Govt declares drought year

Staff Writer | Monday June 29, 2015 17:01

 

A raft of mitigations have also been announced (see Monitor briefs).

In a statement, the Ministry says  findings of the assessment indicate that there was a significant decline in rainfall distribution. This was coupled with a scorching heat wave, resulting in low hectorage ploughed/planted. The yield forecast for 2014/15 has drastically declined, with the national estimated production for cereals standing at 7, 382 metric tons (mt) which is 3% of the national cereal requirement of 300, 000mt. 

Currently available grazing and water will not sustain livestock until the next rainy season as a result of poor rainfall and dry spell experienced.

Water levels were observed to be relatively low in catchment areas for the Okavango, Chobe-Zambezi, Ngotwane, and Limpopo rivers, as compared to the year 2013/2014. This has resulted in reduced inflows into the dams and recharge into well-fields.

Overall, nutrition status of children aged 0 – 59 months is improving across the health districts; however, malnutrition levels in some areas are still higher than the 3% national target for total malnutrition.

Wildlife, rangeland and water conditions have declined as compared to the year 2013/14.

Although most districts received normal to below normal rainfall, there is abundance of biomass produced in the year 2013/14. Therefore, a high number of fire outbreaks are anticipated.

In light of all this, His Excellency President Ian Khama has declared the whole country is drought stricken.