FARMLAND

Farmland is an important land use within the Waterberg and continues to shape the landscape, support communities and the economy today....

Farmland and the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve

Farmland is an important land use within the Waterberg and continues to shape the landscape, support communities and support the economy today, as it has for the past 100 years. Agriculture is an important sector in the district that is dependent on natural resources (soils and water). Agriculture in the area is important for food production both for the near-by markets and also those in Gauteng (Waterberg District Municipality, 2011). In addition, agriculture remains the most important employment sector in the district and as such has an important function in the stability of the social structure of the area.

However, farming faces a difficult future, as it competes with other land uses and uses of natural resources while having to provide for an ever growing human population. Farming is fundamental to our sustainable future but has to tackle the balance between the food demands by humans and the need to administer controlled productivity to ensure conservation of resources for future farming and ecosystem services.

Ecosystem services are the transformation of a set of natural assets (soil, plants and animals, air and water) into things we value, and are critical to the farmer. For example, when fungi, worms and bacteria transform the raw "ingredients" of sunlight, carbon and nitrogen into fertile soil this transformation is an ecosytem service. However, if we allow natural assets to decline, so do the benefits.

Due to the relative isolation and inaccessibility, the Waterberg area was not permanently settled until fairly late in the 1800s. The first settles were subsistence farmers, raising enough stock and crops to keep their families fed. Commercial farming did not take hold until the late 1930s (Taylor et al, 2003). Tobacco, wheat, maize along with sorghum, citrus and grapes were grown on a commercial sclae and continue to be farmed today (Taylor et al, 2003). Then in the 1970s, a change started where cattle farms gave way to game farms.

Over the last 10 years there has been an increase in cattle and cropland famrs being converted to game farms and private nature reserves. Conventional agriculture in the form of commerical liverstock and crop production, today, occupies only 16.5% of the current Biosphere area. Crop production in particular is restricted to areas where irrigation is possible. Mixed livestock and game farms occupy 79%. Although, agriculture occupies a smaller land percentage than private game reserves and game farms it is the higher job provider. (Not: figures are from the biosphere area as proclaimed in 2001, not the larger proposed biosphere area. Source: Waterberg District Municipality, 2011).

The most dominant form of agriculture in the biopshere is livestock farming. For crop cultivated, where it is possible, then maize, wheat, citrus and tobacco are important crops.

To help the sustainable future of farming and the conservation of resources, farming in the Biosphere Reserve needs to support the three core aims of Conservation, Sustainability and Learning.

What we need, therefore, is strong farming businesses, producint good quality produce, that takes account of and recognises the environmental impacts (positive and negative) of farm practices on the specific farm area and also in the wider environment beyond the farm's boundary.

Specifically, the Biosphere Reserve would like farms that;

Supports the continued health of wildlife
Supports the environment’s capacity to deliver ecosystem services such as reduced carbon emissions
Preserves and enhances special or vulnerable landscapes
Has good relations with the community

An important aspect of the Biosphere Reserve is the learning or logistic support function. Research can play a critical role in the future of farming, especially in ecologically sensitive areas.

Taylor, W., Hinde, G., et Holt-Biddle, D. (2003): The Waterberg the natural splendours and the people. Struik.

Waterberg District Municipality and Contour Project Managers (2011): Waterberg Biosphere Reserve - Situational Analysis Report.

The Waterberg Biosphere would like to invite the farming community to suggest ideas or proposals for relevant farming related research that the Biosphere can facilitate procuring funds and research in this important land use.

We would also like to hear of any ideas of projects that we initiate. Examples from other Biospheres include; Catchment Sensitive Farming and the Biosphere Sustainable Farming Award.

Emails to: info@waterbergbiosphere.org