MEC Nomandla Bloem calls for a responsible land use.
The MEC for Agriculture, Land Reform, Rural Development, Environment and Nature Conservation, Ms Nomandla Bloem, has welcomed the much anticipated rainfall in some parts of the Province.
Recently, several regions in the Northern Cape have received much awaited rain which has managed to quell the scorching heat and resuscitated much needed grazing for the livestock.
We welcome the much anticipated rain which has been falling in some parts of the Province. The rain comes at the right time when the Province has been struggling with drought, which has killed most of our livestock and crops. However, there are still some parts of the Province, such as Namakwa, ZF Mgcawu and portions of Pixley ka Seme which are still hit hard by the drought. We are hoping and praying that the heavens will open in those particular regions very soon,†said MEC Bloem.
With the recent announcement made by Premier Dr Zamani Saul, declaring the Province as a drought stricken area, MEC Bloem indicated that the R30 million which was set aside for drought relief last year, has come handy as most farmers managed to purchase fodder as an intervention from the department.
MEC Bloem further caution farmers to use land in a more responsible way, especially in areas where there is prevalence of Harpuisbos (Gnidia Buchellii).
Harpuisbos is one of the most aggressive land invaders which is capable of penetrating and replacing indigenous vegetation.
The plant competes with grass for water and ultimately out grows the existing grass domain and invades the area.
The existence of the plant affects most areas drastically, because it threatens both the agricultural productivity and natural ecosystems. This is because the plant has the potential to drastically decreased the carrying capacity of the grazing land,†said MEC Bloem.
Eradication of these invasive plants will lead to high grass production- which will lead to animal condition improving.
The negative consequences of such alien vegetation include:
- Excessive water consumption
- Displacement of natural indigenous species
- Decrease in fodder production
- Reduction of biodiversity
- Decrease in agricultural production Depletion of soil nutrients and
- General environmental retrogression
According to MEC Bloem, the absence of grazing camps has without a doubt contributed to the degradation of veld and the increase in invasive species, said Bloem.
MEC Bloem warned that the intense of over grazing will lead to excessive removal of the most pleasant lasting grasses.
This will ultimately reduce ground cover, opening the way for less palatable and faster establishing annual grasses, shrubs and alien species to be dominant. Moreover, the introduction of too many animals (over stocking) in communal gazing areas has led to the establishment of these invasive species she said.
LAND CONSERVATION
South Africa's soils are generally sensitive, fragile, and predisposed to land degradation through soil erosion, which is a natural process until it is accelerated by human activities such as deforestation, over grazing, fires and construction activities
MEC Bloem said degradation continues to threaten the local resource base upon which rural communal livelihoods depend and is caused by a combination of poverty and an absence or failure of land use regulations.
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