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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
BPF should get house in order

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dithapelo Keorapetse, has this week rightly washed his hands of the mess, refusing to wade into a party squabble that has no clear leadership and no single version of the truth.When a single party sends six different letters to the Speaker’s office, each claiming to be the authoritative voice, it is not just confusion, but an embarrassment.Keorapetse is correct to insist on institutional boundaries. Parliament...

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