A Discussion on the effect of Bush Encroachment on the Agricultural land in Namibia.
Definition: bush encroachment is the thickening of indigenous woody plant species and their incursion into area they did not occur abundantly before (Axel Routhauge, 2014). It can be unplanned conversion of vegetation dominated by grassland to one dominated by woody species, often as result of overgrazing or invasion by aliens. This essay aims to clarify more on the various effects that bush encroachment cause to the agricultural land.
Bush encroachment normally occur when there is a competition between soft bodies’ (herbs) and woody species in our open savannas and the dry wooden can disrupted. In good rangeland areas perennial grasses dominate by absorbing …show more content…
Grass need a rest period especially the growing season in order for it to recover. The balance between bush density and grass density will be more favorable for the woody species to grow. In the past our grazing land was dominated by heavy browsers like game that feed on woody species and now we keep to many grazers on land that feed more on grass and small herbs. Grazing system was never continues, livestock herders were common and livestock movement were controlled by practicing short grazing periods as …show more content…
It has a serious soi-economic implication in the agricultural sector of the country. Bush encroachment results in a decline of livestock production due to the loss of grass production on the grazing land. To add, it also results in lower or poor productivity of individual animals. De Klerk (2004) stated that “bush encroachment has reduced the number of cattle on commercial farms by 47% over the last three (3) years”. As the livestock production decreases this includes less productivity of meat (beef production) resulting in a loss of income through the export of the product to different neighboring countries. The loss of meat production results in the commercial farms to decrease in food security and nutrition. By my estimate, 80-84% of Namibia's land surface is affected by bush encroachment, which “robs” the Namibian agricultural economy of billions of dollars in foregone production each year (Rothauge
Definition: bush encroachment is the thickening of indigenous woody plant species and their incursion into area they did not occur abundantly before (Axel Routhauge, 2014). It can be unplanned conversion of vegetation dominated by grassland to one dominated by woody species, often as result of overgrazing or invasion by aliens. This essay aims to clarify more on the various effects that bush encroachment cause to the agricultural land.
Bush encroachment normally occur when there is a competition between soft bodies’ (herbs) and woody species in our open savannas and the dry wooden can disrupted. In good rangeland areas perennial grasses dominate by absorbing …show more content…
Grass need a rest period especially the growing season in order for it to recover. The balance between bush density and grass density will be more favorable for the woody species to grow. In the past our grazing land was dominated by heavy browsers like game that feed on woody species and now we keep to many grazers on land that feed more on grass and small herbs. Grazing system was never continues, livestock herders were common and livestock movement were controlled by practicing short grazing periods as …show more content…
It has a serious soi-economic implication in the agricultural sector of the country. Bush encroachment results in a decline of livestock production due to the loss of grass production on the grazing land. To add, it also results in lower or poor productivity of individual animals. De Klerk (2004) stated that “bush encroachment has reduced the number of cattle on commercial farms by 47% over the last three (3) years”. As the livestock production decreases this includes less productivity of meat (beef production) resulting in a loss of income through the export of the product to different neighboring countries. The loss of meat production results in the commercial farms to decrease in food security and nutrition. By my estimate, 80-84% of Namibia's land surface is affected by bush encroachment, which “robs” the Namibian agricultural economy of billions of dollars in foregone production each year (Rothauge