Draft Status Quo Report for the Pixley Ka Seme ... - SRK Consulting

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Pixley Ka Seme Local Municipality EMF – Draft Status Quo Report Page 59
Asset Opportunity Constraint / Threat
plans based on scientific principles.
The agricultural forums at municipal level
should be exploited optimally to promote
proper regional planning.
A good opportunity exists for local
government to appoint people with the
necessary expertise to deal with agricultural
issues. The Provincial Department of
Agriculture is an equally important role
player in this.
Local government officials do not trust the
agricultural sector as they believe the sector
only acts in its own interest and does not
support government policies.
The lack of a properly institutionalised
agricultural forum and leadership to make it
work has a negative effect on both farmers
and agricultural development in the region.
Human capacity
Land
Farming animals
The agricultural sector and farms in
particular are managed at a very high level
by very capable people (commercial
farmers). A large percentage of farmers
have University degrees and this potential
has not yet been unlocked by the authorities
to assist them in issues such as land reform
and poverty alleviation
High quality land available for production of
various agricultural products.
The area lends itself to high quality wool
production.
Game farming should be exploited,
especially in areas with a high incidence of
stock theft.
Emerging farmers lack experience and
knowledge to manage farms successfully
Extension services from Department of
Agriculture not efficient with focus on
extension work at commercial farm level
Land is limited; thus the demand for land will
coincide with economic development and
population growth, which often requires land.
In most cases agriculture has to give way to
other developments, especially when
developments are of national interest.
The clearing of natural vegetation for activities
such as mining and agriculture, and the
subsequent transformation of ecosystems,
results in impacts such as:
• Alien species invasions
• Deterioration of soil quality from increased
leaching of acids
• Contamination of surface and
groundwater, resulting in deteriorating
water quality
• Increased pressure on infrastructure – the
poor condition of the roads as a result of
mining activities suffices as an example
here
• Pollution (air and environmental)
• Aesthetic pollution, which has a direct
impact on the tourism industry since
people do not like to travel through
spoiled landscapes with mining activities,
heavy vehicles on the roads and air
pollution.
Crime and stock theft are risks faced by
farmers on theft. Sheep farming, with a higher
return than cattle farming, used to be a large
sector in the PKSLM but only a few farmers
now farm with sheep because of the high
incidence of stock theft. Time and money is
wasted by farmers on self-protection units
(farm watches) to perform duties of police
tasks. The small stock industry (sheep
farming) is nearly wiped out because of high
incidences of stock.
KILI/BEAT G:\404946_PIXLEY EMF\7REPORTS\Status Quo report\Draft report\Draft status quo report, July 2010.docx July 2010