Kgatleng district council kgatleng district development committee ministry of local government

7.1.1Institutional Framework

Within the Department of Crop Production and Forestry, delivery of extension services in land use planning, soil conservation, forestry and range ecology is geared towards the sustainable use of the natural resources to ensure that soil erosion, deforestation, desertification and gully formation is minimised.

The Department of Veterinary Services has sections responsible for disease control and animal production with their roles being prevention of livestock diseases and improvement in the quality of livestock

The Department offers business advisory services and information to the public.

Through these Departments and Divisions, the district will develop on a sustainable and competitive basis the agricultural sector by improving farm incomes, generating employment opportunities and raw materials for agri-business; conserving agricultural natural resources through the promotion and adoption of appropriate technologies and management practices.

7.1.2Strategic Plans for Respective Ministries

The strategic foundations of this Ministry are its vision, mission and values. These were developed as follows

• 
  Promotion of agricultural productivity through an effective and efficient service delivery system and training.
  
• 
  To enhance customer, stakeholder participation through regular consultation and feedback.
  
• 
  To achieve sector competitiveness and sustainability by guaranteeing quality standards.
  
• 
  To improve sectoral competitiveness by introducing efficient production and management practices.
  
• 
  To develop human resources.
  
• 
  To review and formulate appropriate policies through consultations with stakeholders.
  

The vision for the Ministry is to have a society, that is vibrant, self-sustaining and a diversified economy. It will promote the use of technology product research, resources development and diversification. It will promote meaningful participation of Batswana in the economic life of their country by facilitating the acquisition of technical and other valid skills they need to get into business and remain in business. It will create a conducive environment for business, protect consumer rights and manage wildlife resources to meet local and global challenges.

The strategic plan key results area for the Ministry states that land allocation criteria will take into consideration land use efficiency and equitable distribution of land. The Ministry seeks to develop Land Board to enable them to effectively allocate and manage tribal land. The Ministry of Agriculture acts as a facilitator in management and development of land, therefore agricultural resources depend much on the land management which the MLHE has the statutory powers of the land resources in Botswana. Good land management and coordination will be crucial for achieving agricultural outputs for DDP 6 in the Kgatleng district.

7.1.3The Role of the Private Sector

Horticultural, dairy, beef production, poultry, and other agricultural activities in the District are mostly undertaken by private individuals, some of whom were funded through the FAP. These activities provide food to the communities in the District.
Agriculture Sector Consultation Priorities

The communities are concerned about lack of employment opportunities due to the fact that the performance of arable agriculture sector has been declining throughout the years, which is mainly due to persistent drought.

7.2National Policies and Legislation

7.2.1Community Based Strategy for Rural Development 1997

The Community Based Strategy for Rural Development was approved by the Rural Development Council in 1997. Its main aim is to improve rural livelihoods and reduce poverty in a more effective and sustainable way and consequently reduce dependence on government. Through the strategy communities are mobilised and encouraged to initiate and run projects of their own, thus creating opportunities for the inclusion of communities in management decisions.

7.2.2District Settlement Strategy

This relates to the provision of portable water, power, telecommunications and roads to the lands areas. It also involves the conservation of scarce agricultural resources for future generations consistent with the broader Agricultural Strategy.

7.2.3Convention on Combating Desertification 1992

Regarding conservation of agricultural resources, emphasis will be laid on capacity building and limited land rehabilitation program. A National Action Program (NAP) for Botswana which is a framework to combat desertification was produced under United Nations convention to Combat Desertification. Kgatleng district has no problem of desertification.

7.2.4The National Forest Policy

The forests and woodland of the country represent an important natural resources in terms of providing the majority of rural population with a wide range of benefits entailing supply of wood for energy, construction, building and craft, the supply of non-wood forest products such as honey, bee wax, fruits, medicine, fodder and habitat for wildlife and livestock and maintaining the environmental balance. Due to severe pressure from over exploitation and drought and fire the biggest challenge is to foster sustainable utilization of these resources to ensure a continuous flow of goods and services from these forests without irreversibly damaging their capacity to recover.
A new National Forest Policy providing an enabling framework for achieving conservation, sustainable management and development of forestry has been initiated. Its objective is to ensure an enhanced forestry activities to all sectors of the population now and in the future. All the Strategies and programmes for DDP 6 shall be pursued in accordance with the New Forest policy.

7.2.5National Policy on Agricultural Development 1991

This is a 1991 MOA policy that was designed to improve agricultural production. The fencing component of the Policy has an impact on the existing land resources as it lead to a major shift from communal grazing to commercial livestock rearing although in most potential areas development is still for below the expectations. Most potential farmers seem not to be ready to go into commercial ranching as their main concern is the size of the proposed ranches and not so much the management aspect of it. There is that latent fear that the policy might not achieve its intended aims of improving the livestock subsector and sustainable use of the grazing resources.

7.2.6Tribal Land Act 1968

This is a statutory legislation that provides the Land Board with authority to allocate communal land for various purposes including arable and pastoral farming. Some of the communal grazing and arable farms are used on leasehold basis such as the Tribal Land Grazing Policy. The National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development is aimed at improving production in the land is suitable and is also allocated for agricultural purposes.

7.2.7Agricultural Resource Act

Its main aim is to ensure that natural resources are used on a sustainable basis with stock limitations on appropriate carrying capacity. It calls for public awareness on the danger of over-harvesting of veldt products, borrow material without rehabilitation, veldt fire and use of environmentally friendly technologies. It calls for the use of coal and other form of energy as opposed to cutting life trees.

7.2.8Botswana Rangeland Inventory and Management Project (BRIMP)

Botswana Rangeland Inventory and Management Project relates to the quarterly progress reports that are normally issued by the Range Ecology section of the MOA. It provides date on the status and condition of vegetation per district as well as the monthly and seasonal variation of rainfall amounts. This piece of information is very important in that it provides decision makers with guidelines on the coming growing season for agricultural purposes. The rainfall data indicates the availability of moisture for arable farming and the possibility of vegetation (grazing resources) improving.

7.2.9National Policy on Land Tenure

The policy seeks to vigorously enforce conservation acts in all grazing areas including communal areas, commercial grazing areas and state and freehold areas.

Directory: global
global -> Location: h-429 Instructor: Dr. Tim Sedo Email
global -> Anthony barnston
global -> The project is part of the wider cooperation between Eni and Rosneft sanctioned under the Strategic Cooperation Agreement entered into by the parties on 25th April 2012
global -> Anthony barnston
global -> The durban conference: Understanding Global Warming, kyoto and it’s impact on Bangladesh
global -> The development of computers and global travel industry Xie, Jun August 4, 2000 Opening words
global -> 1. *Wal-Mart Stores

Download 2.46 Mb.

Share with your friends: