Popular Democratic Movement president McHenry Venaani has called on the government to introduce an emergency relief package for farmers affected by the current foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
Venaani raised this concern in the National Assembly on Wednesday, asking prime minister Elijah Ngurare what measures the government was taking to assist farmers facing financial difficulties as a result of the outbreak.
“Water is being cut, and farmers are asked to pay the Namibia Revenue Agency (Namra). Is the government going to consider an emergency package?” Venaani asked.
He said farmers affected by movement restrictions and disruptions to livestock markets were facing mounting financial pressure, and called for urgent government intervention.
Venaani also referred to the recent announcement by Beefcor that it is considering retrenching about 393 workers, warning that the FMD crisis could have wider consequences for the meat industry and workers whose livelihoods depend on it.
He questioned whether the government could consider giving affected businesses and farmers temporary relief from some of their financial obligations.
“Is the government going to consider, because you are the head of government? Water is being cut, and farmers are asked to pay Namra,” he said.
Venaani further called for Namra to ease its demands on affected farmers and businesses, while urging Beefcor and other companies not to move too quickly with retrenchments while the crisis persists.
Venaani said the government should consider measures that would help farmers and businesses survive the disruption and protect jobs.
The FMD outbreak has placed additional pressure on livestock producers, with restrictions on the movement and sale of cattle affecting operations and cash flow across the affected areas, he added.
Venaani said the government’s response should therefore go beyond disease control and include measures to cushion farmers, businesses and workers from the economic impact of the outbreak.
National Assembly speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, however, advised that the prime minister address the issues through a ministerial statement.
