“Die regering se jongste aanslag op die wildbedryf en veral die dreigemente van nasionalisering van wildsplase as synde onderbenutte grond wat nie tot voedselsekerheid bydra nie, spreek van onkunde. Dit lei tot die soort beleidsbesluite wat in ander landboubedrywe reeds onherstelbare skade veroorsaak het,” sê dr Gert Dry, president van Wildbedryf Suid-Afrika (WRSA).
Wildboerdery is, soos enige ander landboubedryf, ’n hoogs mededingende en wetenskaplike boerderyvertakking wat in al nege provinsies op ’n besigheidsgrondslag bedryf word en intens van beleggingsfonse, produksielenings en kundige bestuur afhanklik is. Dit is net so kwesbaar vir onderdeurdagte en ideologiese uitsprake.
Die wildbedryf verdien sowat R7 miljard per jaar, waarsonder Suid-Afrika nie ’n positewe handelsbalans in landbouprodukte kan handhaaf nie. Swak beleidsomgewings en winsgewendheidsoorwegings het talle ander landboubedrywe soos tee, koffie, en deesdae toenemend selfs koring, plaaslik vernietig en Suid-Afrika tot invoere gedwing. Al word ’n groot deel van Suid-Afrika se wildinkomste uit jagters verdien, bring dit waardevolle buitelandse valuta die land in, waarmee landbouprodukte soos tee, koffie en kakao ingevoer kan word. Sonder hierdie buitelandse inkomste, is Suid-Afrika as netto invoerder op landbougebied in gevaar.
Die Departement van Landelike Ontwikkeling en Grondsake se stelling op 17 Maart 2010 voor die Skoor-komitee in die parlement dat die wildbedryf geen bydrae tot voedselsekerheid lewer nie, is vergesog. Alle vleis van diere wat gejag word, word verbruik en is dikwels die enigste vleis waartoe arm gemeenskappe toegang het. Vanweë gesondheidsoorwegings wen wildvleis ook vinnig veld onder gegoede verbruikers en word dit ook uitgevoer. Meer proteïene per hektaar word deur wildsvleis geproduseer, deur ’n meer gebalanseerde verbruik van gras en blare. Vir vyf maande van die jaar voorsien die wildbedryf in 10% van Suid-Afrika se rooivleisbehoeftes.
Die meeste wildboerderye word nie in isolasie bedryf nie, maar is deel van ’n gemengde boerdery waar daar ook met ander kommoditeite geboer word. Eweneens is wildboerdery ’n hoeksteen van ekotoerisme en verbeter dit biodiversiteit. Vir die regering om daardie vertakking van ’n plaas as onprodukdief af te kam, is sinneloos in die konteks van voedselsekerheid en dui op onkunde aan die kant van die Departement van Landelike Ontwikkeling en Grondsake.
Die direkteur-generaal van die departement, Tozi Gwanya, se aanname dat boere voedselsekerheid in gedrang bring deur saaigronde in wildsplase te omskep, is ontbloot van alle waarheid. Geen grondeienaar sal hoë-potensiaal saaigrond se waarde ondermyn deur dit na wildsgrond (wat ongeveer 80% goedkoper is) om te skakel nie.
Waar marginale droëlande ,wat in die eerste plek nooit omgeploeg moes word nie na weiding en wildgrond gerehabiliteer word, behoort die regering dit te verwelkom. Tagtig persent van Suid-Afrika se landbougrond is as marginale landbougrond geklassifiseer.
Die Departement van Landelike Ontwikkeling en Grondsake se nuutste uitreik na kommersiële boere met die versoek om as vennote en mentors by mislukte grondhervormingsplase betrokke te raak, skep verwarring. Hoe gaan die regering die honderde duisende hektaar wildsplase in Mashishimale, Pheeba, Moletele en Selwana se grondeise hanteer?. Talle van die plase is aan die verkeerde kant van die bek-en-klou rooilyn en veeboerdery kon vir die mees ervare boere daar nie werk nie. As die Departement van Landelike Ontwikkeling en Grondsake konsekwent is, sal begunstigdes van grondhervorming op daardie plase, ook gedwing moet word om met ander landbouvertakkings as wild te boer. Dit sal hulle verder tot mislukking doem.
WRSA het ’n dringende versoek tot die direkteur-generaal gerig om in ’n sinvolle gesprek met die wildbedryf te tree, sodat beide die regering én die wildbedryf se doelwitte aangespreek kan word.
Vir nadere inligting, kontak dr Gert Dry by tel 011 350 5750, sel 082 441 4426 of e-pos gertd@absa.co.za.
19 March 2010
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY DR GERT DRY,
PRESIDENT OF WILDLIFE RANCHING SOUTH AFRICA (WRSA)
Government uninformed about game industry
South Africa’s 9 000 game ranchers are in a state of shock, following threats by the Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, Joe Phaahla, that underutilised game farms could be targeted for land restitution purposes.
Phaahla told Parliament that it was unacceptable to have vast tracts of land that are not contributing to food security, while there are so many people that are land hungry.
“I don’t know where the minister gets the idea that game ranches are under-utlised,” says Wildlife Ranching South Africa (WRSA) president, Dr Gert Dry. “The vast majority of South Africa’s game farms are highly productive, contributing almost R5 billion a year to the country’s gross domestic product.”
Dr Dry says game ranchers are deeply conscious of the pressure on government to make more land available for the land-hungry masses, but feel that politicians and officials are targeting a potential ally.
“Game ranching is the perfect solution to land restitution challenges,” said Dr Dry. “Rather than threaten a thriving industry, government should accept that game ranching is ideally suited to South Africa’s arid land conditions and developmental agenda. The wildlife ranching industry has already transformed more than 20 million hectares of marginal agricultural land into thriving game ranches, thus enhancing food production units, attracting tourists, creating jobs and developing rural communities.”
A well-run game ranch ia a key contributor to the local economy through game viewing, hunting, hiking, lodges, conference centres, adventure trails and meat production. A typical game ranch generates approximately R220 of economic activity per hectare, compared to an average R80/ha for conventional livestock farming. Wildlife ranches in South Africa employ more than 100 000 workers, paying an average three times more than conventional agriculture.
Dr Dry said WRSA has been corresponding with the departments of agriculture and rural affairs for many months, offering to partner on land reform and rural economic development through ecotourism, job creation and skills development.
“South Afirca has approximately 12 million hectares of over-grazed communal land that could offer a sustainable income stream for rural communities who are willing to establish multi-purpose game ranches,” he said.
“We have the skills, experience and desire to help emerging farmers. With a little help and support, newly settled farmers can become successful game ranchers. We already have an indication from SANParks, that surplus animals from the national parks could be made available for emerging farmers or communities who wish to establish game ranches.”
Dr Dry said WRSA also wants to collaborate with government to improve the marketing and availability of game meat as a cost-effective source of protein. “There is no doubt that we can make a major contribution towards improved nutrition and food security throughout the region. Game meat is free-range and organic, and much healthier than meat from domestic livestock.”
“An added benefit is that wildlife ranching has a much lighter environmental footprint than conventional farming. Indegenous animals live in harmony with nature. An antelope consumes less than half the water needed by a cow. Indeed, game farming is the ultimate form of nature conservation, as ranchers prictise sustainable land use mangement, often protecting endangered species, as part of their daily economic routine.”
For more information, contact Dr Gert Dry a tel 011 350 5750, sel 082 441 4426 or e-mail gertd@absa.co.za.
