The Swaziland Environment Action Plan (SEAP)

RECOMMENDED POLICY AND STRATEGY FRAMEWORK

1.4 LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION

This policy is to deal with the development of livestock and livestock products, subject to the NLEP, ULEP and ALUP provisions. It focuses on livestock production on SNL.

ISSUES SUMMARY

Production and management

Low productivity on communal SNL.
Poor quality of livestock.
Low offtake.
Livestock industry not taking advantage of market opportunities, such as fulfilling quota.
Role of livestock in Swazi culture (wealth, security, social obligations, draught power).
Lack of understanding of the economics from the livestock owner's point of view, in particular as investment alternative.
Inadequate marketing systems.
Inadequate handling facilities of livestock products.
Animal health hazards from neighbouring countries.
Improper use of sisa and fattening ranches.
Negligence of small stock development.
Grazing on land with high potential for crop production.
Insufficient livestock extension service.
Lack of administration of grazing on SNL.

Environment and degradation

Severe and widespread erosion and deterioration of the rangelands.
Unsustainable stocking rates.
Detrimental environmental effects by dipping, watering and other practices, especially related to cattle movements.
Lack of control and management of communal grazing resources.
Communal tenure system not conducive to sustainable grazing.

SUMMARY POLICY PROPOSALS

Status of Policy

A Livestock Development Policy has been submitted to cabinet and has been endorsed in 1994. The policy provides detailed policies and strategies to improve livestock production, with a strong emphasis on technical solutions.

Overall Objective

To achieve an efficient and sustainable livestock industry contributing to economic development.

Policy Principles

Livestock production be based on ecological sustainability, economic viability and understanding of the socio-economic implications of interventions.
Livestock development be promoted in areas best suited for range and pasture, in overall balance with other land uses.
Institutional changes in land tenure arrangements and control be recognized as precondition to sustainable livestock development.
Cost recovery applied to all services rendered.

Policy Practical Elements

Environmental protection be incorporated as integral part of livestock production.
The present rangelands and grazing areas be appraised with respect to suitability for major land uses and overall national land use priorities.
Priority be given to the rehabilitation of degraded rangelands by the most appropriate measures, including changes to other land uses.
Sustainable range management be introduced on the basis of zonation of grazing potential and stocking rates.
Individual rights to utilize communal pasture be formalized and restricted, subject to equitable access and share.
Commercialization of livestock production be promoted on both SNL and TDL, with emphasis on the quality of the herd and the central role of offtake.
Essential facilities and procedures of the livestock industry be improved, such as marketing, processing and quality control.

Policy Supportive Elements

Active participation of livestock owners be ensured in the planning and decision making on livestock development on communal land.
Practical veterinary and livestock research and technology development be conducted in fields relevant to the Swaziland livestock industry.
Dissemination of information and communication with livestock owners be promoted.
Legislation including regulatory control over range resources and livestock numbers be reviewed and enforced.

SUMMARY STRATEGY PROPOSALS

Strategy to establish sustainable range management and environmental protection

Most of the present rangelands are severely degraded as a result of unsustainable use. The strategy conducive to the overall livestock development objective is aimed at commercializing the livestock industry, including on SNL. The feasibility of the introduction of commercial livestock production depends on finding solutions for the lack of communal control and management of the rangelands.

Formalizing grazing rights and increasing responsibility for range management

Livestock numbers ought to be brought in better accordance with grazing capacity, which could be achieved by increasing the grazing capacity through better management or through reducing livestock numbers by larger offtake. The strategy should therefore, on one hand, aim at increasing the communal and individual responsibility for the range resources, and on the other, at making communal grazing less attractive.

To encourage effective social pasture control through local consensus on sustainable use of communal grazing land.
To formalize individual rights in order to develop individual responsibility.
To define in writing all proprietorial rights over SNL, inclusive of all rights to graze livestock over designated areas;
To institute agistment fees for cattle, at a level in the region of five years' purchase for an average mature beast, beyond an upper limit of herd size for permanent residents, and applicable the herds of all non-residents
To give local authorities, combined with new livestock users associations, the right and obligation to limit livestock numbers.
To reduce livestock investment values by increasing the cost of maintenance, thereby encouraging an increased offtake.

Range rehabilitation and monitoring

To improve the range database by comprehensive description of vegetation units and to define the critical range condition standards through reference pilot areas for periodic assessment and monitoring. It is recommended to make use of available information, such as AEZ and vegetation inventories (GIS) and diptank database.
To make comprehensive plans for the rehabilitation of degraded rangelands through:
- assessing the range condition;
- evaluating the overall land suitability of the degraded land;
- weigh the various options such as rehabilitation as rangeland, conservation with or without protection, change to other land use (e.g. crop production, forestry), etc.
- Finalize and implement plans with local participation.
To reappraise the effect of government fattening and sisa ranches and grazing management schemes on SNL offtake and development impact, and also to appraise the overall sustainability and alternative options for their use, such as conversion to TDL, leasing to individuals or farmer associations (preferably from SNL), resettlement, overflow from rehabilitation areas, nature reserves, etc.

Technical strategy elements to increase livestock production

This section reflects the main elements from the Livestock Development Policy. For further detailed technical strategic elements reference is made to this document. The three key elements in a commercialized livestock industry are the quality and standard of (1) the herd, (2) the range and pasture, and (3) the operational and managerial system.

To improve the quality of the national herd by selection and breeding.
To improve livestock nutrition by better access and utilization of feed resources and supplementary feeding.
To increase animal health by improved disease prevention and animal health care services.
To improve and facilitate livestock marketing, including marketing for low quality animals.
To expand and modernize processing industries, including re-establishment of canning.
To upgrade and monitor meat hygiene standards and sanitary requirements.
To educate indigenous livestock farmers with regard to the necessity and benefits of keeping smaller herds of higher quality.
To develop range management guidelines and train livestock owners in range management.
To promote (semi-)commercialized smallholder livestock enterprises, including small stock and dairy.
To gradually remove all subsidies in government livestock support services and promote privatisation of these services, such as:
- veterinary clinical services
- sisa and fattening ranches
- breeding ranches
- dipping
- feed provision.

KEY REFERENCE MATERIAL

FAO 1994. Livestock Sub-sector Review and Range Survey
GOS/MOAC 1995. Livestock Development Policy
Sweet/Khumalo 1994. Range Resources and Grazing Potentials in Swaziland

MINISTERIAL INVOLVEMENT

Mainly MOAC, also MTEC & MNRE.