WINDHOEK, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Namibia approved the implementation of the Drought Relief Program for the 2024/2025 Financial Year on Thursday to address the imminent drought facing the country and its potential impact on livelihoods and food security.

The estimated budget for the program is 825 million Namibian dollars (about 43 million U.S. dollars), allocated for food assistance, seed and horticulture provision, livestock support and water provision.

In a statement on Cabinet decisions, Emma Theofelus, minister of information and communication technology, said that the government endorsed the continuation of food assistance and support for farmers to access seeds and horticultural resources at subsidized prices. Additionally, the Cabinet approved various subsidies and incentives under the Livestock Support Program, along with ongoing efforts to provide water to drought-affected areas.

The Cabinet also approved an increase in livestock marketing incentives and the introduction of a program to procure and sell fodder at subsidized prices through Agricultural Development Centers, funded by the National Disaster Emergency Fund, Theofelus said.

Furthermore, the Cabinet directed the assessment of payment modalities for subsidies and instructed the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform to conduct an awareness campaign to encourage farmers to destock while their livestock are in good condition.

The program aims to assist at least 579,000 Namibians in both rural and urban areas whose livelihoods have been affected by the drought. Enditem

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