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Masisi declares ‘extreme drought’ as livestock deaths reach 16,000

President Mokgweetsi Masisi last week declared an “extreme agricultural drought” noting that the recent El Niño-hit cropping season saw 16,000 livestock deaths countrywide, while cereal production dropped to just six percent of national demand. PIC.KENNEDY RAMOKONE
President Mokgweetsi Masisi last week declared an “extreme agricultural drought” noting that the recent El Niño-hit cropping season saw 16,000 livestock deaths countrywide, while cereal production dropped to just six percent of national demand. PIC.KENNEDY RAMOKONE

President Mokgweetsi Masisi last week declared an “extreme agricultural drought” noting that the recent El Niño-hit cropping season saw 16,000 livestock deaths countrywide, while cereal production dropped to just six percent of national demand.

The dry conditions associated with El Niño also caused 1,170 outbreaks of wildfires during the recently ended summer, affecting 855,861 hectares of land, an area nearly seven times larger than New York City.

“Delayed rains and the extended dry spells severely impacted crops with most wilting and failing early in the season. “The livestock sector is experiencing the effects of an extreme drought,” the drought declaration statement reads.

Editor's Comment
Human rights are sacred

It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...

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