Namibia country report

Table 19: Gross incomes of FURS livestock farmers in Omaheke and Hardap, 2008OmahekeHardapTotal area covered in sample (ha) 9 718 44 760Total number of cattle 272 181Number of cattle sold 39 14Cattle sales value (N$) 52 000 38 900Direct allocable cattle costs (N$) 31 320 13 837Gross income (N$) 20 680 25 063Total number of goats 248 2 124Number of goats sold 9 1 124Goat sales value (N$) 6 800 108 442Direct allocable goat costs (N$) 4 646 23 793Gross income (N$) 2 154 84 649Total number of sheep 31 1192Number of sheep sold 5 775Sheep sales value (N$) 1 600 78 975Direct allocable sheep costs (N$) 3 716 32 472Gross income (N$) -2 116 46 503These aggregate figures allow for certain deductions to be made regarding stocking ratesand intensity of land use. The total land area allocated to farmers in the Omaheke samplewas approximately 9 718 ha. With a carrying capacity of 15 ha per LSU and 6 ha per SSU,this area could carry a total of 648 LSU or 1 620 SSU. Given the total combined numbers oflivestock in the sample, cattle utilised 4 080 ha, small stock 1 395 ha, and horses and donkeysan additional 1 065 ha. The combined utilisation thus amounts to 6 540 ha which is 67% ofthe total carrying capacity. Therefore, almost one third of the grazing land was not utilisedfor livestock production. Livestock lost to and consumed by households during the yearpreceding the fieldwork accounted for an estimated 235 ha in addition, which brings thetotal area utilised to 6 775 ha, amounting to almost 70% of the overall carrying capacity ofland in the sample.The total cattle, goat and sheep costs include the direct allocable costs borne directly bythe owner for each livestock type. These costs included veterinary, fodder, supplementaryfeeding, hired labour and transport costs. Lazarus at Skoonheid, for example, was buyingsalt and supplementary feed as well as medicines and vaccines for his cattle. Matthias,another cattle farmer in Omaheke, also regularly bought lick for his cattle. He stated thatprovision of lick is essential in Omaheke: “Without lick, you would be without cattle.”Administrative costs and costs relating to maintenance of farming infrastructure, vehiclesand water supply are not included in direct allocable costs. The questionnaire included thequestion of whether any animals had been transferred to another place or given away asgifts. One respondent had transferred seven goats to his family as a gift. No respondent hadtransferred or given away any cattle or sheep.The combined gross income from cattle and goat farming in Omaheke in the year precedingthe fieldwork was N$22 834 for the 9 718 ha. The gross income of the two sheep farmers wasnegative (they made a loss) and was not included in the total. This amounts to a gross incomeof N$2,35 per hectare. By comparison, commercial large-stock ranching on larger farming100 ● Livelihoods after land reform: Namibia country report (2010)