| dc.description.abstract | This study presents an investigation of the effects
of consolidation of grazing lands, arable lands and
the human settlement on fragile ecosystems. The study,
had two basic objectives: to review the existing land
.uses and identify prevailing conflicts in the Barolong
sub-district of Botswana, and, to suggest possible policy
measures for resolving the identified land use conflicts.
'Barolong farms area is a mixed farming region in the " '
Southern District of Botswana. Arable Agriculture
is the mainstay of the area's economy. It amounts to
approximately 75 percent of the area's economy. The
area, is one of the first regions in Botswana where
mixed farming became practiced.
The desire to carry out this study, was prompted
by the fact that various studies on agricultural
production systems in Botswana, attributed low.
agricultural production to the traditional settlement
pattern of the Botswana. They identified long distance
travel, cost of travel and absence from production
areas for effective management as the basic problems
of the settlement system. They recommended consolidated
settlement patterns as the solution to low agricultural
production since they would provide for effective
action of arable lands, grazing lands and the
human·settlement can result in high agricultural
production only if efficient measures of combating
environmental degradation are taken into consideration.
It was noted that although the trend of settlement
is towards the consolidated pattern of settlement;
as indicated by the increase in human populations,
and the intensified utilization of the area's natural
(resources, consolidation lays much pressure on the
area's physical environment. The study identified two
major problems of pressure on land and pressure on
water resources. It went further to identify two land
use conflicts of: conflict between arable and livestock
farming,and conflict between the human settlement and
agricultural activities.
In view of the above, the study basically
recommends that the government should re-direct it~
policy outlook to include the conservation of the
natural resources in its development programmes.
This should include the creation of public awareness
on the need to protect the environment from further
deterioration for the attainment of sustained development. | en |
