Hunger for SADC
Predictions are that food insecurity will, at least in part, reign over several areas in SADC, including Namibia.
Food insecurity in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) may occur despite good rainfall received in the 2016/17 crop season, Domingos Gove, the director of food agriculture and natural resources has said.
He made the remarks on the eve of the start of the SADC Heads of State Summit which kicks off this week in Windhoek
According to Gove, the rainfall during 2017/18 was influenced by La Nina, which led to normal rainfall conditions; but there were dry spells in January, mainly in Botswana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
“This affected crop production which was reduced compared to the previous crop season (2016/17). For example maize production in South Africa decreased 23%; and dropped by 34% in Zambia.”
“The food security situation in the region is good, but situations of food insecurity may occur in more vulnerable communities, which includes Namibia,” she said.
According to him, although crop prices are still lower, they may increase with a shortage of food production.
Despite this warning, the Namibia Early Warning and Food Information Unit of the agriculture ministry previously said that good harvests were reported throughout the country despite poor rainfall received during most of the last rainy season, The Namibian reported.
According to the report, maize production in communal areas of the Zambezi, Kavango East and West regions, recorded an increase of 10% over last season and about 4% above the average production.
“In contrast, maize production in the two Kavango regions showed an improvement of 20% above last season's harvest, but still remained 72% below the average production,” the report said.
In the commercial farming areas, maize production recorded a significant reduction of about 19% over last season's harvest, but was still 41% above the average production.
In terms of food security in the country, the report says the available cereal for the current consumption period was estimated at 200 500 metric tonnes.
This consists of 15 400 tonnes of wheat, 96 800 tonnes of white maize and 88 300 tonnes of pearl millet and sorghum.
OGONE TLHAGE
He made the remarks on the eve of the start of the SADC Heads of State Summit which kicks off this week in Windhoek
According to Gove, the rainfall during 2017/18 was influenced by La Nina, which led to normal rainfall conditions; but there were dry spells in January, mainly in Botswana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
“This affected crop production which was reduced compared to the previous crop season (2016/17). For example maize production in South Africa decreased 23%; and dropped by 34% in Zambia.”
“The food security situation in the region is good, but situations of food insecurity may occur in more vulnerable communities, which includes Namibia,” she said.
According to him, although crop prices are still lower, they may increase with a shortage of food production.
Despite this warning, the Namibia Early Warning and Food Information Unit of the agriculture ministry previously said that good harvests were reported throughout the country despite poor rainfall received during most of the last rainy season, The Namibian reported.
According to the report, maize production in communal areas of the Zambezi, Kavango East and West regions, recorded an increase of 10% over last season and about 4% above the average production.
“In contrast, maize production in the two Kavango regions showed an improvement of 20% above last season's harvest, but still remained 72% below the average production,” the report said.
In the commercial farming areas, maize production recorded a significant reduction of about 19% over last season's harvest, but was still 41% above the average production.
In terms of food security in the country, the report says the available cereal for the current consumption period was estimated at 200 500 metric tonnes.
This consists of 15 400 tonnes of wheat, 96 800 tonnes of white maize and 88 300 tonnes of pearl millet and sorghum.
OGONE TLHAGE
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