Extended drought relief to cost N$825 million

The extension of the 2023/2024 drought-relief support programme, which is effective from April to March next year, is estimated to cost N$825 million. Cabinet approved the extension on 25 April at its sixth decision-making meeting.

Chief of marketing at the Livestock and Livestock Product Board of Namibia (LLPBN), Desmond Cloete, said the estimated budget for food assistance is N$600 million, while the budget for seed provision is N$25 million. Meanwhile, N$100 million each has been budgeted for the livestock support programme and water provision.

Cloete provided a breakdown of the initiatives included in the extended programme.

He said under the livestock support programme, interventions such as the livestock marketing incentive were included, which was increased for large stock from N$500 to N$750 per head to a maximum amount of N$56 000 per applicant.

Climatic conditions globally are deteriorating and Namibian livestock producers are yet again experiencing the full wrath of another drought that has become a norm, Cloete said. “These consecutive droughts not only erode the composition, but also the number of the national herd.”

Declining

While there is a lack of reliable data on the exact number of livestock nationally, LLPBN marketing statistics reveal that the number is declining at a steady pace, Cloete said. He added that another impact is the high number of reproductive female livestock that exits the national herd through slaughtering.

“Drought management's main objective is to reduce the number of livestock and to remain with a core herd. This will reduce the stocking rate and fodder cost required to sustain the core herd until the next rain.” He noted that all non-reproductive and old livestock must first be eliminated. This includes all male animals such as tollies, castrates, kapaters, and all old female livestock.

Secondly, if these decisions do not reap the targeted benefits, commence with selecting the poor-performing female reproductive livestock, he advised. “Keep those cows and ewes that are pregnant and have an optimal performance history and cull the rest.”

Cloete said for a drought-prone country such as Namibia, an effective legislative environment is critically important to mitigate the impact of reoccurring droughts. The agriculture ministry, with the cooperation of key stakeholders, are in the process of reviewing the national drought policy and strategy of 1997, he said.

Essential mitigating measures

During a validation workshop that took place during March, some recommendations were passed that include essential mitigating measures to be implemented and adhered to during the pre-, during and after drought phases.

Another key recommendation is the outsourcing of government-funded incentive pay-outs that currently resort under the Office of the Prime Minister. “This may speed up the payment process that will enable beneficiaries to use these funds to mitigate drought at their farms,” Cloete said.

The reviewed policy and its strategies are in the final stages of validation before being tabled in Cabinet for approval and publishing in the government gazette, he said.