Crop production ‘washed out’ by heavy rains

NAMIBIA will have to import 159 200 tons of cereal this year after excessive rains in certain areas led to flooding and water-logging which hit crop production.

The Namibia Early Warning and Food Information System (Newfis), in its latest bulletin, forecasts domestic cereal supply at 161 200 tons this year.’As usual, most imports are from South Africa whose crop production is well advanced,’ Newfis said.Tentative projections by Newfis indicate that food use will be 320 000 tons against the expected availability of only 161 200 tons.VULNERABLE UNDER THREATIt said many households were likely to face food insecurity buy September this year.’Most interviewed households indicated that, since their food reserves were weakened by the 2006 and 2007 droughts, and now also floods for the past two seasons, the current harvest is only enough until the end of September,’ the bulletin said.The Government unit said despite the shortfall, ‘Namibia is a food secure country’ through imports although access to the imported food remains a worry for many households.It said the impact of the poor crop production of the past three seasons will ‘hit vulnerable households the most’. ‘It is thus suggested that food aid, especially to the most vulnerable groups affected by food deficits this year should be considered until such a time that the affected people are able to regain their normal livelihoods,’ the bulletin said.However, Newfis called for caution where food aid is provided.It emphasised that it must not create ‘a dependency syndrome’ among various communities.FERTILISERS ‘CRUCIAL’To improve crop production for the upcoming season, the bulletin suggested timely availability of fertilisers.It said fertilisers remained unaffordable for many crop farmers despite a Government subsidy while farmers in the North Central regions complained about the poor quality of grains for the pearl millet.’Provision of timely support in the form of subsidies is recommended with agricultural inputs such as seed, fertilisers, draft animals, tractors, ploughing and weeding services and credit facilities to help revive crop production for the upcoming season,’ the bulletin said.