A seasonal farmer at Okahatjipara Village, in the vicinity of Okondjatu and Mbunga Tjamuaha, advises that communal farming communities prioritise removing encroaching bush and scrubs from their farming lands. 

Doing so, he says, will open up more grazing land to animals while allowing for greater diversification of the land. 

Farmer Mbunga Tjamuaha says unfavourable weather patterns continue to rob farmers of their livestock.

He thus calls on the farming community in the Omaheke Region to come up with innovative ideas to sustain themselves, including branching into other agricultural activities apart from animal husbandry. 

Bush encroaching onto grazing areas competes with grass needed by livestock, he says, urging his fellow farmers to consider introducing a de-bushing programme in selected areas. 

He says research supports the notion that land used by livestock, if cleared, can provide quality grounds for agricultural produce, adding that farmers would also save in terms of buying less grass for livestock maintenance during drought.

"It's always good to preach to others what you have practised, so let's work hard and clear big areas as we can—even one-hectare area—and also it is always best to fence off that area, and this should be done annually, and this will aid you as a farmer; even if you happen to have a sick animal, you will be able to have grass rather than going to buy it from somewhere else. It will help cattle during a drought without you buying grass, which is an expensive exercise."

He stresses that farming communities should focus on diversification rather than sticking to traditional farming practices as a means to improve their output and surplus. 

"Due to the limited grazing area and the ever-increasing population of emerging farmers, we need to add other activities that will assist cattle; the period you need to wait for a calf to mature is too long, but making a living is a daily thing because every day you need to spend money, meaning you must get another item that will give you extra money, even half of what you're spending. This will help you a lot more, especially the full-time farmer, unlike weekend farmers who are earning a small salary elsewhere," Tjamuaha added.

The agriculturalist remains optimistic about the current rainfall season, which he says looks promising compared to the past season. 

From November to date, he says more than 200 mm of rainfall was received at Okahatjipara, which he says represents a record high.