16 Feb 2023

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism is in the process of amending the compensation rates for both commercial and subsistence farming.

This was revealed by Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Sethabelo Modukanele in response to a parliamentary question on Wednesday on behalf of Minister of Environment and Tourism,

Mr Modukanele said the proposed revision would consider revising the rates payable to farmers as well as inclusion of some wildlife species, which had not been attracting compensation.

He indicated that lions and elephants were not the only compensatory species, adding, ‘at present, in addition to lions and elephants, there are other seven species that attract compensation being buffalo, rhino, crocodile, hippo, leopard, cheetah and wild dog.” He pointed out that the choice of species was guided by the level of danger that those wild animals posed to farmers, who could not be expected to defend themselves from those dangerous wildlife.

On the other hand, he said threats from other species that damaged crops and livestock, but were presently not included in the list, could be mitigated by the farmer through livestock herding and setting scarecrows and guarding (go leta) at the fields. Mr

Modukanele further said compensation rates were set after consultation with relevant stakeholders, who advised the ministry on standard rates of compensating commercial farmers and subsistence farmers, in line with the current market prices for agricultural inputs.

He added that the ministry consulted with the Ministry of Agriculture for guidance on market rates for both livestock and crops.

He further pointed out that the difference between commercial and subsistence farmers’ rates, which only happened for crops and not livestock, was that commercial farmers were paid more than subsistence farmers per unit cost, something he said was informed by the higher unit cost per hectare that commercial farmers spent, relative to subsistence ones.

MP for Serowe North, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe had asked the minister if he had any intentions to amend the Act pertaining to compensation of malicious damage done by wildlife in farms.

MP Mathoothe had also wanted to know why compensation rates were solely based on damage caused to property by lions and elephants and not other animals.

He further wanted to know why compensation rates were not consistent with damage caused to property for commercial and subsistence farms. ENDS