Windhoek
Farmers who marketed livestock from March 1 this year may qualify for a livestock marketing incentive of N$400 per cattle for a maximum of 200 cattle and N$80 per goat or sheep to a maximum of 1 000 small stock or a combination of the two.
The Livestock Marketing Incentive Scheme will continue until field conditions have recovered or the budget is exhausted, whichever comes first. Abraham Nehemia, acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, announced the measures yesterday.
Farmers who bought livestock for farming, speculation and joint venture purposes from March 1, with exception of farmers who bought male breeding stock (bulls/rams), do not qualify for the scheme. The mitigation measures are earmarked for farmers in the northern communal areas. It is further intended to subsidise the transport costs to the nearest abattoirs.
The scheme is funded from the N$74 million allocated for government’s drought relief measures. According to the programme, affected farmers who want to lease emergency grazing will be assisted with a subsidy of 50 per cent of the kilometre tariff to a maximum of N$16 per/km for trucks and N$4 per/km for light delivery vehicles. The transport subsidy will be paid to and from the emergency grazing areas.
The minimum load for trucks must consist of at least 17 large livestock units and/or 100 small stock units, while the maximum travelling distance to be subsidised will not exceed 500 km.
All farmers transporting animals to and from emergency grazing areas may qualify for this subsidy, provided that in the case of communal areas, a movement permit from the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) and written permission of the applicable traditional leader as the lessor is annexed. In commercial areas an animal movement permit from DVS, a short-term lease agreement as well as a cattle movement notice must be attached to the invoices supporting the claim.
A duly-filled and signed receipt or invoice should be attached to the transport claim, before it will be considered for payment.
Only trucks and trailers registered with the roads authority NaTis will qualify.