President Masisi has declared the 2023/24 season an extreme agricultural drought year. A statement from the government states that the decision comes after careful consideration of a comprehensive report generated from the recently concluded Drought and Household Food Security Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis exercise.
It notes that the rainy season spanning from October 2023 to March 2024 was marked by exceptionally dry conditions. Throughout the entire country, rainfall remained below average, posing significant challenges for agriculture and water resources.
The release says delayed rains and the extended dry spells severely impacted crops. Most crops wilted and failed in the season. The area planted for this season decreased by 36% compared to the previous year, with total production estimated to be only 6% of the national cereal demand of 300, 000 metric tonnes.
The release notes that this signifies an extreme arable agricultural drought. At the time of assessment, grazing conditions had started to show signs of deterioration nationwide, with limited surface water availability in some areas. It says a significant number of drought related mortalities estimated above 16 000 was recorded. These highlight crucial signs that the livestock sector is experiencing the effects of extreme drought, it says.
The release further states that dams and rivers across Botswana experienced a significant decline in water levels. Some dams are now critically low, operating at less than 30% capacity. The release also notes that as Botswana faces this challenging period, the government is actively working to address the crisis and support affected communities. In addition, the government has implemented measures to help people cope with drought, such as subsidies to farmers and making boreholes available to communities facing severe water shortages.
In declaring 2023/2024 an extreme drought year, the government also observed that the rainy season from October 2023 to March 2024 was exceptionally dry, with below-average rainfall throughout the entire country. The month of February was particularly harsh, with the country experiencing the driest conditions since 1980, leading to critically low water levels in reservoirs, and major rivers such as Thamalakane and Chobe are experiencing their lowest water levels in a decade, the statement said.
The report says dry conditions and high temperatures have forced wild animals to travel long distances for water, resulting in human-wildlife conflict. More than 1,170 fires have also been reported around the country, affecting about 855,861 hectares of land, says the statement.
