27 Mar 2017

The fencing component of the Agricultural Development Policy states that before an area is designated for farms, a land use suitability study is conducted by the District Land Use Planning Unit (DLUPU).
This was said by Assistant Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Mr Itumeleng Moipisi in response to a question by MP for Takatokwane, Mr Ngaka Ngaka.
Mr Moipisi said factors considered by the study include amongst others; water potential for the area, range assessment, prevailing land use, soils and proximity to neighbouring villages.
“Establishment of ploughing fields depends on the suitability of soils in the area.
In cases where there is a drift fence separating ploughing and grazing areas, allocations follow the drift fence,” he said.
In allocating boreholes, he said the land board considers land use of the area, distance between allocated boreholes and availability of grazing.
“When allocating cattle boreholes and farms, one considers radius to determine if there is enough space for cattle to graze.
A reasonable distance is allowed between new boreholes and arable fields to minimise conflicts,” added Mr Moipisi.
Furthermore, the assistant minister said in Kweneng cattle boreholes were allocated a distance of eight kilometres from each other, adding that where grazing pasture permitted, the distance was six kilometres.
“The minimum distance between new boreholes and arable fields is three kilometres and the distance between new boreholes and farm fences is two kilometres,” he said.
Mr Ngaka had asked Mr Moipisi to state the features and factors that land boards considered in the allocation of land between cattle boreholes and farms (polase) and cattle boreholes and ploughing fields (masimo) and the recommended distance between them. ENDS