21 Aug 2019

Dikgosi from villages surrounding Lake Ngami have implored government to help save their cattle from dying in the drying up Lake Ngami.

They made the plea during a tour of the lake near Sehithwa village on August 20 to see how cattle looking for water got trapped in mud and consequently died.

They told Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security Mr Konstantinos Markus, that the rate at which cattle were dying in the lake was worse this year compared to previous years.

Kgosi Manuel Nguvauva of Sehithwa said farmers therefore requested government to resuscitate some boreholes to water livestock.

Mr Pata Kaazumikua, representing Nhabe Agricultural Management Association, suggested that government equip abandoned boreholes or liaise with private borehole owners as a remedy.

Mr Markus said though the situation required an urgent solution, not much could be done as it was unforeseen and not budgeted for.

He nonetheless promised to take up the farmers’ plea with the relevant authorities.

The assistant minister advised  farmers and the community as a whole to find a permanent solution to the problem which recurred whenever Lake Ngami dried up.

The lake, he said, was a lifeline for communities living around it such as farmers and fishermen but was also a breeding place for foot and mouth and other animal diseases.

North West agricultural coordinator, Mr Obert Mabutha concurred that the rate at which cattle perished in the mud was of great concern.

Mr Mabutha advised farmers to practice proper cattle herding, methods encouraged through the Commodity Based Trade  initiative, aimed at making Ngamiland beef marketable.

Through proper herding, he said farmers would know where their cattle were at all times and avoid such catastrophes.

Mr Mabutha said although the department did not have statistics, the death toll seemed to have worsened this year.

The department would engage relevant stakeholders to gauge the impact, he said.

Mr Mabutha further appealed to farmers to dialogue amongst themselves to find a permanent solution to the problem. ENDS