Farmers upset about drought response

THE Southern Namibia Farmer’s Union (Snafu) has criticised Government for failing to take a “pro-active approach” towards a looming drought in parts of the Karas and Hardap regions.

Snafu Chairperson Johannes Jansen claims Government is dragging its feet on the drought assessment process, which is needed to determine aid for drought-stricken farmers. “Failure by the Government to speed up the drought assessment process can result in livestock losses from November, unless rain is received by October,” Jansen warned.According to Jansen, some parts of the regions are already experiencing shortages of water and grazing.”Yet the central Government did not signal how it will support the two regions during this severe drought,” he said.Jansen made the remarks during the fifth Snafu congress held at Gibeon on Friday.He also warned resettled farmers in the regions to stop sub-letting the land they were allocated.”Sub-letting of land acquired through the resettlement process has become a common practice in the regions,” Jansen said.Jansen said a lack of monitoring systems on the part of Government partly contributed to the sub-letting.He said this was the reason many Government programmes had failed.”We’re sick and tired of the unnatural deaths of Government programmes – meant to uplift the living standards of people – because of mismanagement and administrative errors,” Jansen said.Jansen implored Government to put a stop to the sub-letting of resettlement farms.”The land meant for the landless is now sub-let, how does this match with the resettlement process objective to assist upcoming farmers,” Jansen wanted to know.Jansen called on Government to review the criteria used in allocating the resettlement plots.He also took a swipe at traditional leaders serving on resettlement committees, accusing them of nepotism and favouritism when it came to the allocation of resettlement plots.”Failure by the Government to speed up the drought assessment process can result in livestock losses from November, unless rain is received by October,” Jansen warned.According to Jansen, some parts of the regions are already experiencing shortages of water and grazing.”Yet the central Government did not signal how it will support the two regions during this severe drought,” he said.Jansen made the remarks during the fifth Snafu congress held at Gibeon on Friday.He also warned resettled farmers in the regions to stop sub-letting the land they were allocated. “Sub-letting of land acquired through the resettlement process has become a common practice in the regions,” Jansen said.Jansen said a lack of monitoring systems on the part of Government partly contributed to the sub-letting.He said this was the reason many Government programmes had failed.”We’re sick and tired of the unnatural deaths of Government programmes – meant to uplift the living standards of people – because of mismanagement and administrative errors,” Jansen said.Jansen implored Government to put a stop to the sub-letting of resettlement farms.”The land meant for the landless is now sub-let, how does this match with the resettlement process objective to assist upcoming farmers,” Jansen wanted to know.Jansen called on Government to review the criteria used in allocating the resettlement plots.He also took a swipe at traditional leaders serving on resettlement committees, accusing them of nepotism and favouritism when it came to the allocation of resettlement plots.