Irene Hoaës
22 July 2011
Windhoek — Wildlife-Based Land Use (WBLU) or game farming in Namibia – a sector perceived as under-utilized – has to overcome a number of stumbling blocks before it can achieve its full potential.
According to a recent TRAFFIC East and Southern Africa Report, “An Analysis of Game Meat Production and Wildlife-Based Land Uses on Freehold Land in Namibia: Links with Food Security”, the industry has a huge potential to contribute to the Namibian economy, if fully exploited.
The study recommended the reintroduction of the full range of indigenous mammal fauna where possible on freehold land, including large, high-value species, which are currently absent.
Large, high-value animals include the Big Five – lion, elephant, buffalo and the rhino.
“Namibia has one of the lowest returns per Safari-hunting client in SADC, due to the lack of big game, compared to countries such as Botswana,” researcher Peter Lindsey said.
Game farmers complain about the prohibition of buffaloes, one of the single most important species for generating returns from WBLU on freehold land.
Buffalo, associated with the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) is not allowed on freehold land, especially south of the Veterinary Cordon Fence, in order to prevent the spread of the disease to domestic livestock such as cattle.
The study recommended the reintroduction of FMD-free buffalo on freehold land and the consideration of the creation of wildlife-production (and regulated FMD-endemic) zones in areas where WBLU has clear comparative economic/financial advantages over livestock production.
It further recommends the permission to reintroduce FMD-buffaloes, which it said are much cheaper and more affordable than FMD-free buffalo.
The call is that export markets be encouraged to accept commodity-based trade, whereby meat processed in a manner proven to provide minimal risk transmitting FMD would be considered acceptable for export, “as an alternative to costly and damaging veterinary restrictions based on FMD-free zones,” the report suggested.
With regard to legislation, it is suggested that changes be brought in legislation to promote the development of fully integrated conservancies (with all internal fencing removed) in which the full complement of indigenous mammals are reintroduced.
The change should entrust full user rights over wildlife to conservancies following the submission of an acceptable management plan, while retaining current permit-requirements for farms not part of conservancies.
The wildlife industry should protect interest of wildlife ranchers and lobby conducive policies to WBLU and against policies that are harmful toward the industry.
The integration of the development of WBLU with land reform and the promotion of the participation of emerging farmers in wildlife ranching was highlighted as an important consideration.
It has been revealed that black emerging farmers do not derive the maximum or enough from WBLU compared to their white counterparts.
Reasons given for the trend are high start-up capital and lack of specialised skills among black farmers, who could derive maximum benefit from the sector.
Another recommendation is the development of export markets, as well as the development of infrastructure necessary to process high quality game meat and improve the consistency of supply of game meat abattoirs.
AllAfrica – All the Time
Visit link:
Bring Back Buffalo – Study