By: Annakleta Haikera
Subsistence farmers in the Kavango East and Kavango West regions say they have started harvesting early crops such as beans, bambara nuts and pumpkins, bringing some relief to many rural households after months of waiting for the farming season to mature.
Farmers from several villages say the early harvest has provided food for families while they wait for the main staple crops, particularly maize and mahangu (pearl millet), which are expected to be ready for harvesting around April if weather conditions remain favourable.
Petrus Shamampi, a farmer from Mashare area in Kavango East, said he has already started harvesting beans and pumpkins from his field. He shared that the early harvest provides for his family while they wait for the maize and mahangu crops to mature.
“The rains were not consistent this season, but we are grateful that some crops have already started producing,” Shamampi expressed.
Another farmer, Maria Thimende from the Mukwe area, said bambara nuts have also started yielding in her field. She explained that bambara nuts remain one of the most reliable crops in the region due to their ability to survive even when rainfall is limited.
“We depend on these crops for food at home. Now that we have started harvesting beans and bambara, it is a relief for the family,” indicated Thimende.
Due to regular rain showers, early maturing crops such as beans and pumpkins have already reached harvesting stage in several farmers’ fields. These crops play an important role in sustaining households during the period before the staple grains are ready.
Bambara nuts, a traditional and drought-resistant crop widely grown in the Kavango regions, have also started producing good yields, with farmers expressing cautious optimism about the overall harvest.
Meanwhile, Johannes Murangi, a farmer from Ndiyona constituency, said the current condition of maize and mahangu fields looks promising. He said if rainfall continues in the coming weeks, many farmers could see a good harvest by April.
Maize and mahangu remain the backbone of food security for most households in the Kavango regions. Farmers depend on these staple grains not only for daily consumption, but also for storage to sustain families throughout the year.
Agriculture remains the primary source of livelihood for many rural communities in the Kavango regions, where most households rely on subsistence farming for food and income. Local farmers say a good harvest would not only improve household food security, but also reduce pressure on families who usually buy food during poor seasons.
Most rural families depend on rain-fed crop production to feed their families. Farmers mainly grow mahangu (pearl millet), maize, beans, pumpkins and bambara nuts, which are well suited to the sandy soils and climate of the region.
However, farming in the area heavily depends on rainfall, making farmers vulnerable to drought and changing weather patterns. Despite these challenges, subsistence farming remains key to household food security in the Kavango regions.
