There are indications that farmers in various parts of the country are heeding the advice to destock their herds, as more than 5,000 have applied for marketing incentives.

The Office of the Prime Minister says it has observed a notable trend among farmers to participate in marketing incentives to mitigate the impact of drought.

This is contained in the Drought Situation Report of June, released by the Directorate of Disaster Risk Management under the Office of the Prime Minister.

The report states that through the marketing incentives, farmers are selling their livestock to destock herds, especially in hard-hit areas such as Omaheke, ||Kharas and Hardap.

The various marketing incentives are part of the government's Drought Relief Programme to support farmers.

The government has set aside N$100 million for the entire livestock programme.

The programme comprises leases of grazing, lick supplements, and fodder subsidy, as well as transport to and from grazing areas for the animals.

Of the more than 5,000 claims received to date, the majority are for the transportation of livestock to and from grazing areas and the lease of grazing, mainly from the Omaheke and Erongo regions.

Farmers unions are in support of the government's directive.

The President of the Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers Union, Dr. Ndahafa Nghifindaka-Tjiuongua, told nbc News that livestock farmers will continue to comply with the calls to destock and information provided to the Office of the Prime Minister.