06 Sep 2020

The President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, has declared 2019/2020 season a non-drought year, but areas that did not receive adequate rainfall have been declared drought stricken.

According to a news release from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, affected areas are: Kgalagadi District being BORAVAST only, North East District, Bobirwa, Boteti, Tutume, Tonota, Palapye Sub-district being Tswapong area only and Mahalapye Sub-bistrict being Tswapong area only. 

It says some relief measures, actions and assistance are to be implemented with immediate effect until June 30 next year.

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development will pay 85 per cent of the seasonal loans to farmers in North East and North West districts, Mahalapye Sub-district-Tswapong area only,  Palapye Sub-district-Tswapong area only, Bobirwa, Boteti, Tutume and Tonota, who get loans from Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) and National Development Bank (NDB) through the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme (ACGS) to supplement the complete crop failure as was determined at the time of the assessment. 

The release further says the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security will provide a 20 per cent livestock feed subsidy for extensive grazing ruminants, including dry dairy cattle, covering the entire country, from September 1 to January 31, 2021 since that is a critical period to provide necessary nutrients to support the livestock production cycle, at funds amount to P20 000 000 sourced internally; restrict importation of roughage by feed processors and procure all local available fodder, hay and crop residues; promote and enhance fodder production and its sustainability, through the use of treated effluent for fodder production, including acquisition of fodder processing equipment by the private sector utilising financial assistance from CEDA and NDB; ensure the review of Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD) in order to intensify support for rainfed and irrigated fodder production at both subsistence and commercial scale in areas with high potential for irrigation.  

The release says the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development will source funds internally to continue provision of supplementary feeding at primary schools and health facilities using the existing budget of P613 898 360 vto provide two meals a day at primary schools at breakfast and midday, to provide three meals a day for recognised settlements at remote area communities and continue with blanket supplementary feeding for children aged 6-59 months, provide special food basket to underweight children residing in areas serviced by mobile health stops in districts with high rates of malnutrition of 10 per cent and above at funds amounting to P369 000.  

The release says government will further continue with implementation of the urgent basic food relief packages initiative to deserving residents of North East, North West, Kgalagadi-BORAVAST Districts, Mabutsane and Okavango sub-districts at funds amounting to P18 045 916, review the urgent basic food relief packages initiative referred to at the Ministry of Health and Wellness to; institute a study during the 2020/21 financial year on social determinants of malnutrition in districts with high rates of malnutrition such as Kgalagadi North, Kgalagadi South, Ghanzi, Mabutsane and Kweneng West and increase and upgrade storage capacity at health facilities at funds amounting to P3 795 000 sourced internally.

The release says the above measures would be implemented with immediate effect until June 30, 2021, save for the livestock feed subsidy, which effected from September 1 to January 31, 2021. Ends