03 Oct 2019

Some Ngamiland leaders and farmers’ committees have appreciated  government efforts in reducing the impact of severe drought experienced in the district.

The leaders voiced their appreciation during a consultative meeting addressed by Sub-district disaster Committee in Sehithwa on Friday following the  Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security decision  to equip six boreholes in three villages of Sehithwa, Bodibeng and Semboyo as a short term measure.

The decision followed the residents’ plea to the government to drill and equip unused boreholes in the district as a mitigation measure, stating that the said boreholes could be allocated to the communities to water their livestock while some could be used to water wildlife.

The leaders argued that the district needed a special treatment to the current drought situation at Lake Ngami and other water sources, which left many cattle and wildlife dead.

The boreholes were identified after an assessment undertaken by Department of Water Affairs revealed that their yields were high and the water safe for watering livestock.

However, some were sceptical  with the decision, arguing that while appreciating the urgent assistance, the identified boreholes were not addressing the situation at Lake Ngami, where many cattle flocked for water.
They said due to the drying of the lake, the cattle and wildlife had relocated in search of water to villages such as Toteng and Nxaraga.

They appreciated that the assessment report had indicated that some boreholes surrounding the lake had salty water, but proposed that the government could at least consider drilling some boreholes along the lake to cater for animals, most of which were matimela.

Currently, they said matimela had overwhelmed some farmers who owned boreholes around the lake as they could not stop them from drinking.

Earlier on, the district agricultural coordinator, Mr Obert Mabutha explained that the government had listened to the community’s plea to come up with a mitigation measure to the current drought situation.

He confirmed that six boreholes had been identified and tender process and procurement of the material such as tanks, reservoirs and boats were on going as they wanted to kick start the equipping of the boreholes as soon as possible.

He said they intended to install solar panels because they realised that the issue of generators and diesel would cause more problems.

Mr Mabutha stressed the need to have structures in place to manage the boreholes, adding that the community should elect management committees to  manage the boreholes in their respective villages.

The communities, he said would also identify a lead person to be a link between the department and the committee because they would need reports on weekly basis.

In addition, he said the management committee would make a plan for pumping water and also decide who would water at the borehole because not all farmers were affected by the drought as some owned boreholes.

Furthermore, Mr Mabutha revealed that department of Agribusiness would work with the committees to guide them on formation of guidelines for syndicates.

Responding to some comments raised by farmers, Mr Mabutho appreciated that matimela was a serious concern, noting that currently they had registered 25 000 animals.  ENDS