05 Dec 2018

 Following   President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s declaration of 2017/18 an arable agricultural drought year, a Rapid Drought and Household Food Security Assessment and Analysis exercise was undertaken between October 28 and November 10.
The exercise sought to assess the situation in order to determine changes that may have taken place subsequent to the first assessment that was undertaken in April/ May 2018.
The results of the rapid assessment indicated that grazing condition has depreciated in most parts of the country due to inadequate forage.
As a result, livestock condition is anticipated to deteriorate.
Human-wildlife conflict was also reported to be increasing as wildlife move further south searching for water.
In view of the above, in addition to the approved relief measures that effected in July and ending in June 2019, the following interventions amounting to P54 million are being implemented since December 1 until March 31, 2019.
The Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security is to provide a 25 per cent subsidy on livestock feeds, vaccines and drugs to farmers.  The recommended feed stuffs to be procured locally by suppliers are as follows;
i.    Composite feeds (50kg),
ii.    Drought pellets (50kg),
iii.    Coarse salt (50kg),  
iv.    Bran (maize, sorghum and wheat), (20-50kg),
v.    Processed Lablab and Lucerne bales (20-30kg),
 The following may be sourced outside the country:
i.    Di-Calcium Phosphate (50kg),
ii.    Vitamins ADEK and injectable De-wormers,
iii.    Botulism vaccine.
The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism to provide water and purchase equipment necessary for reducing human-wildlife conflict by:
i. Drilling and equipping boreholes to provide drinking water for wild animals in Wildlife Management Areas and Protected Areas.
ii.    Procuring three (3) 10, 000 Litre water bowser 6x6 trucks for fetching drinking water for wild animals in Wildlife Management Areas and Protected Areas.
iii.  Procuring services of water bowsing during emergency water crisis from the private sector. Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development