{"id":1539,"date":"2020-08-27T13:04:25","date_gmt":"2020-08-27T13:04:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northerncape.gov.za\/daerl\/2020\/08\/27\/mec-nomandla-bloem-calls-for-a-responsible-land-use\/"},"modified":"2020-08-27T13:04:25","modified_gmt":"2020-08-27T13:04:25","slug":"mec-nomandla-bloem-calls-for-a-responsible-land-use","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northerncape.gov.za\/daerl\/2020\/08\/27\/mec-nomandla-bloem-calls-for-a-responsible-land-use\/","title":{"rendered":"MEC Nomandla Bloem calls for a responsible land use"},"content":{"rendered":"
MEDIA STATEMENT<\/strong><\/div>\n
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/strong><\/div>\n
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26 February 2020<\/strong><\/div>\n
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MEC Nomandla Bloem calls for a responsible land use.<\/strong><\/div>\n
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The MEC for Agriculture, Land Reform, Rural Development, Environment and Nature Conservation, Ms Nomandla Bloem, has welcomed the much anticipated rainfall in some parts of the Province.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Recently, several regions in the Northern Cape have received much awaited rain which has managed to quell the scorching heat and resuscitated much needed grazing for the livestock.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cWe welcome the much anticipated rain which has been falling in some parts of the Province. The rain comes at the right time when the Province has been struggling with drought, which has killed most of our livestock and crops. However, there are still some parts of the Province, such as Namakwa, ZF Mgcawu and portions of Pixley ka Seme<\/strong> which are still hit hard by the drought. We are hoping and praying that the heavens will open in those particular regions very soon,\u201d said MEC Bloem.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
With the recent announcement made by Premier Dr Zamani Saul, declaring the Province as a drought stricken area, MEC Bloem indicated that the R30 million which was set aside for drought relief last year, has come handy as most farmers managed to purchase fodder as an intervention from the department.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
MEC Bloem further caution farmers to use land in a more responsible way, especially in areas where there is prevalence of Harpuisbos (Gnidia Buchellii).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Harpuisbos is one of the most aggressive land invaders which is capable of penetrating and replacing indigenous vegetation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The plant competes with grass for water and ultimately out grows the existing grass domain and invades the area.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cThe existence of the plant affects most areas drastically, because it threatens both the agricultural productivity and natural ecosystems. This is because the plant has the potential to drastically decreased the carrying capacity of the grazing land,\u201d said MEC Bloem.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Eradication of these invasive plants will lead to high grass production- which will lead to animal condition improving.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The negative consequences of such alien vegetation include:<\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Excessive water consumption<\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Displacement of natural indigenous species<\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Decrease in fodder production<\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Reduction of biodiversity<\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Decrease in agricultural production Depletion of soil nutrients and<\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 General environmental retrogression<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
According to MEC Bloem, the absence of grazing camps has without a doubt contributed to the degradation of veld and the increase in invasive species, said Bloem.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
MEC Bloem warned that the intense of over grazing will lead to excessive removal of the most pleasant lasting grasses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cThis will ultimately reduce ground cover, opening the way for less palatable and faster establishing annual grasses, shrubs and alien species to be dominant. Moreover, the introduction of too many animals (over stocking) in communal gazing areas has led to the establishment of these invasive species\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
LAND CONSERVATION<\/strong><\/div>\n
South Africa\u2019s soils are generally sensitive, fragile, and predisposed to land degradation through soil erosion, which is a natural process until it is accelerated by human activities such as deforestation, over grazing, fires and construction activities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
MEC Bloem said degradation continues to threaten the local resource base \u201cupon which rural communal livelihoods depend and is caused by a combination of poverty and an absence or failure of land use regulations.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Media enquiries:<\/div>\n
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Zandisile Luphahla<\/div>\n
Media Liaison Officer<\/div>\n
083 391 5388<\/div>\n
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MEDIA STATEMENT \u00a0 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE \u00a0 26 February 2020 \u00a0 \u00a0 MEC Nomandla Bloem calls for a responsible land use. \u00a0 The MEC for Agriculture, Land Reform, Rural Development, Environment and Nature Conservation, Ms Nomandla Bloem, has welcomed the much anticipated rainfall in some parts of the Province. Recently, several regions in the Northern<\/p>\n

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