Crop damage and livestock theft is a tricky issue for farmers to deal with it. How can I prevent or recover from crop damage? How can I prevent livestock theft? What steps can I take legally?
On a recent episode of our weekly Gather To Grow interactive discussion on Twitter, aquaponics farmer Gugulethu Mahlangu and Food For Mzansi’s editor for audience and engagement, Dawn Noemdoe, unpacked how to deal with crop damage and livestock theft.
Joining them as expert panellists were:
- Dr Jane Buys, a security risk analyst (crime analyst) with Free State Agriculture (FSA).
- Dr Raesibe Kekana, a technical vet for ruminants at MSD Animal Health
- Isobel Kruger, chairperson of the Red Meat Producers Organisation stock theft forum
- Andile Ngcobo, a KwaZulu-Natal farmer and agricultural consultant.
Did you miss this live session? You can listen to the recording here.
Meanwhile, here are some of the highlights from the lively discussion.
What are the common forms of crop damage that a farmer can experience?
Farmer Andile Ngcobo started off the discussion by mentioning the recent hailstorms. He explained that hail and natural disasters are something that one cannot control or plan around.
When a natural disaster takes place, you cannot look at mitigation strategies, he said.. “Rather try to find solutions to issues that arise once you’ve been hit with hail, whether it’s on maize production, [or] vegetable production, because the chances of crops recovering are close to none,” explained Ngcobo.
He also mentioned issues such as clubrooting, lack of water supply for irrigation and general changes in climate change.
“Climate change has been a very big issue. We’ve been experiencing frost later into our winter months. We’re used to having September be spring, but this year we experienced snow in the middle of September and that’s also another issue that causes crop damage.”
What is the Stock Theft Act 57 of 1959 and why should farmers know about it?
Isobel Kruger explained that a farmer will need an identification document in terms of Section 6 of the Stock Theft Act if they want to buy or sell livestock.
“If, you are selling cattle, goats or pigs to anyone you have to give them a [Section 6 document], that is the transfer of ownership. If you are selling at an auction, you have to hand in that Section 6 document and hand it in to the auctioneer. It’s of utmost importance that this form is filled in correctly,” explained Kruger.
The Section 8 document is for the removal of livestock. If you are the owner of the livestock and you are using your own vehicle you do not need a Section 8 document.
However, if you are making use of a transport agency you need to give them a section document. Kruger also explained that according to the identification act the livestock has to be marked. If it is small stock it can be a tattoo, but if its cattle it should have a brand mark and the brand mark should be registered, otherwise the farmer can be fined.
How farmers can protect their livestock
Dr Jane Buys said that she cannot stress enough how important it is for farmers to introduce safety measures on their farms. She recommends making sure the farm’s fences are in place and inspected regularly. She says the first thing that goes hand in hand with livestock theft, is the cutting of fences, especially when big amounts of livestock are stolen.
Buys also suggested the use of technology like camera systems or placing collars on cattle and sheep, which is a common practice with commercial farmers.
Protecting livestock against natural disasters
Dr Raesibe Kekana said that the most important thing when it comes to livestock and protecting them from any dangers or damage, is to have a proper structure to house them in. “A place where they can be protected from rain or hail or that sort of thing. Especially for small stock,” she advised.
“The bigger livestock, for example cows, can normally handle [being outside in the elements]. But lambs, for example, are born with minimal to zero fat reserves so they can’t warm themselves if they get cold. So it’s important that you build a nice structure for your small stock.”
Kekana advised farmers that are in intensive livestock production like pigs and chickens, that the way to protect them from heat stress is to ensure that their housing has enough airflow. They should also have enough cold water and shade in order to protect themselves.
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