ONDANGWA — Executive Director in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), I-Ben Nashandi, has advised subsistence farmers to make use of the government’s drought relief program to prevent further livestock loss due to ongoing drought conditions.
According to a new release by the Namibian Press Agency, Nashandi encouraged farmers to familiarize themselves with the subsidy forms available at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) offices. He also recommended that farmers consider selling and destocking their animals, assuring them that the government could offer compensation.
“The subsidy we are giving is limited to the number of animals they have,” Nashandi said. He also emphasized the importance of farmers attending informational sessions to better understand the program’s benefits and limitations.
This comes after Tomas Ndiwakalunga, the treasurer of the Mangetti Farmers Association (MFA), expressed concerns about the criteria required for farmers to qualify for the government’s drought relief initiative, which was launched in October. Ndiwakalunga noted that they are still waiting for government assistance after losing 30 cattle in September and October due to severe drought conditions.
“The process is too slow and even though we try to buy animal feed from stores, it is never enough for our animals,” Ndiwakalunga said, pinning his hopes on government intervention.
The MFA consists of approximately 350 commercial, semi-communal, and subsistence farmers from the northern regions of Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, and Kavango West. These farmers are highly dependent on livestock farming, particularly cattle.
The government, through the OPM, initiated the drought relief program effective from October 1 this year to June 2024. The program, set to last until March 2024, incorporates livestock marketing incentives, subsidies for fodder purchases, grazing leases, and transportation for grazing areas.