Mangetti elephant population disrupts cattle production
Various mitigation measures are being considered to deal with the ever-increasing elephant population in the Mangetti area that is said to be disrupting cattle production at the Kavango Cattle Ranch (KCR).
The ranch, located in the Kavango West Region, is under the care of the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (Nida) and operates on more than 239 000 hectares with over 12 000 head of cattle.
It has created over 70 employment opportunities. Cattle produced at the farm are mainly Santa Gertrudis and Brahman breeds aimed at beef production for export purposes.
According to the Nida CEO Mihe Gaomab II, the number of elephants in the area was manageable; however, the population has increased drastically from an estimated 60 herds in 2010 to approximately 200 herds in 2019/2020.
“Consequently, this ever-increasing number has disrupted the cattle management plan.”
According to him, the presence of elephants on the cattle ranch not only impacts cattle production but also hinders the productivity of employees.
He said Nida, through its line ministry, has approached the environment ministry to assist with elephant and other wildlife management on the farm.
Mitigation measures
“Through this consultation, a technical committee consisting of Nida and environment ministry officials was established to develop an elephant and other wildlife management plan for KCR, as guided by the ministry’s elephant conservation and management plan for Namibia.”
The technical committee has recommended various mitigation measures to the entities, he said.
Gaomab said Nida has also given approval to the N/a'an ku sê Foundation to conduct studies on KCR animal movement and, for this purpose, they will construct two elephant-friendly water troughs on one part of the farm, which will lessen competition for water with cattle.
Consultations are also taking place with the Meat Board of Namibia for the facilitation of electrified fencing of private commercial farms bordering the KCR to mitigate and deter elephant movement.
The agency - through its newly developed integrated strategic business plan - will further rehabilitate fences, cattle handling facilities and boreholes and also provide adequate employee housing, Gaomab added.
“It is Nida’s intention to reinstate the status of the farm to an optimal and functional production operation to ensure employment creation and increased food production.”
Increased production
Nida will increase its production capacity from the current 12 000 cattle to the farm capacity of 18 000 by 2026, the CEO said.
He stressed that in the beef production industry, productivity and sustainability are among the main objectives of successful beef cattle management.
He said Nida is developing farm sales and marketing control measures to ensure improved cattle marketing as well as enhanced and timely invoicing through reviewing and strengthening its internal business processes.
Kavango West regional council chairperson Joseph Sikongo recently expressed shock regarding the state of the farm, having found rotten cattle carcasses lying at a water point.
The ranch, located in the Kavango West Region, is under the care of the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (Nida) and operates on more than 239 000 hectares with over 12 000 head of cattle.
It has created over 70 employment opportunities. Cattle produced at the farm are mainly Santa Gertrudis and Brahman breeds aimed at beef production for export purposes.
According to the Nida CEO Mihe Gaomab II, the number of elephants in the area was manageable; however, the population has increased drastically from an estimated 60 herds in 2010 to approximately 200 herds in 2019/2020.
“Consequently, this ever-increasing number has disrupted the cattle management plan.”
According to him, the presence of elephants on the cattle ranch not only impacts cattle production but also hinders the productivity of employees.
He said Nida, through its line ministry, has approached the environment ministry to assist with elephant and other wildlife management on the farm.
Mitigation measures
“Through this consultation, a technical committee consisting of Nida and environment ministry officials was established to develop an elephant and other wildlife management plan for KCR, as guided by the ministry’s elephant conservation and management plan for Namibia.”
The technical committee has recommended various mitigation measures to the entities, he said.
Gaomab said Nida has also given approval to the N/a'an ku sê Foundation to conduct studies on KCR animal movement and, for this purpose, they will construct two elephant-friendly water troughs on one part of the farm, which will lessen competition for water with cattle.
Consultations are also taking place with the Meat Board of Namibia for the facilitation of electrified fencing of private commercial farms bordering the KCR to mitigate and deter elephant movement.
The agency - through its newly developed integrated strategic business plan - will further rehabilitate fences, cattle handling facilities and boreholes and also provide adequate employee housing, Gaomab added.
“It is Nida’s intention to reinstate the status of the farm to an optimal and functional production operation to ensure employment creation and increased food production.”
Increased production
Nida will increase its production capacity from the current 12 000 cattle to the farm capacity of 18 000 by 2026, the CEO said.
He stressed that in the beef production industry, productivity and sustainability are among the main objectives of successful beef cattle management.
He said Nida is developing farm sales and marketing control measures to ensure improved cattle marketing as well as enhanced and timely invoicing through reviewing and strengthening its internal business processes.
Kavango West regional council chairperson Joseph Sikongo recently expressed shock regarding the state of the farm, having found rotten cattle carcasses lying at a water point.
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