Botswana’s Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has announced that as a result of the current severe drought grappling not only Botswana but the SADC region, government has decided to increase livestock feed subsidy from 25 percent to 50 percent for feed approved under the drought package.
On account of the current severe drought, the increase in livestock feed subsidy will be for feed approved under the drought package which includes drought pellets, di-calcium phosphate, lucerne/lab/sorghum stalk bales, bran, coarse salt, maize and dairy meal. According to Boipolelo Khumomatlhare, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, the increase on subsidies is with immediate effect until March 31st, 2016. Farmers have been urged to take advantage of the government assistance which will be for a short time, when the situation improves, the subsidy will be reverted back to the 25 percent and 30 percent.
The Permanent Secretary also said the sale of subsidized feed will be done mainly through the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) and the Livestock Advisory Centers (LACs) depots to enable all farmers to access the feed at the subsidized rates to save as many livestock as possible from perishing. Following the Drought and Household Food Security Outlook conducted from the 23rd March to 10th April 2015, His Excellency the President declared the whole of Botswana drought stricken.
