Land shortage constrains Tsjaka farmers

Overcrowding in the Tsjaka settlement in the Omaheke region is leaving communal farmers with too little land to expand livestock production, making it increasingly difficult for households to earn a living.

Bakgalagari Traditional Authority senior councillor Nomen Baumakwe told Namibian Sun last week that the shortage of grazing land has become one of the biggest barriers facing farmers in the area.

He said while many residents have the skills and willingness to farm, the available land can no longer support larger livestock herds.

"It is quite difficult to make a profit. It is not because we do not have the skills, but because overcrowding has become the issue," Baumakwe said.

Difficult circumstances

Located about 50 kilometres south-east of Gobabis, Tsjaka is a rural settlement where livestock farming remains the main source of livelihood for many households. The area includes several surrounding farms and the Ben-Hur Rural Development Centre, while sheep and goat farming are among the dominant agricultural activities.

Baumakwe said farmers also face production challenges because a poisonous plant found throughout the area kills sheep, making sheep farming particularly difficult for many emerging farmers.

He explained that livestock numbers are restricted by the limited grazing available, reducing farmers' ability to build commercially viable herds.

According to Baumakwe, the current situation stems from years of population growth after families displaced during the apartheid era settled in the area.

"We later absorbed these residents to make them part of Tsjaka, hence why we have no space at the moment. The biggest problem is overcrowding," he said.

He added that about 10 farms around Tsjaka are now occupied by residents, further increasing pressure on the available land.

The effects extend beyond agriculture, Baumakwe warned.

Many young people lack jobs and end up working as cattle herders for other families because there are few alternative employment opportunities.

"If you look at the majority of the cattle posts here, there is a huge unemployment issue among the youth and these people are later made to look after cattle for different families just to make a living," he said.

He further claimed that overcrowding is contributing to wider social challenges, including alcohol and drug abuse as well as teenage pregnancies.

Baumakwe called for policies that address overcrowding while creating employment opportunities and protecting land intended for agricultural production.

"We will never really prosper in this area if we continue to overcrowd places like this," he said.

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