Rangelands drier than last year
Omaheke, Hardap, Khomas some of driest areas
Rainfall variability results in severe management challenges for livestock farmers who need to balance animal forage requirements with the forage produced, Van Der Waal said.
Except for the northern parts, much of Namibia’s rangelands are currently drier than they were at the end of last year.This according to ecologist Cornelis van der Waal, who - in the 'State of the Namibian Rangeland' report for January - said areas where above-average conditions are currently experienced include the far north-eastern parts of Kunene, the northern parts of Omusati, Oshaha and Otjikoto and the Ohangwena, Kavango West and Kavango East regions.
In Otjozondjupa, the northern and far western parts range from average to above-average growth conditions.
“The driest areas include large parts of Omaheke, western and central parts of Hardap, most of Khomas and //Karas, western parts of Kunene, and far eastern and southern parts of Otjozondjupa.”
Van der Waal said plant productivity in large parts of Namibia has decreased since the end of last year and most of the country is currently drier than normal.
“Exceptions include the far north and north-east as well as isolated parts elsewhere where plant productivity is currently above average.”
Rainfall variability
He explained that monitoring of rangeland status is important because livestock production in Namibia is almost entirely dependent on the productivity of its rangelands, which may plummet to near zero during severe droughts.
Van der Waal said rainfall variability results in severe management challenges for livestock farmers who need to balance animal forage requirements with the forage produced, as well as prevent land degradation.
This information can reveal which parts of the country are likely to be most affected by drought towards the end of the dry season, which allows sufficient time to plan drought relief efforts.
According to the Namibia Meteorological Service, below-normal rainfall is likely over most of the country this month, except over the south-western Namib where normal rainfall is expected.
For the period from 1 February to 30 April, it is projected that Namibia will experience suppressed rainfall.
There is a high likelihood of below-normal rainfall for the same period.