production of 13 500 tonnes of winter wheat.”The production is lower than last year by about 40 per cent and represents 95 per cent of the five-year average,” the bulletin said.The bulletin said extended dry conditions and ensuing water shortages would cause severe stress on livestock, which continue to provide a significant source of rural income, with cattle and goats equally important.