Facebook Feed

  • Khamas form People’s Patriotic PartyJune 1, 2023
    BAKANG TIRO editors@thepatriot.co.bw A faction within Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) aligned to the Khama family is hitting the ground running finalizing formation of a splinter party likely to be led by former MP for Palapye Moiseraele Goya. The Patriot […]
  • Battle for Mhlauli’s multi-millionsJune 1, 2023
    STAFF WRITERS editors@thepatriot.co.bw Three years after the passing of former permanent secretary in the ministry of local government, lands and housing  Elvidge Gaedupe Makhunga Mhlauli, his estate remains unsettled due to dispute between  creditors, beneficiaries and lawyers appointed for […]
  • ‘Women poised to dominate mining in future’- Experts June 1, 2023
    ‘Companies ought to break the barriers for women for them to rise to the top in the sector. Companies need objective quotas in place to give them power. They are the future of mining’- Dr Somolekae BAKANG TIRO editors@thepatriot.co.bw […]
  • PUBLIC TENDER NOTICE: Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS)May 31, 2023
    1. THE PROVISION OF BIG DATA IMPLEMENTATION AND DATA ANALYTICS FOR 18 MONTHSTender Closing: 16th June 2023 2. SUPPLIES PROCUREMENT OF CISCO COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION EQUIPMENTTender Closing: 16th June 2023 3. PHYSICAL BURS ASSET VERIFICATION, TAGGING AND RECONCILIATION OF […]
  • Vacancy: Choppies Distribution Centre.Pty.LtdMay 31, 2023
    FINANCIAL SERVICES­ – OPERATIONS MANAGER Closing Date: 15th June 2023
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Register
Saturday, June 3, 2023
17 °c
Gaborone
21 ° Tue
22 ° Wed
24 ° Thu
26 ° Fri
The Patriot On Sunday
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
No Result
View All Result
Cart / $0.00

No products in the cart.

  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
No Result
View All Result
The Patriot On Sunday
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Govt ignores game ranching expert advice

patriot by patriot
March 16, 2022
in News
237 15
0
Govt ignores game ranching expert advice

Masisi

491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
ShareShareShare

CALISTUS BOSALETSWE

editors@thepatriot.co.bw

Botswana government’s recent decision to allow local subsistence farmers to use their fields for game farming has left researchers startled as expert advice to allocate communities suitable for the industry in Boteti and Okavango areas have been ignored over the years.

A consultant-Landflow Solutions advised in their report that cabinet adopted in 2009 about the need for allocating residents land for game ranching along the eastern buffer to Central Kalahari game Reserve  CKGR and south and west buffer of Okavango Delta while Food Agriculture Organisation(FAO) made similar advise in 2013.

Political unwillingness has been linked to government move to play deaf on recommendations that cabinet approved years back to allocate game ranches along the eastern buffer of Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Boteti  and along the buffalo fence buffer in the south and west buffer of Okavango Delta.

Researchers at University of Botswana, Okavango Research Institute (ORI) were hopeful that President Mokgweetsi Masisi will dust off the report and implement the recommendations of the report titled,” Review of the National Land Use Map” as government move to roll out game ranching industry to citizens.

A report that was adopted by cabinet in 2009 during President Ian Khama reign is yet to gather dust under president Masisi. Under President Masisi, tgovernment came up with new game farming guidelines that will allow few individuals to do game ranching in their fields.

ORI Director, Professor Joseph Mbaiwa said it is surprising that the recommendations that have long been suggested to government to allocate land along the buffalo fence buffer along Okavango Delta and in the eastern buffer of CKGR have so far been ignored.  “Someone somewhere is not doing their job. What is actually stopping them to implement,” said Mbaiwa.

He was not shy to posit that there was lack of political willingness to avail land that was found to be suitable for game ranching. Mbaiwa said: “If one is not implementing the report recommendations in the high office and no one is taking action against such an individual that clearly tells that lack of political will is at play ,”.

In their report, Landflow Solutions which was engaged by the government stated that communities attitudes towards wildlife are negative as they gain little direct benefit from the delta’s proximity.

The report stated that direct benefit from game ranches had potential to reduce poaching incidents that were on increase every year. 

Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)  corroborated the report views  in a research paper titled “Illegal Bushmeat Hunting in the Okavango Delta, Botswana ”  that was submitted to the government to set up game ranching along the buffalo fence.

“Game ranching can boost employment create economic output comparable to livestock farming.It can produce large quantities of legal and sustainable game meat and lead to an increase in wildlife populations.  It could meet some of the demand for bushmeat in Ngamiland and generate more value per kilogram of game meat than hunting, especially if Department of Wildlife and National Parks consider allowing trophy hunting within the ranch,”  the report reads.

The report also notes that there is a need for government to help farmers to set up game farms along CKGR and along Okavango Delta since game farming was expensive. The report stated that incidents of poaching is likely to go down when communities feel they had direct benefit from wildlife species.

ORI Landscape Ecologist, Dr Gaseitsiwe Masunga is not privy to why the government has not considered implementing recommendations relating to game ranches.

“Allocating game ranches along the eastern buffer to CKGR in Boteti was possible since there is no movement of wildlife species out of the CKGR. “Considerations for large wildlife corridors should be a priority when establishing game ranches along the South and western buffer of buffalo fence. The corridors will allow wildlife species to migrate to dry areas outside the delta. I wouldn’t know why government has put the recommendations aside. Government should consider adopting the recommendations,” said Masunga.

 Last year, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks launched guideline for keeping wildlife in Masimo. According to the department the initiative was intended to get Batswana into game farming.

 The department has launched a pilot project where the department will capture animals in the wild and avail them to farmers. The wild animals that will be availed to farmers are impala, gemsbok, zebra and warthog.

Related

Get real time update about this post categories directly on your device, subscribe now.

Unsubscribe
  • Khamas form People’s Patriotic PartyJune 1, 2023
    BAKANG TIRO editors@thepatriot.co.bw A faction within Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) aligned to the Khama family is hitting the ground running finalizing formation of a splinter party likely to be led by former MP for Palapye Moiseraele Goya. The Patriot […]
  • Battle for Mhlauli’s multi-millionsJune 1, 2023
    STAFF WRITERS editors@thepatriot.co.bw Three years after the passing of former permanent secretary in the ministry of local government, lands and housing  Elvidge Gaedupe Makhunga Mhlauli, his estate remains unsettled due to dispute between  creditors, beneficiaries and lawyers appointed for […]
  • ‘Women poised to dominate mining in future’- Experts June 1, 2023
    ‘Companies ought to break the barriers for women for them to rise to the top in the sector. Companies need objective quotas in place to give them power. They are the future of mining’- Dr Somolekae BAKANG TIRO editors@thepatriot.co.bw […]
  • PUBLIC TENDER NOTICE: Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS)May 31, 2023
    1. THE PROVISION OF BIG DATA IMPLEMENTATION AND DATA ANALYTICS FOR 18 MONTHSTender Closing: 16th June 2023 2. SUPPLIES PROCUREMENT OF CISCO COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION EQUIPMENTTender Closing: 16th June 2023 3. PHYSICAL BURS ASSET VERIFICATION, TAGGING AND RECONCILIATION OF […]
  • Vacancy: Choppies Distribution Centre.Pty.LtdMay 31, 2023
    FINANCIAL SERVICES­ – OPERATIONS MANAGER Closing Date: 15th June 2023
The Patriot On Sunday

© 2022 Copyright The Patriot On Sunday - Inspired by Search Mart.

Navigate Site

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders

© 2022 Copyright The Patriot On Sunday - Inspired by Search Mart.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?