Following the consideration of the 2022/23 Drought and Household Food Security Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis Report, His Excellency Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana has declared 2022/2023 a severe arable agricultural drought year throughout the country.
The salient features of the report indicated that distribution of rainfall over the entire season (October 2022 to March 2023) was fair over space but poor over time. This season had two distinct patterns where distribution was good during the first half of the season and poor during the second half. The prolonged dry spells during January and March 2023 exacerbated the situation resulting in below normal rains during the second half of the season.
For the second half of the rainfall season (January to March 2023), only the South Eastern areas and Eastern Ngamiland received significant amounts of rainfall. Kgalagadi, Ghanzi and Western Ngamiland were particularly dry. Long dry spells were experienced in January (21 days) and March (12 days). Only the month of February received good rains. The temporal distribution of rainfall was poor even in areas exhibiting good rainfall, thus a moderate meteorological dry season.
The bulk of the biomass around the country is dominated by annual grass species of poor forage value. Grazing conditions depict signs of deterioration due to excessive heat and dry spells that were experienced during the months of January and March 2023. The fair rangeland conditions have also been affected by wildland fires, due to high biomass. Thus, the available grazing will not sustain the livestock until the next rainfall season. Farmers are therefore encouraged to supplement as well consider selling ready for market livestock. A moderate drought is anticipated for the livestock sector.
The area planted this season is lower than the previous two seasons, showing a 29% reduction from the 2021/2022 season. The climatic conditions that prevailed during the 2022/23 season, adversely affected crop production resulting in a severe arable agricultural drought. As a result, livelihoods of a significant number of rural households have been affected and remain vulnerable, hence, the need for Government intervention.
In view of the conditions that prevailed during the 2022/23 season, the following relief measures, action and assistance will be implemented with immediate effect until 30th June 2024, save for livestock feed subsidies which will end on the 31st January 2024.
Ministry of Finance
To pay 40% of the seasonal loans to farmers who received loans from the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) and National Development Bank (NDB) for rain fed arable farmers through the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme (ACGS) facility to supplement the crop failure as was determined at the time of the assessment.
Ministry of Agriculture
i) To make provision for 30% Livestock (beef cattle, small stock,) Feed Subsidy for roughage, mineral supplements and botulism vaccine for the entire country with immediate effect until 31st January 2024, and volumes to be capped per beneficiary to promote equitable distribution.
ii) To make provision for a 30% subsidy for non-traditional commodities (dairy, piggery, aquaculture and poultry) for smallholder farmers, with immediate effect until 31st January 2024, and volumes to be capped per beneficiary to promote equitable distribution.
iii) To provide a 50% subsidy for acaricides and antibiotics for control and treatment of animals with amblyomma (bont tick) and dermatophylosis (Senkoba) in Okavango and North West Districts, with immediate effect until 31st January 2024. The acaricides and antibiotics will be tied to the available stock per farmer.
iv) To extend the Impact Accelerator Subsidy (IAS) to cover irrigation of field crops through borehole equipping and water reticulation in commercial production clusters.
v) To provide grants at 100% for solar electrification of field fences in elephant prone areas, and this is to be done in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks for cost effective solar electrification options.
Ministry of Health
To continue with a consistent supply of ready-to-use therapeutic foods for children with acute malnutrition.
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development
i) To increase the Ipelegeng quota by an additional 10, 000 slots to cater for the high number of beneficiaries on the waiting lists as a result of limited seasonal jobs in the arable agricultural sector.
ii) To increase the budget for running costs (materials and tools) to cater for additional projects resulting from the increased Ipelegeng quota.
iii) To continue the Supplementary Feeding Programme at all Primary Schools and Health Facilities through the;
a) Provision of two (2) meals at primary schools i.e., breakfast and mid-day meal.
b) Provision of three (3) meals in recognised settlements at Remote Area Communities (RACs).
c) Provision of blanket supplementary feeding for children aged 6-59 months, single ration for normal growth and moderate underweight children and double ration for severely underweight children.
iv) To continue with the provision of a special food basket for underweight children (6-59 months) in all areas with total underweight prevalence of 10% or more.
The salient features of the report indicated that distribution of rainfall over the entire season (October 2022 to March 2023) was fair over space but poor over time. This season had two distinct patterns where distribution was good during the first half of the season and poor during the second half. The prolonged dry spells during January and March 2023 exacerbated the situation resulting in below normal rains during the second half of the season.
For the second half of the rainfall season (January to March 2023), only the South Eastern areas and Eastern Ngamiland received significant amounts of rainfall. Kgalagadi, Ghanzi and Western Ngamiland were particularly dry. Long dry spells were experienced in January (21 days) and March (12 days). Only the month of February received good rains. The temporal distribution of rainfall was poor even in areas exhibiting good rainfall, thus a moderate meteorological dry season.
The bulk of the biomass around the country is dominated by annual grass species of poor forage value. Grazing conditions depict signs of deterioration due to excessive heat and dry spells that were experienced during the months of January and March 2023. The fair rangeland conditions have also been affected by wildland fires, due to high biomass. Thus, the available grazing will not sustain the livestock until the next rainfall season. Farmers are therefore encouraged to supplement as well consider selling ready for market livestock. A moderate drought is anticipated for the livestock sector.
The area planted this season is lower than the previous two seasons, showing a 29% reduction from the 2021/2022 season. The climatic conditions that prevailed during the 2022/23 season, adversely affected crop production resulting in a severe arable agricultural drought. As a result, livelihoods of a significant number of rural households have been affected and remain vulnerable, hence, the need for Government intervention.
In view of the conditions that prevailed during the 2022/23 season, the following relief measures, action and assistance will be implemented with immediate effect until 30th June 2024, save for livestock feed subsidies which will end on the 31st January 2024.
Ministry of Finance
To pay 40% of the seasonal loans to farmers who received loans from the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) and National Development Bank (NDB) for rain fed arable farmers through the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme (ACGS) facility to supplement the crop failure as was determined at the time of the assessment.
Ministry of Agriculture
i) To make provision for 30% Livestock (beef cattle, small stock,) Feed Subsidy for roughage, mineral supplements and botulism vaccine for the entire country with immediate effect until 31st January 2024, and volumes to be capped per beneficiary to promote equitable distribution.
ii) To make provision for a 30% subsidy for non-traditional commodities (dairy, piggery, aquaculture and poultry) for smallholder farmers, with immediate effect until 31st January 2024, and volumes to be capped per beneficiary to promote equitable distribution.
iii) To provide a 50% subsidy for acaricides and antibiotics for control and treatment of animals with amblyomma (bont tick) and dermatophylosis (Senkoba) in Okavango and North West Districts, with immediate effect until 31st January 2024. The acaricides and antibiotics will be tied to the available stock per farmer.
iv) To extend the Impact Accelerator Subsidy (IAS) to cover irrigation of field crops through borehole equipping and water reticulation in commercial production clusters.
v) To provide grants at 100% for solar electrification of field fences in elephant prone areas, and this is to be done in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks for cost effective solar electrification options.
Ministry of Health
To continue with a consistent supply of ready-to-use therapeutic foods for children with acute malnutrition.
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development
i) To increase the Ipelegeng quota by an additional 10, 000 slots to cater for the high number of beneficiaries on the waiting lists as a result of limited seasonal jobs in the arable agricultural sector.
ii) To increase the budget for running costs (materials and tools) to cater for additional projects resulting from the increased Ipelegeng quota.
iii) To continue the Supplementary Feeding Programme at all Primary Schools and Health Facilities through the;
a) Provision of two (2) meals at primary schools i.e., breakfast and mid-day meal.
b) Provision of three (3) meals in recognised settlements at Remote Area Communities (RACs).
c) Provision of blanket supplementary feeding for children aged 6-59 months, single ration for normal growth and moderate underweight children and double ration for severely underweight children.
iv) To continue with the provision of a special food basket for underweight children (6-59 months) in all areas with total underweight prevalence of 10% or more.
