Domptail, Stephanie E.

Nuppenau, Ernst‐August

Popp, Alexander

English

University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky UKnowledge International Grassland Congress Proceedings XXI International Grassland Congress / VIII International Rangeland Congress Why Farmers Don't Always Practice 'Optimum' Management: Case Study of Small Stock Ranching Systems in Southern Namibia Stephanie E. Domptail Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany Alexander Popp Potsdam University, Germany Ernst‐August Nuppenau Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany Follow this and additional works at: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc  Part of the Plant Sciences Commons, and the Soil Science Commons This document is available at https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/21/23-1/4 The XXI International Grassland Congress / VIII International Rangeland Congress took place in Hohhot, China from June 29 through July 5, 2008. Proceedings edited by Organizing Committee of 2008 IGC/IRC Conference Published by Guangdong People's Publishing House This Event is brought to you for free and open access by the Plant and Soil Sciences at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in International Grassland Congress Proceedings by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact UKnowledge@lsv.uky.edu. 瞯 ]1088　 瞯 　 Multifunctional Grasslands in a Changing World 　 Volume Ⅱ 　Grasslands/Rangelands People and Policies——— Innovation Systems in Grasslands/Rangelands through Education and PracticeWhy farmers don摧t always practice �optimum�management : case study of small stock ranchingsystems in southern NamibiaStephanie Domp tail1 , A lexander Pop p 2 and Ernst‐A ugust Nup penau11 JLU Giessen , Institute f or A gricultural Policy , Senckenbergstr . 3 , 35390 Giessen , Germany ; 2 Potsdam university ,V egetation ecology , Maulbeerallee 2 , 14469 Potsdam , Germany . E‐mail : stephanie .domp tail＠ agrar .uni‐giessen .deNote : this paper could eventually be submitted in the session ２０ ( markets and marketing ) as it is also relatedKey words : bio‐economic modeling , choice experiment , livestock breeds , Namibia , farmers preferencesIntroduction During more than ４０ years , Karakul skin has been the dominating livestock production in arid southern Namibia .Then , following a drop in prices , a massive conversion to Dorper breeding was carried on at the beginning of the ８０ties .However , livestock species may also have their specific impact on the range . Many farmers and experts believe that Dorpersheep , farmed for their lambs and meat and with their high feed demand , have a negative impact on rangeland condition andthus are not optimal for breeding when considering both economic and ecological aspects of ranching . Thus , other herdcompositions , currently not practiced , might be more sustainable . The objective of this paper is to identify the optimal herdcomposition considering both economic and ecological aspects and to confront this result with actual herd composition on farmsin our study area . Finally , an analysis of farmers�preferences reveals the reasons of the divergence between practice and whatwe calculate as optimum .Material and methods From ２００５ to ２００７ we conducted a case study in the area of Keetmanshoop . In ２００５ , we collected datarelative to farming systems , production and productivity . Based on these data , we designed a bio‐economic optimization modelwith stochastic prices and rainfall . The model represents a typical farm of the area of １０ ,０００ ha . Activities in the modelincluded ６ different stocking rates and ４ small stock breeds : Karakul for skin production ; goats , Dorper and Damara sheep formeat production . According to the state and transition conceptual model , we defined ６ states of rangeland condition ,characterized by different types of vegetation , overall vegetation cover , biodiversity and productivity . T ransitions from onestate to the other depend on rainfall , stocking rates and breeds . The model was run for a period of ３５ years repeated １００ timeswith the objective of conserving the range while covering all yearly costs and farmer remuneration . In addition , a choiceexperiment based on conjoint analysis methods was conducted with ２７ farmers in ２００７ in order to establish for each farmer aranking of a selection of ９ possible combination of herd composition ( PCHC) . We obtained ２ matrixes : matrix A defines thevalue of each PCHC for a series of pre‐identified attributes ; matrix B shows the ranking of each farmer for the various PCHC .Using an AFC on both matrixes we identified farmer groups and the linked PCHC attributes .　 　 Figure 1 Simulation results f or op timal herd composition .Results The optimal herd composition ( Figure １ )for conserving the range while ensuring adequate income‐consisted of Karakul as a main breed before Dorper witha stocking rate of １ small stock unit ( SSU ) on ６ ha . Onaverage over the simulation period , this herd compositionresulted in more than half of the land being maintained ingood condition , while less than １０００ ha were degraded toa poor condition . Considering the erratic rainfalls , this isa good result . Dorper overtook Karakul only whenaverage pelt price reached very low levels ( １５０ NAD perskin) . All breeds are maintained in the optimal solution ,with browsers at about ２００ SSU which reveals theimportance of having a diversified herd . On the otherside , our second experiment reveals two main groups offarmers : Dorper farmer and fat tail sheep farmers( Damara and Karakul) . Main results of the AFC are thatecological considerations and flexibility in times ofdrought is the main reason for keeping fat tail sheep .Dorper farmers seek stability in ( and higher ) incomewith low work loads .Coonclusions Work load and fluctuating karakul prices seem to be major determinants in the wide‐spread breeding of Dorpersheep . Farms of the study area are characterized by low productivity and large size . Labor is important and skilled labor isscarce . Relationships between farmers and workers are often complex and sensitive . In addition , farm work is under‐valued .We recommend training centers , sensitizing around the issue of farm worker‐farmer relationship and revaluing the minimumsalary of workers . Concerning fluctuating prices of the Karakul skins , much work has been done lately in the marketing areawith buyers oversees . It could be interesting to seek ( to create) alternative markets and maybe even consider local processing ofkarakul skin products ( South Africa) .' '

Why Farmers Don\u27t Always Practice \u27Optimum\u27 Management: Case Study of Small Stock Ranching Systems in Southern Namibia

https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3895&amp;context=igc

Why Farmers Don\u27t Always Practice \u27Optimum\u27 Management: Case Study of Small Stock Ranching Systems in Southern Namibia

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