Bibliography: Land Degradation in South Africa project

1482. Muhlenbruch-Tegen, A. Long-term surface temperature variations in South

Africa. South African Journal of Science 88:197-205, 1992.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : CLIMATE; CLIMATE CHANGE

Notes : Monthly surface air temperature data have been analysed to reveal

temporal and spatial trends for mean, minimum and maximum temperatures over SA.

Temperature trends in a series of montly means over the complete period of the

record have been looked at as well as seasonal and montly trends. Little

evidence has been found for changes in mean monthly remperatures over the past

50 years, whereas in miminum and maximum temperatures, increasing and decreasing

trends have been noted. The different behaviour of minimum and maximum

temperatures is discussed and aspects of the spatial variations in trends are

considered.

Ref ID : 1470

1483. Muller, C.F.J. Twee studies oor die distrik Somerset-Oos op die vooraand

van die Groot Trek. Historia 22:2-11, 1977.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : EASTERN CAPE; ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY

Ref ID : 1008

1484. Muller, M.J. and Tyson, P.D. Winter rainfall over the interior of South

Africa during extreme dry years. South African Geographical Journal 70(1):20-30,

1988.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : DROUGHT; RAINFALL; CLIMATE CHANGE; SOUTHERN AFRICA

Abstract : It is hypothesised that during extreme dry years rainfall over the

interior of southern Africa will increase due to an equatorward shift of the

circumpolar westerlies. Examination of extreme wet and dry years during the wet

spell of the 1970s and the dry spell of the 1980s shows that this was the case.

Cloud cover, rainfall and the degree of regularity of cloud occurrence increased

in a manner commensurate with a northward displacement of the westerlies. In

addition, mid-winter maximum and minimum temperature fields underwent small but

distinctive variations. The results appear to hold only for extreme years.

Ref ID : 564

1485. Muller, N.D. Aspects of the political economy of drought and water in

Transkei. Institute for Management and Development Studies Discussion Paper

No.13.Anonymous Anonymous Umtata:University of the Transkei. , 1984.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : DROUGHT; POLITICAL ASPECTS; TRANSKEI; COMMUNAL AREA; HYDROLOGY;

POPULATION; POVERTY; STATISTICS

Notes : The following conclusions were reached. Firstly, the drought and its

effects have to be located against the background of rural underdevelopment and

population influx controls which have resulted in a sustained rural crisis. The

drought has accelerated all the symptoms related to poverty whether they be

lawlessness or malnutrition but it has not 'caused' them. These must be traced

to the structural characteristics of racial capitalist development in SA which

concentrates poverty along racial, spatial and sexual lines. Secondly, the role

of relief programmes. Relief in minute amounts to millions of Transkeians is a

token gesture. Given the underdevelopment of Transkei, the poverty,

overcrowding, land shortage and limited agricultural potential, relief

(sometimes) fills stomachs but not aspirations. Until influx controls are

removed and some pressure is taken off the land, the structural poverty of the

rural population will continue. In this context rain might alleviate

circumstances somewhat but it will not cure the evils that already exist.

Thirdly, by damaging resources in an area where they are already scarce, the

drought has inclreased the level of social conflict. Division caused by

competition has been in evidence for sometime. During the drought it sharpened

noticeably, especially over grazing and water rights. Desperate to keep their

animals alive, people trespassed on other lands. Some even attempted to drive

their cattle to the coastal areas. This led to confiscations, finings,

assaults, and the introduction of new laws allowing for criminal prosecution of

the owners of cattle found on 'agricultural schemes'. Historical and ethnic

differences overlay the struggle for survival and allow easy lines of rural

division unless people become more aware of the macro processes to which they

are being subjected. Although there are no statistics, there are strong

impressionistic grounds for believing that banditry and theft, symptoms of

social disintegration, are increasing. Finally the accumulation of structural

poverty in the rural areas of Transkei is giving rise to new crises and new

forms of rural conflict. The relevance of these struggles to broader political

events will turn importantly on whether or not they lead to increased internal

conflict ('faction fights') or they link up to other attempts to restructure the

fundamental imbalance of Apartheid SA.

Ref ID : 565

1486. Muller, N.D. Aspects of the political economy of drought and water in

Transkei. Carnegie Conference Paper No.149. In: Second Carnegie inquiry into

poverty and development in Southern Africa, held at the University of Cape Town,

13-19 April 1984, directed by the Southern Africa Labour and Development

Research Unit,Anonymous 1984,

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : DROUGHT; POLITICAL ASPECTS; TRANSKEI; COMMUNAL AREA; HYDROLOGY

Ref ID : 328

1487. Murgatroyd, A.L. Geologically normal and accelerated rates of erosion in

Natal. South African Journal of Science 75:395-396, 1979.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : SOIL EROSION; KWAZULU NATAL; PALAEOENVIRONMENTS; EROSION;

CONSERVATION

Notes : The author concludes that the observed present rate of suspended

sediment tranport of 463 t km-2yr-1 is more than 28 times the geologically

normal rate. Even allowing for the possibility that Natal is presently

undergoing a natural period of soil depletion in response to contemporary

climatic conditions, such large sediment transport rates represent considerable

acceleration of soil erosion only as a result of human activity in the basin.

Conservation efforts aimed at restricting the more harmful of these activities

can therefore be expected to greatly reduce present rates of soil loss.

Estimated rates of geologically normal erosion provide the logical goal for such

efforts.

Ref ID : 705

1488. Murphy, C. Implications of poverty for black rural women in KwaZulu-Natal.

Report prepared for South African Participatory Poverty Assessment.

Investigational Report 127.Anonymous Scottsville:Institute of Natural Resources.

IR 127, 1995.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : POVERTY; GENDER ASPECTS

Ref ID : 701

1489. Murphy, C.A. Gender constraints to increased agricultural production faced

by rural women in KwaZulu. Investigational Report 45.Anonymous

Pietermaritzburg:Institute of Natural Resources, University of Natal. IR 45:i-

128, 1990. It is well known that women are constrained by their gender role,

which is imposed on them by the gender relations they experience. This role

allocates them the direct responsibility for maintenance of the household and

subjects them to patriarchal relations of male domination and female

subordination. There is little understanding, however, of how gender-specific

constraints operate. This study records the gender-specific constraints

affecting the lives of black, rural women in a homeland in SA (KwaZulu). An

analysis is given of the extent to which these gender-specific constraints

affect the agricultural productivity of these women. An integrated methodology,

combining elements of qualitative observations, key-informant interviews and

quantitative surveys was used to identify gender-based constraints to

agricultural production experienced by rural women in the study area (the

Nhlangwini Ward, Umzumbe District, southern KwaZulu). This information revealed

that the lives of women in the Nhlangwini Ward are severely affected by gender-

specific constraints that arise out of: their involvement in various activities

that constitute their multiple work role (survival tasks, household tasks and

income generation); their access to different resources (land, capital and

training) and their perception of their gender role and the patriarchal

relations they experience. Women in the ward adapt to these constraints by:

using child labour and hired labour to assist them in conducting survival tasks

and household tasks; allocating some shopping (for clothes) to male household

members who have greater access to urban centres; membership of community

gardens to gain access to arable land and agricultural expertise; hiring private

arable land for farming and adopting poultry farming as a favoured agricultural

activity. Recommendations are made for types of projects and policy changes

that could work to overcome these constraints and the broader subordination of

women in rural areas. As gender and rural development is a pioneering research

field in SA, more research of this type is urgently required because at present

the development process takes little cognisance of gender issues.Master of Arts,

University of Cape Town.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : GENDER ASPECTS; KWAZULU; AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT; METHODOLOGIES;

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION; LABOUR; POLICY; RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Ref ID : 721

1490. Murphy, C.A. Gender constraints to increased agricultural production - a

case study of women in rural KwaZulu. Paper presented at the 1st Women and

Gender in Southern Africa Conference, University of Natal, Durban, 30 January -

2 February. Occasional Paper 65.Anonymous Anonymous Scottsville:Institute of

Natural Resources. , 1991.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : GENDER ASPECTS; COMMUNAL AREA; AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION; KWAZULU;

RURAL DEVELOPMENT; SOUTHERN AFRICA

Ref ID : 765

1491. Murphy, C.A. Gender constraints to increased agricultural production - a

case study of women in rural KwaZulu. Women's Studies 4(1):1-11, 1992.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : GENDER ASPECTS; KWAZULU NATAL; AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION; KWAZULU; AID;

ENERGY

Notes : The author concludes that the paper has presented an account of the

variety of ways that women of the Nhlangwini Ward have their agricultural

productivity constrained. These constraints are manifest in: women's multiple

roles as domestic labourers, subsistence farmers and family income earners; in

their access to resources necessary for agricultural production (land, capital

and information) and in their perception of their gender role and inability to

penetrate the existing male tribal authority structures. Projects of programmes

aimed at the development of local agriculture must take cognizance of these

constraints (and serve to reduce them) if they are to be successful in improving

agricultural production. Apart from direct intervention to improve local

agricultural support services, less directly related projects that would work to

aid women farmers and free them from their constraints to increased agricultural

production are that those that: reduce the time and energy expended in survival

and household tasks; provide means whereby women are not tied to the homestead

all day; introduce skills training and transform present credit facilities. The

above suggestions, if implemented in the Nhlangwini Ward, would greatly reduce

the gender constraints that women experience and would lead to increased

agricultural production to the benefit of the waard and the region as a whole.

Ref ID : 551

1492. Mvelase, A. Land use and the community: a case study. In: The Southern

African economy after apartheid. Papers presented at a conference held at the

Centre for South African studies, University of York, 29 Sept - 2 Oct

1986,Anonymous 1998,

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : LAND USE; COMMUNAL AREA; SOCIOECONOMIC ASPECTS

Ref ID : 1795

1493. Mworia, J.K., Mnene, W.N., Musembi, D.K., and Reid, R.S. Resilience of

soils and vegetation subjected to different grazing intensities in a semi-arid

rangeland of Kenya. African Journal of Range and Forage Science 14(1):26-31,

1997.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : DROUGHT

Abstract : The resilience of rangeland soils and vegetation to different levels

of grazing is still poorly understood. A study was conducted to determine the

recovery of a rangeland grazed at different intensities and allowed a two-year

rest period. The following treatments were applied to 0.5 hectare plots: 0, 4,

8 and 16 heifers per hectare, hereafter referred to as CL, X, 2X and 4X

respectively. At the end of the grazing period, the highest stocked treatements

(2X and 4X) had lower herbage biomass, higher soil bulk density, lower soil

moisture and lower herbaceous cover than the lower stocked treatments (CL and

X). Drought in the rest period caused an increase in bulk density and decline

in soil moisture than the more lightly grazed treatments. Similarly, the

herbaceous biomass in the 2X and 4X treatments did not recover after the two-

year rest period and was lower (P<0.05) than the CL and X treatments. At the

end of the recovery period a trend of declining herbaceous cover with stocking

density was still evident. The relative cover of forbs in the 4X treatments

increased more than in the other treatments, while the cover of perennial

grasses did not recover in the 4X treatments after the rest period. Thus

stocking above 2X produced negative soil and vegetation responses which did not

recover during the two-year rest period. This study also indicated that drought

can cause vegetation and soil responses similar to those of overgrazing.

Ref ID : 200

1494. Myburgh, D.W. South Africa's Karoo region: A desert in the making? Africa

Insight 24(3):174-185, 1994.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : KAROO DESERTIFICATION; DESERTIFICATION ASSESSMENT; NAMA KAROO;

WESTERN CAPE

Notes : The author, a senior lecturer in the Department of Geography and

Environmental Studies at the University of the Western Cape, examines the extent

of the deterioration of the natural environment in the Karoo and puts forward

some suggestions regarding future management options.

Ref ID : 2547

1495. Mzileni, N.T. The use of draught cows in agricultural development: a case

study in the Eastern Cape Province.6/2, 1998.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT; EASTERN CAPE; RAINFALL; CISKEI; LIVESTOCK

PRODUCTION; AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

Notes : The purpose of the study was to investigate the extent to which cows are

used for draught purposes in the rural communities of the Eastern Cape and to

determine current management practices. Community/field visits and interviews

were used for the study. It was found that the largest part of the Eastern Cape

Province is more suitable for livestock than crop production due to a generally

low rainfall. However, some amount of crop production also takes place in the

Eastern Cape. As a result, a large-scale use of draught oxen, and in some cases

horses and donkeys, occur at foothills and along major rivers for crop

production. This newsletter is obtainable from the Faculty of Agriculture,

University of Fort Hare.

Ref ID : 2548

1496. Mzingisi, M. and Bennett, J. Forage and other contributions of arable

allocations to cattle production in two villages. ARDRI News , 1998.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : COMMUNAL AREA; EASTERN CAPE; CISKEI; LAND USE; LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION;

VELD MANAGEMENT; AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

Notes : The purpose of the study was to assess, both qualitatively and

quantitatively, the current contribution which arable land makes to cattle

production systems in communal areas of the central Eastern Cape, and to assess

the potential for increasing this contribution through restricted management

interventions. The study was carried out through field research in three

phases, namely: 1. the mapping of arable field allocation in each village; 2. a

quadrat survey in fallow and cropped fields to identify the species present and

estimate their relative abundance and biomass; and 3. semi-structured interviews

of the owners of the fallow fields. The following four categories of land

ownership are identified as: 1. resident in village; 2. resident in nearby

location (about 5 km away from the village); 3. resident in distant location;

and 4. whereabouts unknown. Over 91% of arable land is owned by individuals

living within the immediate area of Guquka. At Koloni, the figure was 71%. At

both sites, maize was the most common crop, which was usually produced as a

mono-crop. However beans, potatoes, melon and pumpkins were also produced but

inter-cropped with maize. At Gukuqa, a switch in feeding behaviour from crop

residue in June to grass species on fallow fields during July was observed. At

Koloni, the initial preference for drop residues at the beginning of the season

was less marked due to the large amount of high quality forage. This article is

obtainable from ARDRI, University of Fort Hare. See also ID ref. no. 2339.

Ref ID : 2054

1497. Naeem, S. Species redundancy and ecosystem reliability. Conservation

Biology 12:39-45, 1998.

Reprint : Not in File,

Ref ID : 1533

1498. Nangof Position paper on the outline of a national land policy.Anonymous ,

1996.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : POLICY; LAND REFORM

Notes : The position paper captures the views and concerns relating to the

National Land Policy (NLP) expressed in workshops co-ordinated by Nangof and

makes specific recommendations relating to the NLP developed through the

workshop inputs and by the NGO Working Committee on Land Reform with the

assistance of technical input from both inside and outside its ranks. The paper

consciously follows the format of the NLP in order to give clear responses to

the key issues raised by it.

Ref ID : 534

1499. Natal Soil Erosion Committee Report of the soil erosion

committee.Anonymous Pietermaritzburg:Times Printing & Publishing Company. ,

1918.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : SOIL EROSION; ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY

Ref ID : 862

1500. National Veld Trust Save our soil. Proceedings of the Veld Trust

Conference on the conservation status of agricultural resources in the RSA,

Pretoria.Anonymous Anonymous , 1990.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : SOIL EROSION

Ref ID : 207

1501. Nel, C. Veld condition in South Africa. Part 1. An expert gives the

overall view. Farmer's Weekly :38-42, 1991.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : KAROO DESERTIFICATION; VELD CONDITION; NAMA KAROO; VELD MANAGEMENT;

VEGETATION CHANGE

Notes : Veld condition is a difficult concept to define. Changing over time, it

is certainly not easy to assess accurately and objectively. It is also, to a

large extent, a matter of perception, having different meanings for different

people. However, it is a major economically exploitable commodity, it is also a

renewable natural resource and as such it is of major importance to the

livestock farmer, pasture scientist, botanist, conservationist and government.

What is also important is that most veld types in good condition tend to have

high stability but low resilience - once they are damaged, they do not recover

readily or rapidly.

Ref ID : 208

1502. Nel, C. Veld condition in South Africa. Part 2. Farmers must be more

professional if they are to cope with the factors influencing veld condition.

Farmer's Weekly :26-28, 1991.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : KAROO DESERTIFICATION; VELD CONDITION; NAMA KAROO; VELD MANAGEMENT;

VEGETATION CHANGE; EROSION

Notes : Veld deterioration in SA has a historical basis, initiated on a limited

scale by the first trekboers with their bountiful flocks of cattle, sheep and

goats. by 1860 these flocks were affecting the veld at an ever increasing rate,

with the maximum impact probably being exerted during the 1920s to 1950s when

overgrazing and soil erosion was generally widespread and severe. In general,

from the article, one can conclude that insufficient knowledge of the principles

of veld utilisation and veld condition among farmers contributes significantly

to deteriorating veld.

Ref ID : 811

1503. Nel, D.J. Fisies-chemiese eienskappe van gronde langs die Mooirivier wat

oor 'n lang termyn besproei is.Anonymous Pretoria:Water Research Commission.

135/1/88, 1988.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : IRRIGATION; SALINIZATION; SOIL PROPERTIES

Ref ID : 2506

1504. Nel, E.L. and Hill, T. Rural development in Hertzog, Eastern Cape:

successful local development? Development Southern Africa 13(6), 1996.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : RURAL DEVELOPMENT; EASTERN CAPE; RAINFALL; ECONOMIC ASPECTS; CISKEI

Notes : The purpose of this study was to examine the key features of local

economic development and the degree to which recent initiatives in the rural

village of Hertzog conform with the basic principles of local economic

development. The authors undertook an objective description and assessment of

the project from a methodological perspective. This preliminary investigation

has prompted further ongoing research with a more participatory orientation.

The authors found that the experience of the Hertzog agricultural co-operative

is clearly an encouraging one. The question that arises is whether the process

is replicable. The authors recognised the uniqueness of the situation in

Hertzog (general fertility of the valley, moderately high rainfall, and the

reliability of flow in the Katriver), make the environment conducive to small-

scale, intensive peasant farming. There are many key strategies, which could be

adopted and applied to other local economic development initiatives. The

Hertzog community clearly shows the potential of local economic development as a

process of improving conditions and overall levels of welfare in the less

developed parts of South Africa. This document is obtainable from the Document

Centre, University of Fort Hare. See also ID ref. no. 2339.

Ref ID : 2213

1505. Nel, G.P. Regionale grondwater-ondersoek van Springbokvlakte-suid met