The Otjombinde Farmers Association's chairperson has called on the government and key partners in the agriculture sector to start preparations for the looming drought that is set to affect the farming community.

Vetuundja Kazapua says the Otjombinde Constituency has recorded below-average rainfall this year, and some farmers have already started relocating their livestock to greener pastures. 

According to meteorological records, the area has recorded below 200 millimeters of rain in comparison with more than 600 millimeters of rainfall recorded last year this time around.

Kazapua urges the government to act promptly rather than wait until livestock starts perishing.

"The government should start making provisions that at any given time farmers will knock on doors and ensure that they are asking for support in terms of whatever inputs they need due to the more changing rain patterns that have appeared since the rainy season started. Crop fields, maize, beans, cowpeas, all these things started well, but then burned very harshly in the sun, so those are some of the things that we are to be looking at in the outlook."

The chairperson also added that through the association, discussions will commence soon with various entities to come up with robust ideas on how to address the looming drought.

The councilor for the Otjombinde Constituency, Wenzel Kavaka, emphasized that with the low rainfall recorded this year, livestock prices are also at stake.

In the meantime, Kavaka says his office will be engaging the constituency disaster risk management committee to see how prepared the region is while awaiting central government.

"While the government on the other side is trying all it can on what to do, and what the Constituency Disaster Risk Committee can do to help the farmers, we cannot wait for the government; we have to up our game as early as possible. We are now in April, so when we reach September at least, we have to be on alert for what we're going to do about the drought that is about to face us."