THE government plans reducing the country’s dependence on imported fodder by reserving 30% of green scheme land for fodder production.
The idea will be started with a N$33 million injection to the financially crippled Agribusdev, to start production as part of the country’s drought resilience measures.
Minister of information and communication technology Stanley Simataa announced this during a media briefing on resolutions taken at the latest Cabinet meeting held last week.
The non-mechanised hydroponic fodder production systems will cultivate necessary resilience needed to mitigate drought in future and to have guaranteed fodder production throughout the year.
Cabinet authorised the Office of the Prime Minister under the National Emergency Disaster Fund to advance an amount of N$33,2 million to Agribusdev for fodder production.
At least N$10,4 million of this amount was advanced to Agribusdev last month to guarantee the production of fodder and ensure uninterrupted supply during the drought period.
Early this year, the ministry of agriculture refused to recapitalise Agribusdev with N$24 million, saying that was not budgeted for and they will only provide them with extra funds if they have any leftover from other projects.
Cabinet further directed the agriculture ministry to conduct research on other alternative production of livestock supplements, including hydroponic fodder production and bush-to-feed, and make appropriate recommendations to Cabinet.
According to the resolutions, Cabinet is in support of the introduction and promotion of a non-mechanised hydroponic system at farmers’ level, and authorise the agriculture ministry to develop conditions for the operation of the scheme.
The hydroponic production system produces fodder in seven days and it could feed many cattle, sustaining the livestock sector during drought.
Cabinet therefore approved a subsidy scheme to support small-scale farmers who want to venture into fodder production.
The government will provide a 50% subsidy on the cost for the construction of small-scale fodder production units and 50% subsidy will be provided on the cost of seeds (maize, barley, sorghum and wheat).
Government also plans to train farmers in hydroponic fodder production, Simataa added.
The government is yet to announce the awarding of the fodder and animal feed tender to supply livestock feed for the six months from August and the private companies that are going to take over some of the green schemes from Agribusdev.
Prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila told the National Assembly last week that the fodder to be produced at green schemes will be distributed to needy farmers.
She said the government will procure all free fodder from green schemes, “subject to supply, and arrangements are being made to pre-purchase such fodder”.
This plan was introduced as a drought resilience measure and to address the shortage of local fodder.
“The condition of pasture continues to deteriorate, leading to reliance on fodder and other animal feeds distribution as a means to sustain livestock. Shortage of animal feeds poses a risk to the sustainability of the livestock support programme,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.
The prime minster said the subsidy scheme supports the installation of hydroponic facilities and purchase of seeds.
“The estimated cost of the facility is below N$10 000, including seeds. Farmer training is also planned on the use of hydroponic fodder production,” she said.
The government earlier this year allocated a total of N$570 million to help distressed farmers and communities hit by the drought, and of this N$138 million is for the livestock support programme.
So far, the government has spent N$131 million towards the drought relief programme, of which N$16,6 million was spent on livestock support.
The government has spent N$37,5 million on the provision of water tankers to remote areas and for the installation and rehabilitation of water points/boreholes.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said to date the government has distributed a total of 62 038 bales of animal feed weighing 20 kilogrammes each to all regions of the country.
The fodder, according to her, was distributed to a maximum of 250 farmers per region (or 3 500 farmers countrywide).
The prime minister on Wednesday announced in the National Assembly that the government’s assistance towards farmers affected by the drought will be implemented until 5 March next year.
– Additional reporting from Nampa
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