- Title
- Economic evaluation of possible loss of Prosopis pods as a result of biological control in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa
- Creator
- Nqobizitha, Dube
- Subject
- Trees -- South Africa
- Subject
- Mimosaceae
- Subject
- Forests and forestry -- South Africa
- Subject
- Forest conservation -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Subject
- Mimosaceae -- Biological control -- South Africa
- Subject
- Mesquite -- South Africa
- Date Issued
- 2009
- Date
- 2009
- Type
- Thesis
- Type
- Masters
- Type
- MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier
- vital:11165
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10353/394
- Identifier
- Trees -- South Africa
- Identifier
- Mimosaceae
- Identifier
- Forests and forestry -- South Africa
- Identifier
- Forest conservation -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Identifier
- Mimosaceae -- Biological control -- South Africa
- Identifier
- Mesquite -- South Africa
- Description
- Species of Prosopis (Mimosaceae), or mesquite, are native to the Americas and introduced in South Africa as agro forestry trees to provide wood, fodder and shade in the late 1800s. In the Northern Cape Province, these trees have been particularly used for their pods by local farmers and local industry. However due to Prosopis’ ability to spread rapidly there has been increasing pressure to step up control of the tree. Due to the costs associated with most control methods biological control has been singled out as the most viable control method worth pursuing. This thesis attempts to explain and shed light on the effects that increased biological control of Prosopis would have on the farming community and Prosopis based businesses in the area. Two hypothetical scenarios were used, the first being a possible 50% reduction in available pods and the other a possible 100% reduction. In an effort to explain these effects data was collected from a series of collection activities in the form of a pilot study and two unique questionnaire surveys. Twenty-seven farmers and one Prosopis based business were interviewed at random with the data analysed and documented. Results showed that the business community is the main user of pods incurring crippling losses in the event of a 50% or 100% decrease in available pods. Using control costs from working for water De Aar long term costs of the presence of Prosopis were estimated and compared to the estimated provincial cost of losing pods giving a cost comparison ratio of (α)270 million : Y(N(15.7million)). Only 48% of the respondents valued pods and 11% had traded in pods, the top concern resulting from the invasion was the loss of underground water. With a 50% decline in available pods, all respondents indicated unchanged effects. However empirical results showed that with a 100% decline in pods estimate losses of R 5 818 per farm are expected. The cost comparison ratio showing the losses farmers bore with Prosopis in the area and the losses they would suffer with a 100% decline in pods was R11 389 + (K): R5 818. In light of the empirical results, policy recommendations that support the introduction of more effective biological control agents have been made with areas for further research identified and discussed.
- Format
- x, 104 leaves; 30 cm
- Format
- Publisher
- University of Fort Hare
- Publisher
- Faculty of Science & Agriculture
- Language
- English
- Rights
- University of Fort Hare
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