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Kwanalu

Opskorting van oor-grens jag nie die antwoord nie | Suspending cross provincial hunting not the answer

English to follow:

29 Julie 2020

Agri SA het met kommer kennis geneem van die opskorting van jagbedrywighede oor provinsiale grense heen en akkommodasie op wildplase vir jagdoeleindes. Jag is ‘n seisoenale aktiwiteit – wat einde Augustus ten einde loop – en is sentraal tot die finansiële oorlewing van menige boere.
“Die wildbedryf bied ‘n lewensbestaan vir duisende mense in landelike gebiede. Dit beteken dat die verliese wat gely word weens die verbod op toerisme, asook die bestaande likiditeitsuitdagings in die waardeketting, sal toeneem,” sê Omri van Zyl, uitvoerende direkteur van Agri SA.
Terwyl die bedryf die regering se maatreëls om die verspreiding van Covid-19 te beperk ondersteun, behoort die oes van wild erken te word as sentraal tot wildbestuur en ‘n belangrike bron van proteïene vir mense.
Jag is inherent ‘n aktiwiteit wat vereis dat daar oor provinsiale grense heen gereis word en gebruik gemaak word van akkommodasie. Hierdie verbod kan dus lei tot die ineenstorting van die bedryf, wat potensieel nie in die kort- tot mediumtermyn sal kan herstel nie.
Agri SA doen ‘n beroep op die departement van omgewingsake bosbou en visserye hul besluit te heroorweeg en om met die bedryf saam te werk ten einde ‘n werkbare oplossing te vind.
Navrae:
Omri van Zyl
Agri SA, Uitvoerende Direkteur
Jolanda Andrag
Agri SA, Hoof: Bedryfskamer

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Agri SA notes with concern the suspension of travelling across provincial borders and the prohibition on staying over on game farms for hunting. Hunting is a seasonal activity ending in August – and key to the financial survival of many farmers.
“The wildlife industry sustains the livelihood of thousands of people in rural areas. This will compound losses suffered by the prohibition of tourism and exacerbate existing liquidity challenges in the value chain,” says Omri van Zyl the executive director of Agri SA.
Whilst the industry is in support of government measures to curb the spread of Covid-19, the harvesting of game should be recognised as a key wildlife management tool and an important source of protein for people.
Hunting is inherently an activity that requires traveling across provincial borders and accommodation. Therefore, this prohibition will bring the industry to its knees from which it will potentially not recover in the short term to medium term.
Agri SA urges the department of environmental affairs, forestry and fisheries to reconsider their decision and work alongside industry to find a workable solution.
Enquiries:
Omri van Zyl
Agri SA, Executive director
Jolanda Andrag
Agri SA, Head Commodity Chamber