547 goats killed by fire – by Irene! Hoaës
Councillor wants govt to compensate farmers – by Irene !Hoaës
26 September 2011
published by www.newera.com.na
Namibia — The Dâures Constituency Councillor, Ernst Katjiku, has urged government to compensate several communal farmers who lost 547 small livestock, among them goats, due to a veld fire in the Erongo Region.
I dont know what form the reimbursement would be, whether monetary or livestock.
Perhaps government could give 25 goats or sheep to a farmer who owned 50 goats or sheep, just to meet the farmers halfway, Katjiku said.
Veld fires destroyed more than 9 000 hectares of grazing land two weeks ago.
The areas affected are parts of Spitzkoppe, Tubusis, Okombahe, Katora, Uis and Grenspos.
A total of 37 farmers on the seven communal farms were affected. The constituency will make its submission on the fire to the Erongo Regional Council on October 7 during a council meeting. Among the proposals to the council is to get alternative grazing land for the affected farmers or resettle them temporarily.
The possible areas where the affected farmers could be resettled are between Uis and Okombahe and Spitzkoppe and Tubusis.
The fire did not affect some parts in these areas.
We need to talk to the traditional authorities concerned and all the relevant ministries to resettle these farmers, the councillor added.
Katjiku said urgent food relief should also be provided to the farmers as they largely depend on their livestock.
