The Dare to Care initiative to subsidise certain livestock feed lines was scheduled to kick off on Thursday, 11 April 2019.

According to the latest edition of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) newsletter, a fixed subsidy of N$50 per bag will be applicable on Epol Herbivore, Epol Antelope cubes, Enerfeed, Enermol, Rangeland grower, game pellets and Lucerne pellets. Other products are Breker 12 pellets, Molatek molasses meal, Molatek Meester 20, Sheep finisher pellets, cattle finisher pellets, Taapu Afrondmix, Sheep finisher, Lucerne pellets, Wagnou volvoer.

The Dare to Care initiative is a partnership between NAU, the Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers Union and the private sector that is administered by NAU. The initiative solicits for donations to assist farmers acquire livestock feed in the face of this year's severe drought.

Feed will not be distributed directly to farmers but the prices will be subsidised.

“Donations to the fund currently stands at N$4.1 million, and we are grateful that 76,000 bags of feed can be subsidised for the drought-stricken farmers.

“We realise that much more help is needed and that not all farmers can be helped sufficiently. We appeal to everybody who has not yet made donations to help us to reach our target of N$10 million,” said the newsletter.

The subsidised fodder will be available at the following retailers: Agra, Animal Fedco, Leonardville Garage, Otjozondjupa Feed, Helmering Winkel, Kaap Agri, H J Moller Transport & Voere, Toitjies Boerediens and D A Viljoen Transport.

The feed will only be sold in lots of 10 bags and no returns will be accepted. A producer qualifies for a maximum of 100 bags of subsidised feed, according to NAU.

The union said producers who want to benefit from the subsidy must produce a copy of the FANMeat card as well as a copy of their national ID card.

*Article by Matthew Dlamini, Namibian Newspaper 11 April 2019