EDITORIAL: Govt needs proactive drought interventions

Drought has been a prevalent feature of the Namibian landscape during the last decade, with farmers always being the hardest hit.

The recent experiences with drought have not only renewed fears about the poor planning and lack of coordination for assessment and response efforts between various government structures. Farmers continue to lose crops and livestock in droves, with many feeling that government interventions are not enough.

As drought conditions continue to ravage farmers all over the country, there is a need for lasting multifaceted solutions to help struggling farmers. There is also a need for policy certainty when it comes to responding to drought in an effective and timely manner.

At household level, families in rural areas are forced to survive on drought relief food because they cannot plough their fields due to poor rainfall.

Currently, it looks as if our drought interventions are more reactive than proactive, and we certainly lag behind when it comes to unleashing interventions before it's too late.

Without proactive mitigation, solid strategies and resource availability, our people will continue watching helplessly as their only source of livelihood withers away.

We must also work on enhancing the collaboration and coordination of drought programmes to ensure that our drought preparedness plans are rolled out efficiently.