Drought severely affects Namibia, Sign of almost ‘no grass’ for livestock

Pan-Namibia drought is creating its presence felt by livestock in Mankumpi Constituency of Kavango West Region as villagers say the dry spell that resulted in empty communal granaries has started affecting the grass in grazing areas.

Villagers said to the media persons (who visited to assess the current drought situation) that although at this point of time there is water they are concerned for the survival of their livestock as the grass is becoming depleted.

The deteriorating situation has forced the villagers to leave their cattle to stay in the bushes so they can graze even at night fearing that they do not get enough grass if they are only graze during the day.

"Even if you go in the bushes now you will see that it is barren and there is no grass," moaned Bonifatius Kalimbwe from Satotwa village in Kavango West. "We just give them water then leave them to graze day and night," added Kalimbwe. On a positive note he said the water at least keeps their livestock going as they graze on the little grass and the available dry leaves.

Kalimbwe fears the situation will worsen in summer and that villagers might end up losing large numbers of their cattle which they consider their only status of wealth. Because people did not harvest much this year, the fields are dry and there is no millet stalks and other left overs in the fields for cattle to graze on to complement to their diet in the absence of sufficient grass.

"Even if the cattle go in the fields there is nothing to feed on. Usually they would feed on millet stalks but there is nothing, going in the bushes there is also no grass," said Gabriel Yipanda from Kasikili village. When good rain is received, usually there would be sufficient grass for livestock to last until the next rainy season.

Recently, the government of Egypt has donated 134 metric tonnes of mahangu grain to the Office of the Prime Minister's Disaster Risk Management Directorate. Egypt's ambassador to Namibia, Abdelaziz Abdelwareth said the donation follows president Hage Geingob's state of emergency announcement on the ongoing drought in the country. "After hearing that the Namibian government needed assistance, Cairo was informed, and they took the immediate decision to support our brothers and sisters in Namibia," he stated.

Due to the severe consequence of drought in Namibia' several parts resulting wiping out of pastures, the Oshikoto Regional Council will start distributing free fodder next week to identified beneficiaries in all 11 constituencies. The region is said to have received a batch of 2,376 bales that would be distributed among 250 farmers. This is in addition to the drought relief food that was distributed over the past few weeks, which include a bag of maize meal, cooking oil and tinned fish.

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