An evaluation of the economic viability of commercial pastoralism in the smaldeel area of the Eastern Cape

Abstract

Carrying capacity models and financial data from study group farmers were used to derive attainable net revenue per ha on veld in good, moderate and poor condition. From these data, minimum farm sizes required for a reasonable standard of living (R20 000 net personal income per annum) were estimated for each veld condition class. These minimum sizes were compared with actual farming unit sizes determined from a farm survey.

Most farming units are large enough to provide a reasonable standard of living, on condition that the farmer has little debt and does not have to incur costs of land development. However, most farmers cannot afford to implement the development required for currently recommended conservation practices. If conservation is required by society, subsidization of conservation practices should be considered.

Uittreksel

Weidingskapasiteit‐modelle en finansiële data van boere, wat aan studiegroepe behoort, is gebruik om die bereikbare netto inkomste per hektaar van veld, in ‘n goeie, redelike en swak toestand af te lei. Hierdie data is gebruik om die minimum plaas‐grootttes van elke veldtoestandsklas te bepaal vir die handhawing van ‘n redelike lewensbestaan (R20 000 netto persoonlike inkomste per jaar). Hierdie minimum groottes is vergelyk met die werklike boerdery‐eenheid se groottes, wat deur middel van ‘n plaasopname bepaal is.

Die meeste boerdery‐eenhede is groot genoeg om die handhawing van ‘n redelike lewensbestaan te verseker op voorwaarde dat die boer min skuld het en ook nie onkoste aangaan vir grondontwikkeling nie. Die meeste boere kan egter nie bekostig om die ontwikkeling wat benodig word vir die huidige aanbevole bewaringspraktyke te implementeer nie. Indien bewaring deur die gemeenskap vereis word, moet die subsidering van bewaringspraktyke oorweeg word.

Additional index words:

• Carrying capacity
• farm size
• net income
• tree density
• veld condition