PR - REGULATION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN GAME RANCHING INDUSTRY: AN IMPACT ANALYSIS

Abstract:

Although game ranchers in South Africa compete with conventional farming practices for the same natural resources, they are regulated by a different set of rules and regulations. This is because the private game ranching industry falls under the policy umbrella of the Department of Environmental Affairs and not the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. As a result, game ranchers do not enjoy the same tax and subsidy benefits compared to their agricultural counterparts, despite competing for the same natural resources. The current study employed a policy analysis matrix approach to determine whether the inability of the game ranching industry to benefit from the same policy effects compared to their agricultural counterparts could have led to the inefficient allocation of scarce resources and lower levels of competitiveness. In general, results from the study revealed that the competitiveness of the game ranching industry would be increased if these producers are able to benefit from agricultural policies in the same way as their agricultural counterparts. This does not mean that the game industry should have free reins, but rather that the possibility should be considered to allow game ranchers to benefit from agricultural policy in the same way as their agricultural counterparts, and by doing so, allow for the more efficient allocation of scarce resources and higher levels of competitiveness.

Keywords: Policy analysis matrix, game ranching