Government has announced comprehensive financial aid due to the prevailing drought, which has severely affected most parts of the country and has advised farmers to destock to avoid serious losses.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF) is urging livestock farmers, who do not have enough grazing for animals, to sell their livestock while they are still in good condition, as the effects of drought worsen.

Furthermore, selling animals in good condition means receiving optimum prices for them. Therefore, farmers are advised to destock as soon as possible in order to safeguard their livelihoods.

Abraham Nehemia, acting Permanent Secretary of MAWF, says farmers who heed the ministry's advice to destock in a bid to mitigate the effects of the drought would be able to participate and benefit from the ministry's Livestock Marketing Incentive and the Lease of Grazing and Transport schemes.

The two schemes to be implemented, follow a government announcement of an interim drought relief programme of some N$300 million recently after a thorough study was completed on the situation of crop farmers and food security.

Source - http://allafrica.com/