A study of the animal and crop production systems and potential of the Bantu Ciskeian Territories

[摘要] 1. The aim of the study was to record the existing animal productionpractices, and to describe the existing agricultural structure and the productionlimitations as a basis of the assessment of the agro-potential of the Ciskei.2. A survey of the twelve districts involved, was undertaken and as manyagricultural officials in these districts and at King William's Townhead-office,were interviewed and consulted. All available literature and records were investigated.3. Historical literature was consulted to provide the necessary backgroundto all possible phases of Xhosa and Fingo subsistence agriculture from the timeof the early Portuguese reports up until recent times. This information indicatesthat numerous changes have been made in agricultural methods employed by theBantu, as well as in their customs, and these ar e practically all due to Europeaninfluences under a process of acculturation. A shifting-type of cultivation hasbeen in existence from the earliest times, until boundaries were determinedin the latter half of the nineteenth century.4. A detailed description of the geographical areas is presented in the text,the four zones totalling 1, 061,491 morgen, of which 4. 2 per cent is privatelyowned by Bantu, the remainder being South African Bantu Trust property. Over55 per cent of the area receives 25 inches (635 mm) of rain and over.5. The human population totalling 404, 818 souls, is predominantly Xhosawith a smaller proportion of Mfengu (Fingos). The possibility of a 35 per centunder=estimate of the population exists. Arable land per capita of the ruralpopulation is 0.352 morgen. Traditional and present day diets are mentioned,and the main change has been that sour milk has been replaced, to a large extent,by cereals. Average estimated educational levels lie between standards two tofour. Malnutrition is rife amongst the Bantu in the Ciskei today.6. Animal husbandry is generally at a low level, and while the Bantu havelong been associated with livestock, they cannot be referred to as being stockmenin the European acceptance of the word. Using the modified Talbot systemof calculating livestock equivalents, there were 342, 253 mature livestock unitsin the Ciskei, and the grazing pressure averaged one unit per 2.51 morgen. Itis estimated that there were not more than 10 per cent of the land and livestockowners in the Ciskei who can be regarded as progressive. The Xhosa considercattle to be the most cherished of their possessions, and these play an importantpart in their social, economic, rttual and spiritual life. Cattle have been usedin the payment of lobola or bride-price but a change over to a cash basis seemsprevalent. Cattle are of a heterogeneous type, but the encouragement and subsidisation of Brown Swiss sires by the authorities, has tended to increase thenumber of exotic/native cross-bred progeny. A homogeneous and productivecattle population throughout the Bantu Ciskei is the aim of this policy. TheBantu farmers have many arguments against the Brown Swiss breed. Breedingdata is presented, and in some locations where late castration of the bull-calvesis practised, inbreeding appears probable, although its effect is probably minimizedbecause of the continuous replacement of animals that die. Veld andbrowse provide about 99 per cent of the diet of cattle, the remainder being cropresidues. Very little provision is made for winter feeding, even in the irrigationareas. Management is generally at a low level, being of the traditional type,while the annual incidence of disease together with no, or ineffective, treatment,is responsible for lowered production. Mortality in normal years lies betweenfive and six per cent, but can be as high as 50 per cent in a drought year in somelocations.Mature native cattle average about 820 pounds liveweight, while the BrownSwiss cross-breds have averaged 1,040 pounds. At the East London abattoir,Bantu-origin cattle averaged 380 pounds for cold, dressed carcasses, and in1967·,90 per cent of these carcasses graded thirds and fourths. Cattle dyingin the locations are generally consumed by the local population. The popularityof stock sales is stressed by the large increase in numbers sold over a ten-yearperiod. The incidence of bovine cysticercosis in Bantu stock at the abattoiraveraged 7.53 per cent compared with the European cattle incidence of 4.87 percent.African goats predominate, but the Angora goat and Boerbok are gainingin popularity. Goats are run together with sheep and are important from bothCo-operative dairy schemes operate throughout the Ciskei on a basis of .separating the milk and selling the cream. Fresh milk is sold by a few of thesedairies, notably Jan Tshatshu in the King William's Town District, where cowsaveraged 7.86 pounds of milk daily on irrigated pastures. Dryland productionaverages 2.77 to 6.49 pounds per cow daily. A high proportion of the calves diefrom overrnilking of the dams each year. Nearly 38 per cent of the total cattlepopulation are oxen, and these are maintained chiefly for land cultivation purposes.Sheep of the Merino type, are kept and averaged 50 to 90 per cent lambingpercentages in the different localities. Nutrition and management are much thesame as for cattle. Wool yields average between three to four pounds per sheep,the wool being fine (64's to 66' s), but being of an inferior quality and mostlyshort wool. Large numbers are sold on the stock sales, but from a ritual viewpoint,sheep are considered unsuitable as they do not cry out when being slaughtered.African goats predominate, but the Angora goat and Boerbok are gainingin popularity. Goats are run together with sheep and are important from botha ritual and a meat point of view.African Hut-pigs are the main type in the Ciskei and are scavengers,the latter being the reason why the incidence of cysticercosis is as high as13. 38 per cent of all Bantu-origin pigs.Equines and poultry, comparatively speaking, are relatively unimportant,although the horse plays an important role in transportation and recreation,and it is generally considered that the fowl provides a good deal of themeat consumed in some districts. The Native-type horse and the AfricanHut-fowl predominate.7. Crop production plays an important, although secondary, part in thelives of the Bantu farmers, and only 13 per cent of the total area is arable, ofwhich 67 has been planned. Dryland cropping is most common, but there arefour irrigation schemes in existence. Maize, sorghum and wheat are the importantcrops, and in all cases, low yields are obtained. Oxen comprise thechief draught power when ploughing, with tractors accounting for about one thirdof the area ploughed. Just over half of the veld is under a system of controlledgrazing, while soil erosion is a serious problem in many areas. Vegetable,fruit and forestry generally play a small part in the life of the farmingcommunity, the forestry side falling under the Trust to a major degree.8. The limiting factors in animal, crop and pasture production, are indicatedin detail. In animal production, low yields are due primarily to poornutrition and management, and in some locations, to inbreeding to a Iesserdegree. In crop production, natural factors, low soil fertility, erosion, poorcultivation practices, and the negligible use of fertilisers and organic matter,are, inter alia, responsiblé for low yields. The relative scarcity of organisedmarkets, inadequate development of water resources, the existing limitedcredit facilities, lack of capital and the predominating form of land tenure,are all factors which affect animal and crop production. In 'general, the humanfactor is considered to be the main limiting factor in production, since theBantu farmer displays his greatest deficiency in entrepreneural ability.The agro-potential of the Ciskei is assessed, and it is apparent that ahighly accelerated, evolutionary approach is required. The animal potentialis high providing that improved nutrition and management practices are introducedand that breeds are used to best advantage on an ecological basis. Manyproduction schemes are indicated but these require the production and utilisationof supplementary feeds to even out the nutritional level in the dry periods andto encourage the use of improved production techniques. The growing of lucerneunder irrigation and dryland conditions, together with the processing of cropby-products into fortified feeds, can give a tremendous boost to animal production in the Ciskei.The agronomic potential, in terms of average yields per morgen, can beassessed as follows: maize - 12 to 15 bags; sorghum - six to eight bags;wheat - five bags; lucerne hay - three tons. Most crops growing under irrigation,could have their averages nearly doubled, and the area under irrigation,735 morgen, could quite likely be increased to 19,000 morgen, not includingsupplementary irrigation schemes. The grazing potential of the high rainfallareas could be assessed at two to two and a half morgen per livestock unit.Where veld is fertilised, animal production could be increased three to fourfold.In realising the agro-potential of an area, education at all levels, becomesof prime importance, and this includes the provision of sufficient practical andwell-trained agricultural extension officials in the field. Credit facilities, andout-right ownership of land are necessary, and agricultural co-operatives andfarmers' associations are seen as mediums through which higher levels ofproduction can be achieved. Human potential can be realised mainly by educationand example and it is here where the progressive farmers have an importantpart to play. Industrial development is needed to relieve the pressure on land,so that only the true farmer remains on the land. The existing dual societypresents difficulties on both the agricultural and industrial sides.A system of training farmers is mentioned,· together with the role thatRadio Bantu is playing in agricultural development.A list of recommendations is appended, and deals with ways and meansof bringing about an agrarian revolution.

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