A newly released report by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform has recommended that the government declare a drought a national emergency.

This follows the effects of drought findings across the country due to low rainfall.

The assessment was conducted in the seven major northern communal drop-producing regions between February 12 and March 11 this year. 

Maize, millet, sorghum, and wheat are estimated to be 53% lower than the last season's harvest. 

Due to the ongoing drought, farmers in the Zambezi Region are counting their losses.

The region, whose residents heavily rely on agriculture for both consumption and commercial purposes, is worried about the prospects of their farming. 

Some residents of Maalo Village next to Lake Lyambezi say not only do they have to deal with wildlife damaging their crops, but a lack of rainfall also made things difficult this year.

The unemployed farmers who survive through farming say they will not get their return on investment.

The persistent drought in the Kunene Region is affecting water provision for residents.

Kunene Regional Council Acting Director for Planning and Development, Charles Uarije, made these remarks during the Regional and Local Government Administrative Leadership Session at Opuwo.

Uarije says even though the region has the Kunene River, it depends on boreholes for water provision.

With a population of more than 90,000 inhabitants, about 60% of whom live in rural settings, they depend on livestock for their livelihood.

Oshana Governor Elia Irimari says the persistent drought has a significant negative impact on families in urban centres within his region and that they too deserve to get food aid to help them get through the drought.

Against this background, the Oshana Regional Council found it fit to hand over food parcels valued at N$135,000 to three of its local authorities.

The towns of Ongwediva, Ondangwa, and Oshakati received 737 tinned fish as well as 184 bottles of cooking oil and 10 kg bags of maize meal to assist the families in these towns in getting a meal on their tables.

The report on the outreach programme to the Ohangwena Region, led by Deputy Speaker Loide Kasingo, which highlighted challenges faced by citizens, including drought, hunger, and limited access to essential services, was adopted after deliberations in the National Assembly.

The report covered diverse topics, including challenges faced by children walking long distances to school, issues with water pressure in agricultural areas, and the necessity for the Development Fund Bill.

NamWater started pumping water from Olushandja Dam's South wall outlet into the Etaka-Uuvudhiya canal 130 kilometres away.

The water will benefit livestock that are affected by drought in the Oshana and Omusati regions.
 

This year, the governors of Oshana, Omusati, and Oshikoto regions took a trip to Olushandja Dam and the Etaka canal and requested NamWater pump water from Olushandja Dam into the Etaka canal in response to the water crisis.