Governor of the Kavango West Region, Sirkka Ausiku said 31 799 households in her region are currently benefiting from the drought relief programme.

Ausiku made the statement recently during her 10th State of the Region Address where she spoke about how agriculture remains a top priority sector that can change the livelihoods of the community, create employment and address poverty.

Government embarked upon a comprehensive nationwide relief food assistance programme in all the 14 regions from 01 October 2023 to 30 June 2024.

The programme comprises food distribution, water provision and livestock support, and is targeting at least 579 000 Namibians (22 per cent of the population) in both rural and urban areas.

Those benefiting are people whose livelihoods have been affected by the drought and who do not have enough food or money to buy food, thereby faced with high levels of food insecurity.

‘The region continues to appreciate the implementation of various programmes by the Agriculture Ministry, such as th
e Dry Land Crop Production Programme, the National Horticulture Support Programme and Poultry Production Programme. However, the Extension Services Programme needs to be reviewed and strengthened to benefit the farmers,’ she said.

Ausiku said the region appreciates the expansion of the Milling Plant at Katwitwi Settlement by the Agro Marketing and Trade Agency, adding that this year the facility is supplying maize meal to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) for the Drought Relief Programme.

The governor encouraged farmers to participate in the Government livestock marketing incentive in order to destock their livestock.

‘I would also like to appreciate the Mpasinkuru and Ncaute Auction committees for creating a formal market for livestock to farmers in the region,’ she stated.

Meanwhile, Ausiku said the number of horticulture producers in her region has increased to 50, before sharing that most of them are young people. The 50 horticulture producers have meanwhile also formed an association under which
to coordinate their activities.

In this regard, the region is going to host a conference in October to bring together stakeholders to come up with workable strategies, Ausiku said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency