By: Nghiinomenwa-vali Erastus
The occurrence of drought in our country seems like a biennial tradition. Yet, we remain unprepared to find lasting solutions for our agricultural sector.
Each year, drought strikes, and we scramble to secure maize, Mahangu, fish, and cooking oil for our people.
We resort to importing these essentials from other nations because our grain silos sit empty. This is a consequence of poor planning.
We are acutely aware of our country’s vulnerability to climate change, and the limited resilience of our smallholder and household farming.
But for some reason, we remain unperturbed.
This begs a fundamental question: why have we not taken steps to de-risk our agricultural sector from its heavy dependence on rainfall?
There are promising alternatives we could explore. The former Agribank CEO once presented an idea that left a lasting impression – the potential of underground water sources spanning from Tsumeb to Ohangwena.
The Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, has hinted at the possibility of tapping into these water resources to supply Windhoek.
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