ONDANGWA – Executive director in the Office of the Prime Minister I-Ben Nashandi has called on subsistence farmers to apply for subsidies through the drought relief programme to avoid further loss of animals and possible income.
Nashandi said farmers should acquaint themselves with the subsidy and collect applications from the offices of the ministry to receive assistance from the government.
He also encouraged farmers to sell and destock, as the government is also willing to compensate them in this regard. The government’s drought relief programme was launched earlier this month.
“The subsidy we are giving is limited to the number of animals the farmers have,” Nashandi said while urging farmers to attend the information-sharing sessions in their respective areas to better understand how the subsidy works.
Nashandi was responding to Mangetti Farmers Association (MFA) treasurer Tomas Ndiwakalunga, who raised concern about the requirements and criteria used for the farmers to qualify for the government’s drought relief programme during a recent meeting.
Ndiwakalunga said they are still waiting for government assistance, despite farmers in his area having already lost over 30 cattle in September and October this year due to the heavy drought.
“The process is too slow – and even though we try to buy animal feed from stores, it is never enough for our animals; so, we pin all our hope on the government to rescue us through the drought relief programme,” said Ndiwakalunga.
The MFA consists of about 350 commercial, semi-communal and subsistence farmers hailing from the northern regions of Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Kavango West that highly depend on livestock farming, especially cattle for survival and income.
The government, through the Office of the Prime Minister, launched the drought relief programme, effective from 1 October to June 2024.
The livestock programme, which incorporates livestock marketing incentives and subsidies for fodder purchased, grazing leases and transportation for grazing areas, will be implemented in all affected areas countrywide.
The long-term strategy of the government’s drought relief programme is to improve the performance of the livestock value chain within the mainstream supply channels, as well as to help farmers develop resilience against growing problems of climate change. -Nampa