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Abstract:
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This report is a product of the ARD diagnostic study undertaken by a team comprised of six members from the
University of Venda (UNIVEN), University of Limpopo (UL), Limpopo Department of Agriculture (LDA) and the
Agricultural Research Council (ARC). The study was conducted in Matiyani and Josefa sections of Mhinga Tribal
Authority area in the Vhembe District.
The objective of the study was to identify the survival strategies of livestock farmers in the red line zone in
sustaining their livelihood given the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) as a main challenge in livestock farming as
perceived by the LDA. Checklist questions were used to collect information on perceptions of livestock farmers
and professionals on FMD. Participatory tools such as; stakeholder analysis, transect walks and resource mappings
were used by the research team to engage with livestock farmers and other stakeholders.
The analysis of the study revealed that livestock farmers are aware of the FMD and the government policies
that restrict the movement of livestock during an outbreak. The study also indicated that livestock farmers do
not regard FMD as a problem, but as the disease that they can control and prevent. The study also revealed that
livestock farmers depend largely on livestock keeping as their main source of income despite the vulnerability of
their livestock to FMD. Other income generating activities include; crop farming, fire wood and fencing poles sales.
However, the study also observed several challenges faced by livestock farmers in the two sections. Water scarcity
is a major challenge followed by FMD, market access, wild animals from Kruger National Park (KNP), veld fires and
deforestation. The study highlighted different roles and conflicting responsibilities of various stakeholders in the
two sections. |