How economic are the farming units of Leliefontein, Namaqualand?

Abstract

Nomadic pastoralism has been practised in Leliefontein for centuries. In 1984, the area was formally divided into 47 so‐called ‘economic units’ on the assumption that this agricultural approach would (a) promote development in the region and (b) introduce conservation management to these areas. The communal land tenure system was effectively abolished. We relate potential income from livestock farming in the region to costs of production and show that most of the 47 farming units of Leliefontein are, in fact, not economic farming units. Furthermore, there is little evidence to indicate that it has been the communal system per se that has been responsible for land degradation in the area. We point out that the change in land tenure, was based on technical considerations only, that the hidden costs were not adequately investigated and that the social ramifications were ignored.

Vir eeue het veeboere van Leliefontein ‘n nomadiese bestaan gevoer. In 1984 is hierdie gebied in 47 sogenaamde ‘ekonomiese eenhede’ ingedeel met die veronderstelling dat hierdie landboukundige benadering (a) die ontwikkeling sal bevoordeel en (b) bewaringsbewuste veldbestuur bekend gestel sou word. Die stelsel van gemeenskaplike grondbesit is totaal afgeskaf. Die verhouding tussen die inkomste en die produksiekoste van hierdie veeboere het getoon dat die meeste van die 47 boerdery‐eenhede van Leliefontein indcrdaad nie ekonomiese eenhede is nie. Verder is daar weinig bewyse dat die agteruitgang van die gebied te wyte is aan die kommune‐stelsel per se. Dit word benadruk dat die verandering in grondbesit slegs gebaseer is op tegniese oorwegings, dat die verskuildc koste nie genoegsaam ondersoek is en die sosiale aspekte geïgnoreer is.

Additional index words:

• Communal system
• Namaqualand
• nomadic pastoralism
• potential financial income