The Limpopo Department of Agriculture has asked for an additional R38-million from National Treasury to assist drought-affected farmers, a spokesperson said.
Thembi Makhuvele said on Wednesday the department had done a thorough assessment of agricultural climatic conditions and found severe drought conditions in most parts of the province.
Weather forecasts show the enhanced probability of moderately strong El Nino conditions, which would lead to below-normal rainfall and above normal temperatures for the 2009/10 summer rainfall season.
The worst affected areas were the Mopani district, Musina and Mutale municipalities in the Vhembe district, Lephalale and Mogalakwena municipalities in the Waterberg district, Blouberg and Lepelle Nkumpi municipalities in the Capricorn district and Fetakgomo and Makhuduthamaga in the Sekhukhune district.
In anticipation of the current drought, the department had already spent R24-million in the previous financial year to mitigate the effects of the drought in the five districts.
The money went towards constructing and de-silting 10 earth dams for livestock water, equipping 130 boreholes with windmills and pumps, construction and repair of 80 drinking troughs and the installation of 10 000 litre water storage tanks for the boreholes.
This financial year the department had already spent R5-million to assist veld fire and drought affected farmers in the province.
It was also supplying livestock feed at a subsidised prices to assist veld fire affected and drought affected farmers for another R5-million in all the 25 municipalities.
Provincial agriculture minister Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba was due to address the media on drought mitigation strategies on Thursday. — Sapa