Communal land use and the ‘tragedy of the commons’: Some problems and development perspectives with specific reference to semi‐arid regions of southern Africa

Abstract

Traditional communal farming in southern Africa has often been described as unproductive and directly responsible for regional poverty and vegetation degradation. Each aspect of this argument rests on a set of unchallenged assumptions concerning the nature of communal farming. Studies which emphasize the social and cultural significance of communal farming systems are highlighted. These studies also suggest that communal farming systems are logical and pragmatic adaptations to local conditions, especially from the point of view of local communities, and that they often have underlying rules of behaviour. It is concluded that unless full participation of local communities at every level of the decision‐making process is guaranteed, resistance to and failure of agricultural development programmes is likely.

Tradisionele gemeenskapboerdery in suider Afrika word gereeld as onproduktief beskryf, en word dirck verantwoordelik gehou vir streekarmoede en plantegroei agteruitgang. Elke aspek van hierdie argument berus op ‘n stel van onbestrede veronderstellings met betrekking tot die aard van gemeenskapsboerdery. Ons verwys na studies wat die sosiale en kulturele belang van gemeenskapsboerdery sisteme beklemtoon. Hierdie navorsing dui ook aan dat gemeenskapsboerdery sisteme logiese en pragmatiese aanpassings is tot plaaslikc omstandig‐hede en dat dit gewoonlik onderliggende gedragskodes bevat. Dit geld veral uit die perspektief van plaaslike gemeenskappe. Ons gevolgtrekking is dat, tensy daar algehele deelname van plaaslike gemeenskappe op elkc vlak van besluitneming gewaarborg word, teenkanting teen en die mislukking van die landbou‐ontwikkelings‐programme waarskynlik sal voorkom.

Additional index words:

• Agricultural systems
• communal grazing
• Namibia
• rural development