Africa-Press – Botswana. In the face of an impending severe meteorological drought, characterised by low rainfall and high temperatures, Tsabong District councillors are calling for an extension of the farm inputs subsidy. They propose an increase from the current 30 per cent to a 50 per cent subsidy on all farming inputs.
Council chairperson, Mr Hendrick Jacobs, urgently convened a meeting with councilors on April 15 to address the imminent drought situation. He described the situation as a potential disaster that needed immediate attention.
“I have called this meeting because I am deeply concerned about the lack of rain and the severe heat affecting farmers in our district. It is crucial for us to address this issue collectively and seek the expertise of technocrats,” he emphasized.
Anticipating substantial challenges for farmers due to the drought, the Bokspits/Struizendam councilor stressed the importance of technocrats providing insights to guide decision-making at the highest levels.
He also highlighted that the current drought subsidy is set to expire in June, underscoring the need to request a review for a possible extension of the subsidy. Tsabong principal district officer development, Ms Masego Pitso told councillors that 2023/2024 household food security and vulnerability assessment in the district showed that there was likely to be severe meteorological drought due to low rainfalls.
She said compared to the past three years evidence showed that the district received much below normal rainfall with prolonged dry spells cutting from across the district from October 2023 to date.
She said meteorological data analysis reflected that rain was becoming scarce when compared to yester years.
Furthermore, Ms Pitso said the district experienced frequent hot temperatures from October 2023 with 42 degrees Celsius recorded as the maximum in comparison with the previous two seasons over Tsabong District.
“The 2023/2024 temperatures were hotter than 2022/2023 and 2021/2022 seasons. The district experienced prolonged dry spells and frequent heat waves therefore we anticipate severe meteorological draught,” she said.
She said the poor rain patterns and heat waves affected crop production.
So far she said 608 farmers have registered for Temo Letlotlo initiative in the entire district, where 272 farmers applied for 100 percent grant adding that 101 farmers planted an area of 2 76.90 hectares.
She highlighted that due to poor rains, the area planted was lower than the one recorded last year and the crop condition was poor due to adverse weather conditions as crops were hit by heat stress, and inadequate rainfall hence no production was expected across all crops.
Thus she said the district disaster management committee recommended that government must relax restrictions on importation of animal feeds and grains to feeds producers.
For his part Draaihoek/Makopong councillor Mr Moses Chimbombi appreciated the chairperson for bringing them together to pick their brains on the matter as community leaders.
He called for farm inputs subsidies to be increased from 30 per cent to 50 per cent on all agriculture related inputs and not just on selected ones.
Specially elected councillor Nkatlholang Simane and Tsabong East Councillor Peter Megano called for the subsidy to be increased to 50 per cent and to be extended to December 2024 rather than end in July.
Mr Simane buttered that farmers production was going to be affected by the drought and may not be able to adequately supply the Tsabong Multispecies Abattoir anticipated to open in a few months and required quality stock.
Omaweneno/Kisa/ Maralaleng councillor Mr Ronald Baitsewe called for import restrictions to be relaxed to allow farmers to acquire necessary medicines for their stock.
He said Agric shops in the district did not sell some of the medicines need by farmers in Kgalagadi which required temperature control.
Farmers had to travel long distances to get them in the urban areas which was a challenge thus he called for import restrictions to be relaxed and for them to be allowed to purchase them from neighboring South Africa.
dailynews
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
