Africa-Press – Namibia. THE just-ended first-of-its-kind Omaheke Agriculture Food Conference Expo at Gobabis aimed to create a market for the region’s agricultural produce.
Chief regional officer Pecka Semba says the expo came at a time that farmers have been adversely affected by extended periods of drought and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking to Desert Radio last week, Semba said although the region experienced good rains over the past two years, Covid-19 restrictions constrained farmers’ ability to auction or sell their produce.
In the two years before this, the region was hit hard by drought.
The Namibian has previously reported that the country experienced its driest season in 38 years from October 2018 to May 2019, resulting in a severe drought which diminished crop production.
United Nations reports estimated crop production to be 42% below average in many areas, leaving 257 383 people without adequate food.
“We are trying now to reverse that situation in terms of our involvement in the conference … People are going to showcase what they are producing in terms of crops, so we can also showcase that Omahake can and must be a sort of breadbasket for the country, because our people can produce and they should produce,” Semba said.
He said the goal was to create a ready-made market to effectively absorb produce and generate income for farmers.
Vendors at the expo showcased agricultural and other products, he said.
Semba said the Omaheke Regional Council is making concerted efforts to assist farmers.
We have technical services in terms of drilling boreholes for farmers and green-scheme projects,” he said.
The expo was hosted in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme and ran until Saturday.
Semba said there were many more challenges they wished to tackle beyond the agricultural needs of the region.
These challenges include housing, veld fires, which threaten the safety and income of many residents, and poor water supply to animals and crops.
“If a veld fire breaks out, it is a catastrophe, especially for a region like Omaheke where we really need grazing,” he said.
Regarding housing, Semba said the council has a few schemes in the works, such as the Build Together programme.
“Beneficiaries are identified through this scheme where you are given money, and then houses are built. It’s sort of a revolving credit system where you pay off this house,” he said.
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