Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
10.9.4 Rules governing the use of communal rangelands
The majority of respondents in the study areas are aware of the rules governing their
communal rangelands and the community enforces these rules collectively. However, only
6% of the respondents are not aware of the existence of these rules as shown in Figure 10.6.
In all three communities, some of the common rules on the use of communal rangelands
include among others, sanction rights and monitoring, conflict resolution management and
clearly defined boundaries. For example, community members are not supposed to graze
their animals when a certain piece of rangeland is rested. When asked about the effects of
these rules on their day-to-day activities, respondents from the three communities indicated
that the rules restrict their activities since they have to abide by the rules.
Rotational grazing used to be a common management practice in all the three communities
before fences were stolen. Thus, the communities understood that there were certain times
whereby a certain camp would be closed in order to improve the vegetation in that area and
when this camp is closed, they were not to graze their animals. On Saturdays and Sundays,
most of the community members do not normally perform any activities on rangelands
since these are their rest days and to some, it is because of religion.
Management of livestock movement during grazing
The management of livestock movement during grazing is very important because it
restricts animals from grazing where they are not supposed to graze. The owner of the
animal caught grazing at the wrong place pays a fine depending on the type of animal. In
the three communities, lawbreakers pay a fine of R2.50 for sheep and goats and R5.00 for
cattle. Sometimes this creates conflict because there are those who do not want to pay. In
Magwiji, most of the respondents did not want to respondent to the matter. Those who
responded indicated that they do not usually manage livestock movement during grazing.
Yes
No
Figure 10.6. Distribution of responses by rules governing the use of rangelands.
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