Oshana receives good rains
Many areas in the Omusati Region are still dry and received their first rain on Sunday, which was not enough to fill the oshanas.
04 December 2019 | Weather
Many parts of the northern regions received desperately needed rain on Sunday evening and Monday morning, with the Oshana Region getting the lion's share.
It was the third time since the start of the rainy season that the region received good rainfall and many of the water catchment areas in Oshana are full, while other regions are still suffering the effects of the prolonged drought.
Grass is also germinating well in Oshana, bringing relief to livestock farmers.
The region received its first showers at the beginning of October. That was followed up by one downpour in November before the heavens opened up again on Sunday evening and it rained throughout the night.
Omaalala village and surrounding areas between Ondangwa and Ongwediva recorded 35 millimetres of rain.
Andreas Nenkavu (90) from Oshinyadhila village in the Oshana Region says their livestock are grazing the new grass and don't need supplementary feeding anymore, but he is worried about such high rainfall figures so early in the season.
“We are thankful that we have received good rainfall and we are relieved that our livestock are roaming free, water catchments are filled with water and some have started tilling the land for crop production; however, the rain received is just too much at the beginning of the rainy season.
“This means there might be high rainfall in January and February or no rain at all,” says Nenkavu.
“The rainfall is high only in some areas. Other areas remain dry and people and their livestock are still suffering,” he adds.
The Kunene Regional Council spokesperson, Titiro Shilongo, says the Opuwo area received good rains at the beginning of October and the river was flowing, but that was followed by a dry spell.
She says it rained throughout Sunday night until Monday morning, but it was light rain that does not fill water catchments.
“The first rain we received in October was good and there was water everywhere. Throughout November we received only a few drops and on Sunday the rain was a bit better, but there was no flow of water in the riverbeds,” Shilongo said.
The drought in the Kunene Region has not been broken and farmers are still dependent on fodder handouts for their livestock.
Many areas in the Omusati Region are still dry and received their first rain on Sunday, which was not enough to fill the oshanas.
Eenhana in the Ohangwena Region reported better rainfall, while Omuthiya in the Oshikoto Region reported only a few drops.
ILENI NANDJATO
It was the third time since the start of the rainy season that the region received good rainfall and many of the water catchment areas in Oshana are full, while other regions are still suffering the effects of the prolonged drought.
Grass is also germinating well in Oshana, bringing relief to livestock farmers.
The region received its first showers at the beginning of October. That was followed up by one downpour in November before the heavens opened up again on Sunday evening and it rained throughout the night.
Omaalala village and surrounding areas between Ondangwa and Ongwediva recorded 35 millimetres of rain.
Andreas Nenkavu (90) from Oshinyadhila village in the Oshana Region says their livestock are grazing the new grass and don't need supplementary feeding anymore, but he is worried about such high rainfall figures so early in the season.
“We are thankful that we have received good rainfall and we are relieved that our livestock are roaming free, water catchments are filled with water and some have started tilling the land for crop production; however, the rain received is just too much at the beginning of the rainy season.
“This means there might be high rainfall in January and February or no rain at all,” says Nenkavu.
“The rainfall is high only in some areas. Other areas remain dry and people and their livestock are still suffering,” he adds.
The Kunene Regional Council spokesperson, Titiro Shilongo, says the Opuwo area received good rains at the beginning of October and the river was flowing, but that was followed by a dry spell.
She says it rained throughout Sunday night until Monday morning, but it was light rain that does not fill water catchments.
“The first rain we received in October was good and there was water everywhere. Throughout November we received only a few drops and on Sunday the rain was a bit better, but there was no flow of water in the riverbeds,” Shilongo said.
The drought in the Kunene Region has not been broken and farmers are still dependent on fodder handouts for their livestock.
Many areas in the Omusati Region are still dry and received their first rain on Sunday, which was not enough to fill the oshanas.
Eenhana in the Ohangwena Region reported better rainfall, while Omuthiya in the Oshikoto Region reported only a few drops.
ILENI NANDJATO
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