WINDHOEK – Government’s livestock marketing incentive scheme of N$218 million aimed at offering drought relief assistance to farmers is still being implemented though with changes after the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry John Mutorwa was made aware of some shortcomings.
Mutorwa last week requested the directorates of extension and engineering services in all regions to supply him with updated information regarding the scheme introduced two months ago. Speaking to New Era last Friday, Mutorwa denied the scheme was halted, saying that an investigation into the shortcomings was necessitated by various complaints received from farmers. “These complaints were compiled in a report by my Permanent Secretary Joseph Iita and handed to me last week. When I was informed about the loopholes and shortcomings, I reacted by asking for complete and updated information from all thirteen regions. That does not mean the scheme was halted. On the contrary, it means we want to speed up the process that is meant to encourage farmers to sell their livestock and claim money from government as a reward,” he stressed.
The incentive was announced in June this year as part of government’s N$218 million drought relief plan and is meant to encourage farmers to sell their livestock. The scheme pays a subsidy of N$300 per head of cattle and N$70 for every goat, sheep (or what else constitutes small livestock) sold. Iita stressed in his report that the process of payment was never delayed and no irregularities were uncovered.
Mutorwa said he received some complaints from the Omaheke Region to the effect that wealthy farmers could be raking in more money than poor farmers from the marketing scheme in its current form. The relief plan has been divided into four categories, namely, the marketing incentive scheme, lease of grazing land, transportation of animals to better grazing and water supply. The relief will cater for farmers who carried out transactions as of 1 March this year and will run until the N$218 million budget is exhausted or when the situation has officially been declared normal.
The government has started drilling about 200 boreholes in eleven regions, including the rehabilitation of old boreholes with the priority focus falling on the Kunene Region where 44 boreholes will be drilled, Karas (38) and Oshikoto (37), while 30 boreholes will be drilled in the two Kavango regions. The water supply plan will cost N$168 million and includes the purchase of drilling rigs. Other regions set to benefit are Zambezi, Ohangwena, Omusati, Otjozondjupa, Hardap, Oshana and Omaheke. Mutorwa said the reports requested from the regions must detail how the programme is being implemented in a particular region, and shortcomings, loopholes and recommendations must be included in the comprehensive final report. He further said it is important to do periodic evaluations while the scheme is being implemented in order to close any identified loopholes and shortcomings, adding that such challenges cannot be allowed to grow out of control. “Payment was not stopped. This exercise is being done to accelerate the delivery of drought relief services,” he stressed.
Deon Schlechter