Livestock farmers in the Okakarara District are worried as their animals have started to die as a result of a lack of grazing.
Most farmers say they cannot afford animal fodder.
An nbc News team driving through Okakarara witnessed malnourished cattle roaming around in search of grazing.
Farmers have started to slaughter the weak ones before they die.
The Executive Director in the Office of the Prime Minister, I-Ben Nashandi, details the government’s livestock drought relief programme, which is to be rolled out to all 14 regions of the country.
“The first component is the livestock marketing incentive to encourage farmers to sell their animals to the market, and for each large livestock, the government will give them a subsidy of N$500, but it’s just an incentive for them to sell each animal that they sell.”
Small stocks were less affected, and Nashandi urged farmers to sell these to the government if they needed to.
Farmers with better grazing areas can lease grazing to those affected by the drought, and the government will subsidise half of the payment.
Affected farmers willing to transport their cattle to better grazing areas can pay for transport, and the government will subsidise up to N$19 per kilometre, Nashandi said.
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