By Matsobane Manaka
Farmers advised to control and reduce bush encroachment in a responsible manner and in line with Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (CARA).
Estimates are that millions of hectares (ha) of natural grazing are mainly affected by poor veld management practices resulting in bush encroachment, continuation of overgrazing without any form of management leading to soil erosion and lesser grassland or grass cover leading to more population of plant invaders.
Sharing lessons and experience with farmers, Teddy Mnisi, an agricultural advisor presented an assessment on veld condition conducted on four farms during Veld Care Management awareness held at Hluvukani Care Centre, Bonn Village, Mopani West Metz Service Centre. Pieter Koornhof Wagner, Scientific Manager: Pasture Systems and Veld Management and colleagues from Metz Centre conducted the assessment on 7 and 8 February 2023 respectively.
Farmers advised to control and reduce bush encroachment in a responsible manner and in line with Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (CARA).
The farms - Sedan, Bonn, Berlyn (Mulati) & Keulen (Mafarana) - fetch approximately 11 100 ha and are located around Letsitele area in Greater Tzaneen Municipality, which consist of residential areas, crop lands as well as grazing areas.
Livestock farming with mainly cattle is currently practiced including donkeys, even though the livestock number is not known.
The outcome of the assessment indicated that the grazing grass species range from average to good in other areas, yet a concern of medium to heavy bush thickening in most areas, which reduces grass production that makes it unreachable by livestock. Mnisi maintained that the farms do not have internal camps or proper boundary fences. “Watering points for the livestock are a problem with cattle drinking in shallow earth dams or pools. And no fire breaks are present”, he said.
Teddy Mnisi presents assessment report on veld condition.
Results further showed that the condition of the veld in those farms are poor to moderate as well as the reduction of the grazing capacity due to medium to heavy bush thickening.
Based on the assessment, farmers were advised to stock according to grazing capacity. Moreover, the control and reduction of bush encroachment must be conducted in a responsible manner and in line with Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (CARA) Act No. 43 of 1983.
