Placido Hilukilwa
SUBSISTENCE farmers in the northern regions have expressed hope that this year’s harvest will be better compared to previous years, provided the current rain patterns continue. The rainy season commenced in November, with sporadic downpours throughout December, and the intensity of rainfall has increased since this past weekend.
Leonard Shipwikineni, a Walvis Bay-based political and labour rights activist currently back in his home village, Onheleiwa, in the Omusati Region, said, “It is raining, and we are using this opportunity to cultivate our fields while it is still early.” He mentioned that Onheleiwa and surrounding villages received good rain very early, but not everyone exploited the opportunity. He encouraged others to start cultivation, emphasizing that it is not too late.
Many other subsistence farmers in Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshana, and Oshikoto are hopeful that this year’s harvest will be better. Julia Simeon of Ongha in the Ohangwena Region said, “So far, so good. If the [weather] trend continues unchanged, then we can look forward to a bumper harvest.”
According to the Namibia Meteorological Service, rainfall was registered countrywide Monday morning, with Oshakati having the highest amount (35.8 mm), followed by Omaruru and Mpacha Airport with 34.4 mm each. The recorded numbers for Pionierspark and Windhoek HQ are 3.0 mm and 7.6 mm, respectively. Other locations include Koes (7.6 mm), Grootfontein (3.4 mm), Outjo (0.2 mm), Okaukuejo (0.1 mm), Khorixas (0.7 mm), and Okangwati (0.6 mm).
