More than 800 farmers in Otjozondjupa Region have claimed for financial assistance from the government’s livestock marketing incentive programme since it was introduced four months ago. The incentive encourages farmers to sell off their small and large stock, in order to minimise pressure on grazing by reducing the number of livestock. Since May, farmers started applying for the drought-relief incentive at the agricultural extension district offices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF) at Tsumkwe, Grootfontein, Okahandja, Okakarara and Otjiwarongo. MAWF’s Agricultural Scientific Officer at Otjiwarongo Sidney Gaeseb says farmers have sold 803 livestock and submitted claim forms in pursuit of the incentive. The Government is subsidising farmers, who purchase fodder bags for their livestock, transport their livestock from poor grazing to better areas, and those leasing farms for grazing to farmers impacted by drought. Gaeseb says the incentive programmes will run until the country recovers from the drought.