Work in the fields in full swing
The unpredictability of the rainy season means that communal farmers in the north have to make some tough decisions at this time of the year.
Following good rains experienced in parts of the northern regions some subsistence farmers have started ploughing and cultivating their mahangu fields and are looking forward to a good harvest later this year.
Namibian Sun this week travelled around in the regions and observed that many farmers had already ploughed their fields after the first rains of the season, while others were fertilising their fields with manure and waiting for better rainfall.
The early starters say there is no time to waste as the rain is unpredictable and one should take the chance when it is there.
Spotted working in her field along the Oshakati-Okahao main road, Maria Simon said she started ploughing immediately after the first rains and her mahangu seedlings were 15cm high already.
She said she ploughed and planted various crops on 20 December.
“I did not wait because I was motivated by the rain which poured those days. As you can see my field is green and this is not the unwanted weeds but it's my mahangu, beans and pumpkins which I planted two weeks ago,” Simon said.
“Some people have not started yet and they are going to harvest last because those of us who started first will harvest before them,” Simon added.
She said her seeds germinated at the right time because her relatives visiting from other parts of the country could help cultivating the field.
“You see these children, they will soon return to their parents and grandparents in other towns where they attend school and I am lucky the crops have emerged and now we are cultivating,” she said.
Simon said all she wanted now was for more rain to fall in order for her crops to grow.
Today marks exactly one year since President Hage Geingob launched 'Operation Tulongeni' in the Omusati Region - a programme meant to motivate farmers to start working their fields following good rains.
Omusati regional governor Erginus Endjala says his region will again launch Operation Tulongeni this month.
Endjala says this time around there will be a draw where one of the 11 constituencies will be tasked to prepare for the launch of the initiative.
He says because of the unpredictability of the rainy season, some farmers are holding out for better rainfall, which is expected to start by the second or third week of this month.
“As you know, January is a dry month. We will wait to see in the coming weeks as we hope for good rains and for people to cultivate their fields,” Endjala said.
KENYA KAMBOWE
Namibian Sun this week travelled around in the regions and observed that many farmers had already ploughed their fields after the first rains of the season, while others were fertilising their fields with manure and waiting for better rainfall.
The early starters say there is no time to waste as the rain is unpredictable and one should take the chance when it is there.
Spotted working in her field along the Oshakati-Okahao main road, Maria Simon said she started ploughing immediately after the first rains and her mahangu seedlings were 15cm high already.
She said she ploughed and planted various crops on 20 December.
“I did not wait because I was motivated by the rain which poured those days. As you can see my field is green and this is not the unwanted weeds but it's my mahangu, beans and pumpkins which I planted two weeks ago,” Simon said.
“Some people have not started yet and they are going to harvest last because those of us who started first will harvest before them,” Simon added.
She said her seeds germinated at the right time because her relatives visiting from other parts of the country could help cultivating the field.
“You see these children, they will soon return to their parents and grandparents in other towns where they attend school and I am lucky the crops have emerged and now we are cultivating,” she said.
Simon said all she wanted now was for more rain to fall in order for her crops to grow.
Today marks exactly one year since President Hage Geingob launched 'Operation Tulongeni' in the Omusati Region - a programme meant to motivate farmers to start working their fields following good rains.
Omusati regional governor Erginus Endjala says his region will again launch Operation Tulongeni this month.
Endjala says this time around there will be a draw where one of the 11 constituencies will be tasked to prepare for the launch of the initiative.
He says because of the unpredictability of the rainy season, some farmers are holding out for better rainfall, which is expected to start by the second or third week of this month.
“As you know, January is a dry month. We will wait to see in the coming weeks as we hope for good rains and for people to cultivate their fields,” Endjala said.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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