The North West District Council has called for early preparations for possible drought conditions after the meteorological outlook indicated a high probability of El Niño conditions during the 2026/2027 rainfall season, this week.
Speaking during Full Council Meeting, the Council Chairman Itumeleng Kelebetseng said the warning required farmers, communities and service providers to begin preparing for the possibility of reduced rainfall and increased pressure on water, agriculture and livestock.
“Honorable Members, the meteorological outlook indicates a high probability of El Niño conditions during the 2026/2027 rainfall season. This therefore calls for preparedness,” Kelebetseng said.
He said the potential weather conditions could place additional pressure on communities that depend on rainfall for agriculture and livestock production, as well as on available water resources.
“Our farmers, communities and service providers should plan for the possibility of reduced rainfall and the associated pressures on water, agriculture and livestock,” Kelebetseng said.
The warning comes as the District continues to strengthen agricultural practices aimed at improving resilience to changing climatic conditions.
During the period under review, 107 farmers were trained in seed production, with 69 trained in Sehithwa and 38 in Maun. The training was conducted in collaboration with BAMB, Cross Corn and AF-AFRI.
Kelebetseng said the training included the promotion of drought-tolerant and open-pollinated crop varieties, which are viewed as important in preparing farmers for challenging climatic conditions.
“We cannot wait for drought conditions to affect our communities before taking action. Preparedness should begin now,” the Chairman said.
The District is also promoting climate-smart agricultural practices as part of its response to the anticipated climatic pressures.
The warning comes against the backdrop of an unusually active 2025/2026 hydrological season in the District. According to the Council, the season has been significantly wetter than the previous one, with floodwaters continuing to move through the Okavango Delta and its distributary channels.
The Thamalakane River flood front reached the mouth of Lake Ngami on July 30, 2026, while the Kunyere River flood front is expected to connect with the Thamalakane system at Toteng between late September and late October, subject to prevailing flow conditions.
Despite the current wet conditions, the Council says communities should not delay preparations for the potentially drier season ahead.
Groundwater resources are also being closely monitored. The District has nine wellfields, although only 22 of 75 monitoring boreholes could be monitored during the reporting period because of resource constraints and seasonal flooding.
The Council reported that the monitored wellfields were generally showing signs of recovery, with the Thamalakane Wellfield responding positively to recharge associated with the annual flooding of the Okavango Delta.
However, localized declines in groundwater levels were recorded in some boreholes, which the Council attributed primarily to sustained abstraction by the Water Utilities Corporation and private water users.
The Council Chairman called for a balance between current water demand and the long-term sustainability of groundwater resources.
The Council has urged farmers and communities to adopt drought-tolerant crops and climate-smart agricultural practices rather than waiting for drought conditions to emerge before taking action.
