No planning for efundja - DTA
DTA president McHenry Venaani says he is appalled by the government's handling of the seasonal efundja flood in the north.
He says despite ample forewarning no planning was done for this potentially catastrophic situation.
“It is appalling to see that once again the extent of government intervention stops at telling people to move from their homesteads to higher ground.”
According to Venaani, there should have been structural interventions to ensure that floodwater is diverted and stored in reservoirs.
He says this is evidence of a lack of coherent planning.
“There lies significant agricultural potential in ensuring that floodwater is kept in a re-usable format so that farmers are able to use flood surface water for irrigation and even explore alternative hydro-culture farming methods such as hydroponics.”
Venaani believes that such interventions would help soften the blow to the local economy and food security caused by efundja.
The DTA calls on the government to immediately establish a national flood steering committee comprised of engineers and hydrologists who can strategise and implement mechanisms to channel floodwater so that it may be used productively for activities such as irrigation.
“Failure to do so would be negligent and a clear indication that danger is being waited on rather than being anticipated and dealt with to reduce its impact.”
Venaani says he will table a motion in the National Assembly to discuss the efundja, with the specific aim of devising coherent proactive national response strategies to emergencies such as floods and droughts.
Meanwhile, the north is bracing for more flooding after a second wave of floodwater crossed the Angolan border at the weekend.
ELLANIE SMIT
He says despite ample forewarning no planning was done for this potentially catastrophic situation.
“It is appalling to see that once again the extent of government intervention stops at telling people to move from their homesteads to higher ground.”
According to Venaani, there should have been structural interventions to ensure that floodwater is diverted and stored in reservoirs.
He says this is evidence of a lack of coherent planning.
“There lies significant agricultural potential in ensuring that floodwater is kept in a re-usable format so that farmers are able to use flood surface water for irrigation and even explore alternative hydro-culture farming methods such as hydroponics.”
Venaani believes that such interventions would help soften the blow to the local economy and food security caused by efundja.
The DTA calls on the government to immediately establish a national flood steering committee comprised of engineers and hydrologists who can strategise and implement mechanisms to channel floodwater so that it may be used productively for activities such as irrigation.
“Failure to do so would be negligent and a clear indication that danger is being waited on rather than being anticipated and dealt with to reduce its impact.”
Venaani says he will table a motion in the National Assembly to discuss the efundja, with the specific aim of devising coherent proactive national response strategies to emergencies such as floods and droughts.
Meanwhile, the north is bracing for more flooding after a second wave of floodwater crossed the Angolan border at the weekend.
ELLANIE SMIT
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