Take care of your own grass The sustainability of the implementation of the National Rangeland Policy is of critical importance to ensure a permanent driving force for the actions which are currently put in place when the current project is ended in 2019.This is according to the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) which says that currently three working groups are established which respectively represent communal, emerging and commercial producers.
According to the NAU the commercial working groups comprise of game, small stock and cattle working groups with the function to implement actions which will realise the policy on long term on the ground.
The union says that last week commercial cattle producers had a session in Otjiwarongo which was attended by representatives of the cattle producing regions.
According to the union reasons were reflected why the national rangeland resource is degenerating while this resource is the critical factor which ensures long-term competitiveness.
“Everybody agreed that producers have to take own responsibility for the restoration of rangeland without financial aid from government,” says the union.
The group was convinced that if a total mind shift does not take place, nothing will be changed. The most important factor which will increase production is the increase of stocking which cannot take place if the rangeland does not recover.
Alternative financing models must be investigated whereby the remainder of the value chain has to be involved.
The union said that completely new solutions have to be found. The game farmers also had a discussion, while the small-stock producers will come together early in 2017. All producers are invited to come up with constructive proposals in order to overcome these challenges in the long term.
STAFF REPORTER