The aim of this study is to evaluate the existing waste management practices and the triple bottom line impacts on the emerging livestock industry in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Waste management is closely linked to livelihood security in terms of South African emerging livestock farmers. Being faced with a range of challenges and a competitive market, emerging farmers are forced to prioritise issues rather than make environmentally sound decisions. South African agriculture has been employed as a political tool to correct past injustices through the improvement of livelihoods and job creation. In addition, smallholder agriculture plays a vital role in achieving food security in local communities and has the potential to respond to climate change through land remediation and organic husbandry practices. Through the implementation of proper waste management practices emerging farmers have the opportunity to create a closed sustainable system in which waste is fed back into the agricultural system, thus avoiding resource degradation.
The triple-bottom-line (people, planet, prosperity) bases sustainability on three dimensions (economic, social and environmental). Emerging farmers are directly affected by their natural resources. Proper waste management therefore improves upon all three dimensions by contributing to food security and energy production
Objective One: To investigate the waste management practices and environmental impacts of the emerging livestock industry within the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
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Using SLA, the study has shown that if waste management best practices are implemented the strategic outcomes have the potential to improve upon the asset base of rural livelihoods, therefore decreasing vulnerability to challenges. The recycling of waste has multiple effects on the asset base of rural farmers. Waste acts as a vector for the magnification of diseases and pests. The proper disposal of waste therefore improves upon the health of livestock, therefore preserving physical assets and improving human capital with better quality animal sourced products. Agricultural waste is energy rich and therefore be recycled to produce energy rich products such as biogas, manure and animal feed. Through the appropriate use of organic agricultural waste as manure and biogas, natural resources (natural capital), soil is preserved through the application of nutrients. Moreover, the pollution of water and air is avoided therefore improving the nutritional value of crops and securing food security of future generations (human capital). The production of energy rich by-products also increases financial assets by decreasing costs incurred and creating an additional income.
Waste management practices employed by emerging farmers in the Kwazulu-Natal midlands were simple, cost effective and easily implemented. Waste that farmers encountered during livestock husbandry included: excrement; slaughter waste in the form of blood, carcasses, entrails and hide; pesticides; feed waste; and sludge. Majority of the agricultural waste encountered is organic in nature and therefore recyclable. Other wastes, such as pesticides were considered negligible as a result of that they were utilised by farmers when required in minimal quantities. Farmers dealt with organic waste usually with one unspecialised disposal method that was suited to their lifestyle, irrespective of potential hazards to the environment or policy.
Objective Two: To determine the waste management technology needs of the emerging livestock industry.
The technology needs of emerging could be vastly improved on with the investment of digesters, chemical disposal methods and the implementation of municipal collection services.
Of the on-site methods considered in the study: composting, rendering, incineration, burning, burial, incineration and biodigestion, the methods only three were implemented by emerging farmers (composting, burning and burial), of which one is recommended by policy (composting). Farmers also resorted to the dumping of agricultural waste on vacant land to avoid the responsibility of disposal. This demonstrated that emerging farmers do not consider
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waste disposal as a means of health and environmental protection. It is therefore not safe to assume that disposal methods which are recommended (composting) are executed in the correct manner. This places significant strain on local resources when bearing in mind the number of emerging and subsistence farmers in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
The study indicates from results and literature that market access is a significant limiting factor in sustaining emerging farmers. Many farmers do not know how to obtain access to customers and therefore sell their product. Herein lies the need for governance and co-operatives.
Objective Three: To determine the impact of policy on emerging livestock farmers and whether it supports or hinders their sustainability.
South African agriculture has become an integral part of correcting past in justices. By redistributing land amongst those that were previously disadvantaged by apartheid law.
Indigenous people are given the opportunity to improve upon their livelihoods. However with insufficient legislation and support in place South African livestock farmers struggle to cope with customer access, climate variability and natural resource preservation, therefore underutilising the resources they have available. Furthermore, South African agricultural policy has written by commercial livestock industry officials and therefore does not take into account the challenges and needs of emerging farmers. Despite this, most policies are still implemented within the emerging farmer industry which creates further challenges for farmers.
Waste management policy is aimed at commercial industry. The commercial sector process significant volumes of waste and therefore poses a significant threat to environmental health.
Local authorities therefore find it more worthwhile to organise the commercial sector rather than emerging farmers, who in most cases cannot comply with policies such as polluter-pays.
The implementation of policies was irregular within the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, with farmers in some communities claiming that department officials visiting regularly and in some not at all. In both respects, farmers have stated however that municipal and department bodies do not give enough support. Authorities however do see that emerging farmers are struggling and are therefore trying to mitigate this and the fails of land reform projects by implementing new legislation around land reform. However, a lack of resources limits the areas that they are able to reach.
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Objective Four: To evaluate the contribution of the emerging livestock industry to local food security.
The study proved that emerging livestock farmers play a significant role in local food security.
Despite markets being saturated by the commercial sector, farmers have been able to sustain their livelihoods and that of the local community. The reasons for which farmers keep livestock varied with the use for livestock. Irrespective of these reasons, livestock husbandry supports food security through the production of waste that can be used to facilitate the rehabilitation of soil therefore ensuring the food security of future generations; and creating employment opportunities for the local community. Amongst the sample population (50 respondents), approximately 170 local community members were employed. In addition livestock farmers shared and sold animal products to community member therefore supplementing the diets of others and improving local food security. The use of livestock excrement for the fertilisation of crops is common amongst livestock farmers within the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands however many farmers still use inappropriate means of disposal (such as burning and illegal dumping) facilitating the degradation of natural resources. Emerging farmers are directly reliant on their immediate resources, with 38% of the respondents obtaining water from on-site boreholes. In addition, the improper management practices facilitate the manifestation of diseases that threaten livestock populations and human health. Farm workers are the most vulnerable to these diseases, therefore threatening the local working population and economy.
Objective Five: To determine the knowledge network that is used in waste management practices of the emerging livestock industry.
There was a lack of traditional knowledge with regards to livestock and waste management despite livestock playing such an integral role in the cultures encountered. Most farmers employed husbandry and waste management practices that were the most cost effective rather than traditional or environmentally friendly ones. However, due to the lack of education amongst the older generation, as a result of past injustices, it is however apparent that there are still farmers that employ traditional knowledge, in their day to day lives. Results indicated that women are more likely to implement indigenous knowledge in their farming practices and are therefore more likely to preserve these practices by passing it down to future generations.
Traditional knowledge that came through in results related to the well-being of livestock and
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indigenous theories regarding livestock products. With a large number of youth leaving for cities it is probable that there will be a further loss of traditional knowledge.