The u s e o f l a n d r e s o u r c e s f o r a g r i c u l t u r e i n L e s o th o
Edward M b u y is e lo Makhanya
T h e s i s s u b m i t t e d f o r t h e d e g r e e o f D o c t o r o f P h i l o s o p h y i n G eography
S c h o o l o f O r i e n t a l and A f r i c a n S t u d i e s , U n i v e r s i t y o f London,
November, 1977-
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D e d i c a t e d to T lh a k u
S u b s i s t e n c e a g r i c u l t u r e i s t h e m a i n s t a y o f L e s o t h o ' s economy, a n d a b o u t 85 p e r c e n t o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n d e p e n d s on i t . Of t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s c r o p r a i s i n g i s t h e m o st i m p o r t a n t .
A g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d i s owned c o m u n a lly and c r o p l a n d i s , i n p r i n c i p l e , a l l o c a t e d e q u i t a b l y among t h e r u r a l h o u s e h o l d s . The p r e v a i l i n g p o p u l a t i o n g r o w th r a t e i s a b o u t 2 . 2 p e r c e n t a n n u a l , a l t h o u g h t h e r e h a s n o t b e e n a n y s i g n i f i c a n t i n c r e a s e i n a g r i c u l t u r a l o u t p u t o r i n t h e l e v e l o f i n d u s t r i a l i s a t i o n .
The i n i t i a l p u r p o s e o f t h e s t u d y was t o exam ine l a n d u s e c h a n g e s b e tw e e n 1950 and 1976 i n p a r t o f t h e Thaba B o s i u R u r a l D e v e lo p m e n t a r e a , u s i n g ( a ) a i r p h o t o i n t e r p r e t a t i o n ( b ) f i e l d o b s e r v a t i o n a n d m e a s u r e m e n t ( c ) f i e l d s u r v e y s a n d ( d ) q u e s t i o n n a i r e s u r v e y . R e s u l t s showed t h a t t h e n a t u r e o f t h e c h a n g e s i n l a n d u s e w ere s y m p t o m a t ic o f a more s e r i o u s p r o b le m o f low a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n . F u r t h e r e x a m i n a t i o n o f c r o p p r o d u c t i o n r e v e a l e d t h a t p r o d u c t i v i t y i s low m a i n l y b e c a u s e o f a d v e r s e c l i m a t i c c o n d i t i o n s , s o i l e r o s i o n a n d p o o r management o f t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l r e s o u r c e s .
The s t u d y d e m o n s t r a t e s t h a t t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d r e s o u r c e s a r e n o t e f f e c t i v e l y m anaged i n L e s o th o b e c a u s e t h e i r management i s l e f t l a r g e l y i n t h e h a n d s o f f a r m e r s who a r e t e c h n o l o g i c a l l y and f i n a n c i a l l y i l l e q u i p p e d t o cope w i t h a r a t h e r h a r s h
p h y s i c a l e n v i r o n m e n t .
To d a t e e f f o r t s t o im p r o v e t h e management l e v e l h a v e shown l i t t l e p o s i t i v e e f f e c t s , m a i n l y b e c a u s e t h e s t r a t e g i e s a d o p t e d
4
h a v e n o t aim e d a t t h e c o r e o f t h e p r o b le m , n a m e ly , t h e p o v e r t y o f t h e u s e r s o f t h e l a n d . G iven l i m i t e d d e v e lo p m e n t f u n d s and a l t e r n a t i v e m e a n s . o f m alting a l i v i n g , i t i s s u g g e s t e d t h a t l a n d management a n d c r o p p r o d u c t i v i t y c o u l d be m o st e a s i l y im p r o v e d by a s y s te m o f c o l l e c t i v e f a r m i n g , w h ic h would be i n a c c o r d w i t h many e x i s t i n g l o c a l i n s t i t u t i o n s a s w e l l a s b e i n g a s y s te m w h ic h c o u l d l e a d t o e c o n o m ie s o f s c a l e i n t h e u s e and a l l o c a t i o n o f d e v e lo p m e n t f u n d s .
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I w is h t o t h a n k a l l t h o s e who, i n one way o r t h e o t h e r , c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e s u c c e s s o f t h i s s t u d y . I n p a r t i c u l a r I w i s h t o t h a n k D r. J'.A . A l l a n and P r o f e s s o r B.W. H o d d e r f o r t h e i r v a l u a b l e s u p e r v i s i o n o f t h e s t u d y . The A f r i c a E d u c a t i o n a l T r u s t o f f e r e d me a s c h o l a r s h i p o f t h e S w edish I n t e r n a t i o n a l D e v e lo p m e n t A u t h o r i t y , a n d I w is h t o t h a n k
Mrs P a t r i c i a H e r b e r t f o r h e r k i n d c o n s i d e r a t i o n s i n a d m i n i s t e r i n g t h e s c h o l a r s h i p . I am a l s o g r a t e f u l t o t h e c e n t r a l r e s e a r c h f u n d s c o m m itte e o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f London a n d t o t h e S c h o o l o f O r i e n t a l a n d A f r i c a n S t u d i e s f o r r e s e a r c h g r a n t s t h e y o f f e r e d me. The N a t i o n a l U n i v e r s i t y o f L e s o th o was c o n s i d e r a t e i n a l l o w i n g me s t u d y l e a v e . I n L e s o th o Mr J . N t e b e l e a c co m p a n ie d me d u r i n g f i e l d work a n d gave v a l u a b l e a s s i s t a n c e . F i n a l l y , I am i n d e b t e d t o t h e P r i n c i p a l C h i e f s o f Thaba B o s i u and Maama, C h i e f t a i n e s s Makhoabane Theko and C h i e f Mohale Maama a s w e l l a s t o C h i e f M a fe fo o a n e Maama f o r h a v i n g made i t p o s s i b l e f o r me t o work u n h i n d e r e d i n t h e i r a r e a s .
E .M .M alchanya O c t o b e r , 1977 -
6
CONTENTS
Page
T i t l e p a g e . 1
A b s t r a c t . ' 3
A c k n o w le d g e m e n ts. 5
L i s t o f c o n t e n t s . 6
. L i s t o f t a b l e s . 12
L i s t o f f i g u r e s . 15
L i s t o f p l a t e s . : 18
A b b r e v i a t i o n s . 19
G l o s s a r y . 20
C h a p t e r 1 .
Scope and p u r p o s e o f t h e s t u d y . 22
1. 1, I n t r o d u c t i o n . 22
1. 2 . P r e v i o u s work done t h a t was r e l a t e d t o 23 t h e u s e o f a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d r e s o u r c e s
i n L e s o t h o .
1. 3* The s c o p e a n d p u r p o s e o f t h i s s t u d y . 30
C h a p t e r 2 .
A b r i e f d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e r e l e v a n t s a l i e n t 41 f e a t u r e s o f t h e s t u d y a r e a .
2 . 1. L o c a t i o n o f t h e s t u d y a r e a . 41
2 . 2 . C l i m a t e . . 44
2 . 3 . G e ology and r e l i e f . 48
2 . 4 . S o i l s . 53
2. 5 . V e g e t a t i o n . 56
2 . 6 . A g r i c u l t u r e . 58
2 . 7 . M in i n g . 61
2. 8 . M a n u f a c t u r i n g . . 62
v
2. 9* T r a d e . • 63
2 . 10. R e v e n u e .a n d e x p e n d i t u r e . 64
2. 11. S t a n d a r d o f l i v i n g . 66
2. 12. Land t e n u r e . 67
2»12. 1. The a l l o c a t i o n o f l a n d . 68
2 . 1 2 . 2 . The r i g h t to u s e l a n d . 70
2 . 1 2 . 3» Changes i n t h e s y s te m 71
o f l a n d a l l o c a t i o n .
2. 13. Land u s e a n d m anagem ent. . 73
2 . 1 3 . 1* S e t t l e m e n t s . 73
2 . 1 3 . 2 . C u l t i v a t e d l a n d . 75
( 1 ) D i s t r i b u t i o n o f a r a b l e 75 l a n d i n L e s o t h o .
( 2 ) F r a g m e n t a t i o n . 76
( 3 ) Types o f c r o p s r a i s e d . 77
( 4 ) S o i l c o n s e r v a t i o n . 77
( 5 ) M e c h a n i s a t i o n . 79
2 . 1 3 . 3 . Rough g r a z i n g l a n d . 79
2. 14* P o p u l a t i o n . 82
2 . 1 4 . 1. R e s i d e n t i a l s t a t u s . 82
2 . 1 4 . 2. P o p u l a t i o n d i s t r i b u t i o n . 82
2 . 1 4 . 3- P o p u l a t i o n g r o w t h . 84
2 . 1 4 . 4 . O c c u p a t i o n . 85
2. 15. A d m i n i s t r a t i o n . 87
2. 16. Summary. 89
C h a p t e r 3 .
M e th o d o l o g y . g-j
3 . 1. A i r p h o t o i n t e r p r e t a t i o n .
3 . 1 . 1. C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e p h o t o g r a p h s .
^
X
8
3 . 1 . 2 . D e s c r i p t i o n and c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f th e , m apping u n i t s .
3 . 1 . 2 . 1 . Land u s e m a p p in g . ( 1 ) S e t t l e m e n t s . ( 2 ) C u l t i v a t e d l a n d . 3 . 1 . 2 . 2 . S o i l e r o s i o n m a p p in g .
( 1 ) The p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e s o i l e r o s i o n m aps.
( 2 ) The p r o d u c t i o n o f - t h e e r o s i o n h a z a r d m aps.
3 . 1 . 3* B ase map c o m p i l a t i o n . 3 . 1 . 4 • M e a s u r e m e n ts .
3 . 2. F i e l d c h e c k i n g .
3 . 2 . 1. F i e l d c h e c k i n g f o r l a n d u s e . 3 . 2 . 2. F i e l d c h e c k i n g f o r e r o s i o n . 3 . 3 . F i e l d s u r v e y .
3 .3 * 1. The names o f t h e v i l l a g e s . 3 . 3 . 2. C o n f u s i o n a r i s i n g from t h e
s y s te m o f nam ing t h e v i l l a g e s . 3 . 3 . 3* E ty m o lo g y o f t h e names o f t h e
v i l l a g e s .
3 . 4 . F i e l d o b s e r v a t i o n and m e a s u r e m e n t.
3 . 5* The q u e s t i o n n a i r e s u r v e y .
3 , 6 . D i s c u s s i o n s w i t h g o v e rn m e n t o f f i c i a l s a n d e x p e r t s w o r k in g i n L e s o t h o . 3 . 7 . D a t a p r o c e s s i n g .
3 . 8 . Summary.
C h a p t e r 4 .
C hanges i n p a t t e r n s a n d l e v e l s o f a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n „ 4 . 1. C hanges i n t h e p a t t e r n o f p r o d u c t i o n .
4 . 2 . C hanges i n t h e am ount o f c r o p s p r o d u c e d .
t
Page 94
94
9 4.
96 96 98
98
104 104 107 107 11 2
115 117 118
119
12 1
124 128
129 130
131 132 135
4 . 2 . 1. The- r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n t h e f l u c t u a t i o n i n c r o p p r o d u c t i o n and c r o p y i e l d i n t h e p e r i o d
1942 to 1976.
4 . 2 . 2. The r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n w e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s and t h e f l u c t u a t i o n i n c r o p p r o d u c t i o n . 4 . 2 . 3 - The r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n
t h e e x t e n t o f c u l t i v a t e d l a n d a n d t h e f l u c t u a t i o n s i n c r o p p r o d u c t i o n .
4 . 2 . 3 . 1 • The r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n a g r i c u l t u r a l z o n e s and ch a n g e i n t h e e x t e n t o f c u l t i v a t e d l a n d .
4 - 2 . 3 . 2 . The r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n s e t t l e m e n t s and t h e change i n t h e e x t e n t o f c u l t i v a t e d l a n d .
4 . 2 . 3 . 3 . The r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n t h e r e l o c a t i o n o f
s e t t l e m e n t s and t h e ch a n g e i n t h e e x t e n t o f c u l t i v a t e d l a n d .
4 . 2 . 4 . The r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n s o i l e r o s i o n and t h e amount o f c r o p p r o d u c t i o n .
4 . 2 . 5 . The r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n f a l l o w i n g a n d t h e f l u c t u a t i o n s i n c r o p p r o d u c t i o n .
4 . 2 . 6 . The r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n l a n d t e n u r e and c r o p p r o d u c t i o n .
4 . 2 . 7 . The r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n f a rm s i z e and t h e low and f l u c t u a t i n g
p r o d u c t i o n i n c r o p s . 4 . 2 . 8 . The r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n
f r a g m e n t a t i o n a n d t h e low and f l u c t u a t i n g p r o d u c t i o n i n c r o p s . 4 . 2 . 9 . The r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n c r o p p i n g
p a t t e r n and t h e low a n d f l u c t u a t i n g p r o d u c t i o n i n c r o p s .
4 - 2 . 1 0 . The r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n communal g r a z i n g and t h e low and f l u c t u a t i n g p r o d u c t i o n i n c r o p s .
138
140
144
157
165
166
173
189
191
195
199
205
208
4 . 2 . 1 1 . The r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n s h a r e - c r o p p i n g a n d t h e low and
f l u c t u a t i n g p r o d u c t i o n i n c r o p s . 4 . 2 . 1 2 . The r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n
s e c u r i t y o f t e n u r e and t h e low a n d f l u c t u a t i n g
p r o d u c t i o n i n c r o p s .
4 . 2 . 1 3 . The r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n m e th o d s o f p r o d u c t i o n and t h e low a n d f l u c t u a t i n g p r o d u c t i o n i n c r o p s . 4 . 2 . 1 4 . The r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n t h e
m a r k e t i n g o f c r o p s and t h e low a n d f l u c t u a t i n g p r o d u c t i o n i n c ro p s o
4 . 3* Summary.
C h a p t e r 5 .
C hanges i n t h e m a n / l a n d r a t i o s . 5 . 1. P o p u l a t i o n g r o w t h .
5 . 2. C hanges i n t h e p a t t e r n o f p o p u l a t i o n d i s t r i b u t i o n .
5 . 3 . C hanges i n p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t i e s . 5 . 4 . D e n s i t i e s on c u l t i v a t e d l a n d .
5 . 5 . The d i s t r i b u t i o n o f l a n d f o r c u l t i v a t i o n . 5 . 6 . S h a r e - c r o p p i n g a s a means o f s u b s i s t e n c e . 5 . 7 . Employment o p p o r t u n i t i e s .
5 . 8 . Crop r a i s i n g a s a n o c c u p a t i o n .
5 . 9* A b s e n t e e i s m a s a n i n d e x o f p o p u l a t i o n p r e s s u r e i n t h e r u r a l a r e a s .
5 . 10 0 Summary.
C h a p t e r 6 .
Summary and c o n c l u s i o n .
6 . 1. B a c k g ro u n d t o t h e econom ic f a c t o r s a f f e c t i n g t h e u s e o f l a n d r e s o u r c e s i n L e s o t h o .
10
Page 212
215
219
224
226
228 228 236
240 247 253 258
262 265 267
272
274 275
6 . 2. A g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d r e s o u r c e s and 276 t h e i r u s e .
6 . 3« The i n t e r a c t i o n b e tw e e n p o p u l a t i o n 282 a n d t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l r e s o u r c e s i n
L e s o t h o .
6 . 4 . A t t e m p t s made t o im p ro v e t h e u s e o f 286 a g r i c u l t u r a l r e s o u r c e s i n L e s o t h o .
• 6 . 5* P r o s p e c t s f o r t h e f u t u r e . 289
6 . 6 . C o n c l u s i o n . 300
Works c i t e d . 301
A p p e n d i x .
A. B i b l i o g r a p h y . 307
B. L i s t o f v i l l a g e s (TBRBPA). 336
C. Q u e s t i o n n a i r e . 343
D. B a t a c o l l e c t e d i n t h e a r e a o f 351
M a f e f o a n e , r e c o r d e d i n c o d i n g f o r m s .
E . P o p u l a t i o n f i g u r e s (TBRBPA). 354
P . M a n /l a n d r a t i o f i g u r e s (TBRBPA). 355
G-. D e n s i t i e s on c u l t i v a t e d l a n d (TBRDPA). 356
H. T r a d e . , 357
LIST OF TABLES.
Crop f a i l u r e i n L e s o th o - by c a u s e s .
The g e o l o g i c a l s u c c e s s i o n
■in L e s o t h o .
C u l t i v a t e d , l a n d i n L e s o th o - 1950, 1960 and 1970.
Number o f h o l d i n g s by z o n e . Number o f l i v e s t o c k i n L e s o t h o . E s t i m a t e d p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t i e s on c u l t i v a t e d l a n d by z o n e . P e r c e n t a g e h o u s e h o l d s w i t h and w i t h o u t l a n d by z o n e , 1960 and 1 9 7 0 . H i e r a r c h y and c h i e f t a i n s h i p .
API e l e m e n t s i n m apping h o m e s t e a d s . API e l e m e n t s i n m apping c u l t i v a t e d l a n d .
E r o s i o n c l a s s e s a c c o r d i n g to num ber o f g u l l i e s and g u l l y d e p t h , API e l e m e n t s u s e d f o r e r o s i o n s u r v e y .
S a m p lin g e r r o r i n d o t s a m p l in g f o r l a n d u s e m aps.
A c o m p a r is o n o f t h e r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d by t h e v a r i o u s h o u s e h o l d c o u n t s i n s e l e c t e d v i l l a g e s .
A c o m p a r is o n o f t h e r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d by p h o to i n t e r p r e t a t i o n w i t h t h o s e o f t h e v a r i o u s c e n s a f o r s e l e c t e d v i l l a g e s .
A v e ra g e y i e l d i n c r o p s f o r s e l e c t e d y e a r s .
Land u s e i n t h e a r e a o f M a fe f o a n e , by p e r i o d and s i z e .
Land u s e i n t h e s a m p le d a r e a s , 1950.
Land u s e i n t h e s a m p le d a r e a s , 1976.
Change i n t h e e x t e n t o f l a n d u s e c a t e g o r i e s , 1950 - 1 9 7 6 .
4 . 5 .
4 . 6 . 4 . 7 .
4 . 8 .
4 . 9 .
4 . 10.
4 . 11.
4 . 1 2 .
4 . 13.
4 . 14.
4 . 15.
4 . 16.
4 . 17.
4 . 18.
4 . 19.
4. 2 0.
5 . 1.
Change i n . t h e e x t e n t o f l a n d u s e c a t e g o r i e s , ' 1950 - 1 9 7 6 .
C u l t i v a t e d a r e a i n L e s o t h o , by z o n e . E x t e n t o f e r o s i o n by c l a s s and . t y p e o f e r o s i o n i n t h e Thaba B o s i u
r u r a l d e v e lo p m e n t a r e a - 1 9 7 6 . E x t e n t o f e r o s i o n i n t h e sa m p le d a r e a s by t y p e - 1 9 7 6 .
A v e ra g e s i z e o f l a n d h o l d i n g s i n L e s o th o by z o n e .
P e r c e n t d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t o t a l c r o p l a n d by s i z e o f h o l d i n g , 1 9 6 0 . C rop y i e l d s i n L e s o th o by s i z e o f h o l d i n g , 1 9 6 0 .
Econom ic i m p l i c a t i o n s o f p r o d u c i n g f i e l d c r o p s a t s u b s i s t e n c e l e v e l on a 1 h a . l a n d p a r c e l a t 1974 p r i c e s . Econom ic i m p l i c a t i o n s o f p r o d u c i n g f i e l d c r o p s a t t h e optimum l e v e l on a 1 h a . l a n d p a r c e l a t 1974 p r i c e s . P e r c e n t a g e h o u s e h o l d s t h a t r a i s e d t h e d i f f e r e n t c r o p s i n 1975/ 7 6 . P e r c e n t a g e h o u s e h o l d s w i t h t h e d i f f e r e n t l i v e s t o c k i n t h e s a m p le d a r e a s - 1 9 7 6 .
D e n s i t i e s o f l i v e s t o c k a n d l i v e s t o c k u n i t s i n t h e s t u d y a r e a - 1974.
Number o f h o u s e h o l d s r e p o r t i n g s h a r e - c r o p p i n g i n L e s o th o by ty p e o f c o n t r i b u t i o n made by p a r t n e r s a n d by s i z e o f f a r m .
P e r c e n t a g e h o u s e h o l d s r e p o r t i n g s h a r e - c r o p p i n g i n t h e sa m p le d a r e a s . D i v i s i o n o f l a b o u r i n c r o p p r o d u c t i o n e x p r e s s e d a s p e r c e n t a g e o f t o t a l p a r t i c i p a n t s .
P e r c e n t a g e h o u s e h o l d s t h a t u s e d o u t s i d e h e l p i n c r o p p r o d u c t i o n by a c t i v i t y and by s t a t u s o f a s s i s t a n t s .
P o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t i e s i n t h e s t u d y a r e a , by l a n d a l l o c a t i o n a r e a s .
150
157 176
180
195
196
198
202
203
205
210
210
212
213
221
222
240
P o p u l a t i o n , d e n s i t i e s on c u l t i v a t e d l a n d i n t h e 's t u d y a r e a , by l a n d a l l o c a t i o n a r e a s .
E s t i m a t e d num ber o f e m p lo y e e s i n t h e a r e a o f M a fe fo a n e a s a t J u n e , 1976, by s e x a n d em ploym ent c a t e g o r y .
M a n -h o u rs w orked i n r a i s i n g c r o p s on a n a v e r a g e f a r m , u n d e r n o r m a l c o n d i t i o n s .
N e t a n n u a l incom e from r a i s i n g c r o p s on an a v e r a g e f a r m ,
a s s u m i n g one c r o p p e r a g r i c u l t u r a l y e a r .
Summary o f t h e means a n d s t a n d a r d d e v i a t i o n s o f t h e v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s v a r i a b l e s .
Summary o f t h e b i v a r i a t e r e g r e s s i o n a n a l y s e s o f t h e v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s v a r i a b l e s .
Land u s e a t R a t a u , by p e r i o d a n d s i z e . S o i l e r o s i o n a t R a t a u , by c l a s s , t y p e a n d e x t e n t .
Page
1. 1. L o c a t i o n map. '-21
1. 2 . Thaba B o s i u r u r a l d e v e lo p m e n t 31
p r o j e c t a r e a .
1. 3» TBRDPA - b a s i c t o p o g r a p h i c map. b a c k c o v e r f o l d e r 1. 4 . A g r i c u l t u r e a n d r u r a l d e v e lo p m e n t 32
s c hem es i n L e s o th o - 1976.
1. 5 . TBRDPA - w ard b o u n d a r i e s . 34
1. 6 . TBRDPA - a g r o - e c o l o g i c a l z o n e s . 40
2 . 1. L e s o th o - r e l a t i v e r e l i e f . 42
2. 2. A g r o - e c o l o g i c a l z o n e s o f L e s o t h o . 43
2 . 3- TBRDPA - r a i n f a l l . 45
2 . 4* TBRDPA - g e o l o g y . 49
2 . 5* S i m p l i f i e d p h y s i o g r a p h i c and 50
g e o l o g i c a l s e c t i o n o f L e s o t h o .
2. 6. TBRDPA - r e l a t i v e r e l i e f . 51
2. 7 . TBRDPA - s o i l s . 54
2. 8 . TBRDPA - v e g e t a t i o n . 57
2. 9• P e r c e n t a g e o f h o u s e h o l d e r s 59
r e s i d i n g a t g i v e n p l a c e s by o w n e r s h i p o f l a n d .
2. 10. P e r c e n t a g e o f h o u s e h o l d e r s 60
r e s i d i n g a t g i v e n p l a c e s by o w n e r s h i p o f s t o c k .
2 . 11. L e s o th o ~ p o p u l a t i o n d i s t r i b u t i o n . 83
3 . 1. TBRDPA - sam ple, a r e a s . 92
3 . 2. A s t e r e o - t r i p l e t o f t h e a r e a ’ 95
o f M a f e f o a n e .
3 . 3* A o n e - p o i n t p e r s p e c t i v e b l o c k 99
d i a g r a m o f t h e a r e a o f M a f e f o a n e .
3 . 4 . The a r e a o f M a fe f o a n e - a v e r a g e 100
s l o p e .
3 . 5* The a r e a o f M a fe f o a n e - d r a i n a g e . 101
3 . 6 . The a r e a o f M a fe fo a n e - s o i l 102
e r o s i o n .
16
Page
3 . 7- The a r e a , o f M a fe fo a n e - e r o s i o n 103
h a z a r d .
3 . 8 . S c a t t e r d i a g r a m o f m e a s u re m e n t 105
r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d by p l a n i m e t e r a n d d o t s a m p l i n g .
3 . 9* The a r e a o f M a fe fo a n e - v i l l a g e 109
a r e a s .
3* 10. The a r e a o f M a fe fo a n e - l a n d 110
u s e , 1976.
3 . 11. TBRDPA - l a n d a l l o c a t i o n a r e a s . 116
4 . 1. P e r c e n t a g e a r e a u n d e r t h e . 133
d i f f e r e n t c r o p s i n L e s o t h o .
4 . 2. C rop p r o d u c t i o n i n L e s o th o - 136
1934 t o 1951*.
4 . 3* T o t a l v a l u e o f t r a d e - 137
1928 t o 1962,
4 . 4 . Crop p r o d u c t i o n (1 9 3 4 t o 1951) 141
a n d r a i n f a l l .
4 . 5* C r o p p i n g c a l e n d a r a n d m o n th l y 142
r a i n f a l l (TBRDPA).
4 . 6 . The a r e a o f M a fe f o a n e - l a n d • 145
u s e , 1950.
4 . 7* The a r e a o f M a fe f o a n e - l a n d . 146
u s e , 1961.
4 . 8 . The a r e a o f M a fe fo a n e - l a n d 147
u s e , 1971.
4 . 9* The a r e a o f M a fe f o a n e - l a n d 148
u s e , 1976.
4 . 10. Mosuoe Theko - l a n d u s e , 1950. 151
4 . 11. Mosuoe Theko - l a n d u s e , 1976. 152
4 . 12. Thaba Khupa - l a n d u s e , 1950. 153
4 . 13* Thaba Khupa - l a n d u s e , 1976. 154
4 . 14. TBRDPA - l a n d u s e , 1950. 155
4 . 15. TBRDPA - l a n d u s e , 1976. 156
4 . 16. B o i n y a t s o - l a n d u s e , 1950. 159
4 . 17. B o i n y a t s o - l a n d u s e , 1976, 160
4 . 18. R a l e j o e - l a n d u s e , 1950. 161
4 . 19* R a l e j o e - l a n d u s e , 1976. 162
4 . 20. M olongoane - l a n d u s e , 1950. 163
4 . 21. M olengoane - l a n d u s e , 1976. 164
4 . 2 2 . TBRDPA - R u i n s . 170
4 . 2 3 . TBRDPA - s o i l e r o s i o n , 1976. 174
4 . 24, B o i n y a t s o - s o i l e r o s i o n , 1976. 177
4 . 25 . Thaba Khupa - s o i l e r o s i o n , 1976. 178
4 . 2 6 . R a l e j o e - s o i l e r o s i o n , 1976. 179
4 . 27 . TBRDPA - e r o s i o n h a z a r d a r e a s , 1950. 181 4 . 28 . TBRDPA - e r o s i o n h a z a r d a r e a s , 1976. 182
4 . 29. Thaba B o s i u - s o i l e r o s i o n , 1976. 184
4 . 3 0 . Thaba B o s i u - e r o d e d c u l t i v a t e d , 185 l a n d , 1950 - 1976.
4 . 31* R a l e j o e - v i s i b l e c h a n g e s i n t h e 186 e x t e n t o f e r o s i o n , 1950 - 1961.
4 . 3 2 . R a t a u - f r a g m e n t a t i o n o f l a n d 4 200 h o l d i n g s , 1976.
4 . 33* The a r e a o f M a fe fo a n e - f r a g m e n t a t i o n 201 o f l a n d h o l d i n g s , 1976.
5 . 1. De f a c t o p o p u l a t i o n o f L e s o t h o , 230
1891 - 1976.
5 . 2 . TBRDPA - p o p u l a t i o n c h a n g e , 1 9 5 0 -1 9 7 6 . 232
5 . 3* TBRDPA - e s t i m a t e d m i g r a t i o n , 233
1950 - 1976.
5 . 4 . C o r r e l a t i o n b e tw e e n e s t i m a t e d 234
m i g r a t i o n a n d p o p u l a t i o n c h a n g e .
5 . 5 . TBRDPA - p o p u l a t i o n d i s t r i b u t i o n , 19 7 6 . b a c k c o v e r f o l d e r 5 . 6 . C o r r e l a t i o n b e tw e e n p o p u l a t i o n a n d 238
t h e s i z e o f l a n d a l l o c a t i o n a r e a s .
5 . 7- C o r r e l a t i o n b e tw e e n p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y 2 4 1 a n d s i z e o f l a n d a l l o c a t i o n a r e a s .
5 . 8 a TBRDPA - p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y , 1950. 243
5 . 8 . TBRDPA - p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y , 1976. 244
TBRDPA - p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y on c u l t i v a t e d l a n d , ' a b o u t 1975*
C o r r e l a t i o n b e tw e e n c r u d e p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y and d e n s i t y on c u l t i v a t e d l a n d . M a n /l a n d r a t i o s .
TBRDPA - p e r c e n t a g e h o u s e h o l d s w i t h f i e l d s .
C o r r e l a t i o n b e tw e e n d e n s i t y on c u l t i v a t e d l a n d a n d ' p e r c e n t a g e h o u s e h o l d s w i t h f i e l d s .
C o r r e l a t i o n b e tw e e n d e n s i t y on c u l t i v a t e d l a n d a n d
p e r c e n t a g e f i e l d s s h a r e - c r o p p e d . C o r r e l a t i o n b e tw e e n p e r c e n t a g e h o u s e h o l d s w i t h f i e l d s and p e r c e n t a g e f i e l d s s h a r e - c r o p p e d . TBRDPA - p e r c e n t a g e f i e l d s s h a r e - c r o p p e d , 1974.
Sex r a t i o , 1976.
R a t a u - b a s i c t o p o g r a p h i c map a n d l a n d u s e p l a n .
R a t a u - l a n d u s e , 1950 a n d 1976.
R a t a u - s o i l e r o s i o n a n d e r o s i o n h a z a r d a r e a s , 1976.
LIST OP PLATES
A t y p i c a l t r a d i t i o n a l v i l l a g e i n L e s o t h o .
P r e p a r a t i o n s f o r g r o u p i n t e r v i e w a t R a t a u .
S o i l e r o s i o n - c o l l a p s i n g o f a r i v e r b a n k n e a r M a k o i l i .
The e f f e c t s o f s h e e t e r o s i o n on c u l t i v a t e d l a n d n e a r Lebamang.
G r a z i n g on t h e s t u b b l e n e a r Thaba Khupa.
The f o l l o w i n g a b b r e v i a t i o n s a r e f r e q u e n t l y u s e d i n t h e t e x t :
API A i r p h o to i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . Cm C e n t i m e t r e .
DOS D i r e c t o r a t e o f O v e r s e a s S u r v e y s ( B r i t a i n ) , e d . E d i t o r o r e d i t i o n .
FAO Pood a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l o r g a n i s a t i o n ( U n i t e d N a t i o n s ) . GDP G r o s s d o m e s t i c p r o d u c t .
G o v t. g o v e r n m e n t,
h a h e c t a r e
HH h o u s e h o l d s
HMSO H e r M a j e s t y ' s S t a t i o n e r y O f f i c e ( B r i t a i n ) .
Kg K i l o g r a m ,
km K i l o m e t r e .
LRD Land r e s o u r c e s d i v i s i o n (DOS).
m m e t r e .
mm m i l l i m e t r e . n o . n u m b e r.
p '. p a g e .
pp p a g e s
SA S o u t h A f r i c a
TBRDP Thaba B o s i u r u r a l d e v e lo p m e n t p r o j e c t ( L e s o t h o ) . TBRDPA Thaba B o s i u r u r a l d e v e lo p m e n t p r o j e c t a r e a . UG U nion Governm ent ( S o u t h A f r i c a ) .
UN U n i t e d N a t i o n s .
UNDP U n i t e d N a t i o n s d e v e lo p m e n t program m e.
U niv U n i v e r s i t y , v o l v o lu m e .
20
B a n tu
B a s o th o
B a s u t o l a n d
B e c h u a n a l a n d
B o e r - a f a r m e r
H igh Com m ission t e r r i t o r i e s
Rand (r)
GLOSSARY
The term 'B a n t u ' i s u s e d to d e s c r i b e t h e g r o u p o f l a n g u a g e s s p o k e n i n E a s t and
S o u t h e r n A f r i c a . I n Nguni l a n g u a g e s 'B a n t u ' m eans p e o p l e . I n S o u t h A f r i c a t h e term
' B a n t u ' i s u s e d o f f i c i a l l y to d i s t i n g u i s h l o c a l b l a c k i n h a b i t a n t s from o t h e r r a c i a l g r o u p s . D i f f e r e n t w r i t e r s i n S o u t h e r n A f r i c a u s e d i f f e r e n t t e r m s to d e s c r i b e b l a c k p e o p l e i n t h e r e g i o n , n a m e ly , ' N a t i v e s ' , ' A f r i c a n s ' ,
' B a n t u 1, 'N o n - E u r o p e a n s ' a n d ' B l a c k s ' .
The n a t i o n a l s o f L e s o t h o , ( s i n g u l a r i s 'M o s o t h o ' ) . E u r o p e a n w r i t e r s have i n t h e p a s t u s e d t h e term
' B a s u t o ' i n s t e a d o f B a s o t h o .
Taken fro m ' B a s u t o ' , ' B a s u t o l a n d ' was u s e d to d e s c r i b e t h e t e r r i t o r y o f B a s o t h o . Most w r i t e r s r e f e r t o p r e - i n d e p e n d e n c e L e s o th o a s B a s u t o l a n d , b u t B a s o th o ha ve a lw a y s known t h e i r c o u n t r y a s L e s o t h o . I n t h i s t h e s i s t h e term L e s o th o i s u s e d more f r e q u e n t l y i n o r d e r t o a v o i d c o n f u s i o n .
P r e - i n d e p e n d e n c e name f o r B o ts w a n a .
The te rm i s u s e d t o d e s c r i b e t h e e a r l y D u tc h s e t t l e r s i n S o u t h A f r i c a .
B o ts w a n a , L e s o th o a n d S w a z i l a n d w e r e , b e f o r e a t t a i n i n g i n d e p e n d e n c e , B r i t i s h p r o t e c t o r a t e s a d m i n i s t e r e d by a r e s i d e n t H igh C o m m is s io n e r .
S o u t h A f r i c a n c u r r e n c y , a l s o u s e d i n L e s o t h o , one r a n d = i £ 0 .5 7 *
LOCATIONMAP
22
CHAPTER 1
SCOPE' AND PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
1.1 I n t r o d u c t i o n
The s t u d y i s c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e ways i n w h ic h t h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f L e s o th o u s e d t h e a v a i l a b l e a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d r e s o u r c e s . The te rm " u s e " b e i n g a p p l i e d n o t o n l y to
p r o f i t a b l e u s e , b u t a l s o to m is u s e and d i s u s e . The s t u d y was u n d e r t a k e n on t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t m a n 's a d v a n c e d t e c h n i c a l s k i l l a n d i m p l e m e n ts c an e n a b l e him t o d e c i d e on t h e ty p e o f a g r i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s he would l i k e to p u r s u e and t h e l e v e l o f p r o d u c t i o n he w ould l i k e t o a t t a i n , w i t h o u t l o s i n g s i g h t o f t h e f a c t t h a t h i s s u c c e s s o r f a i l u r e d e p e n d s l a r g e l y on h i s a b i l i t y to overcom e t h e o b s t a c l e s p r e s e n t e d by t h e e n v i r o n m e n t i n w hich he o p e r a t e s . I t was a l s o u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e q u a l i t y o f l a n d a s a means o f ' p r o d u c t i o n i n a g r i c u l t u r e d e p e n d s l a r g e l y on t h e
c o m b i n a t i o n o f a l l i t s a t t r i b u t e s , t h e c a p i t a l r e s o u r c e s a v a i l a b l e , a s w e l l a s on t h e i n g e n u i t y a n d t e c h n i c a l s k i l l o f t h o s e who u s e i t ; t h a t i t c a n be im p ro v e d w i t h c a r e f u l t r e a t m e n t a n d d e g r a d e d w i t h m i s u s e . H e n c e , a l t h o u g h l a n d i s c o n c e i v e d a s i n e l a s t i c
( f i x e d ) i n a r e a l t e r m s , i t i s r e a l i s e d t h a t i t s p r o d u c t i v i t y c an be s t r e t c h e d t h r o u g h t h e c a r e f u l u s e o f a p p r o p r i a t e i n p u t s .
I t i s a l s o r e a l i s e d t h a t s u c h g e n e r a t e d i n c r e a s e i n p r o d u c t i v i t y o f a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d a r e s u b j e c t to t h e law o f d i m i n i s h i n g
r e t u r n s a n d t h a t t h e r e a r e l i m i t s t o w h ic h man may f i n d i t e c o n o m i c a l l y a d v i s a b l e to c o n t i n u e i n c r e a s i n g i n p u t s f o r b e t t e r p r o d u c t i v i t y i n a g r i c u l t u r e .
a g r i c u l t u r a l l a r d r e s o u r c e s i n L e s o th o
From t h e b i b l i o g r a p h y g i v e n i n a p p e n d i x A, i t c a n be s e e n t h a t a l o t o f work h a s a l r e a d y b e e n done on t o p i c s r e l a t e d to t h e u s e o f a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d r e s o u r c e s i n L e s o t h o . A b r i e f r e v i e w w i l l be g i v e n o f w orks t h a t h a v e c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e a d v a n c e m e n t o f k n o w le d g e o f t h e a v a i l a b l e a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d r e s o u r c e s and how t h e y w ere u s e d , i n o r d e r t o d e m o n s t r a t e t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n made by t h i s s t u d y . The p u r p o s e o f t h i s r e v i e w i s m e r e l y t o o u t l i n e p r e v i o u s work done w i t h o u t a n y a t t e m p t t o e v a l u a t e i t e x c e p t w here n e c e s s a r y . The e v a l u a t i o n o f r e l e v a n t l i t e r a t u r e w i l l be g i v e n i n t h e a p p r o p r i a t e s e c t i o n s o f t h e t h e s i s .
A lm o st a l l w r i t t e n work r e l a t e d t o t h e u s e o f a g r i c u l t u r a l r e s o u r c e s i n L e s o th o t h a t was u n d e r t a k e n d u r i n g t h e c o l o n i a l p e r i o d (1 8 8 4 t o a b o u t 1 9 6 0 ) , was s p o n s o r e d by t h e B r i t i s h g o v e rn m e n t
t h r o u g h t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e , t h e D i r e c t o r a t e o f O v e r s e a s S u r v e y s (DOS), t h e r e s i d e n t c o l o n i a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , a n d r e s e a r c h f e l l o w s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e s e b o d i e s . The r e g u l a r p u b l i c a t i o n s by t h e s e b o d i e s i n c l u d e d t h e a n n u a l c o l o n i a l r e p o r t s p u b l i s h e d by Her M a j e s t y ' s s t a t i o n e r y o f f i c e (HMSO) a n d t h e a n n u a l a g r i c u l t u r a l r e p o r t s p u b l i s h e d by t h e g o v e rn m e n t o f B a s u t o l a n d ( L e s o t h o ) . T o g e t h e r t h e s e r e p o r t s p r o v i d e d v e r y v a l u a b l e r e c o r d s o f t h e a v a i l a b l e r e s o u r c e s f o r a g r i c u l t u r e , t h e i r u s e , a n d t h e l e v e l o f a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n t h r o u g h o u t t h e y e a r s i n w hich t h e r e p o r t s w ere p u b l i s h e d . However, s i n c e the- r e p o r t s were l i m i t e d t o g i v i n g a n n u a l a c c o u n t s o f t h e u s e o f t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d
r e s o u r c e s , t h e y p r o v i d e d l i t t l e d e p t h i n t o t h e s u b j e c t . A l i s t o f o t h e r r e p o r t s c o m p i le d by a g e n c i e s o f t h e B r i t i s h g o v e rn m e n t a r e i n c l u d e d i n t h e b i b l i o g r a p h y ( a p p e n d i x A) a n d m e n t io n w i l l be
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made o f o n l y t h e m o st i m p o r t a n t o n e s i n t h i s s e c t i o n .
The f i r s t r e s e a r c h i n t o t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d r e s o u r c e s i n L e s o th o was i n i t i a t e d a t t h e re c o m m e n d a tio n o f t h e Pirn c o m m issio n ( 1 9 3 5 ) . S i r A la n Pirn’ s c o m m is s io n , whose p u r p o s e was t o exam ine t h e f i n a n c i a l a n d eco n o m ic p o s i t i o n o f L e s o t h o , drew a t t e n t i o n to t h e p r o b le m o f s o i l e r o s i o n i n L e s o th o and recom mended, among o t h e r t h i n g s , t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f s o i l c o n s e r v a t i o n m e a s u r e s . F o l l o w i n g t h e c o m m i s s i o n 's r e c o m m e n d a tio n s a d i r e c t o r o f a g r i c u l t u r e was e s t a b l i s h e d i n M aseru ( t h e c a p i t a l o f L e s o t h o ) and p l a c e d i n c h a r g e o f a n t i - e r o s i o n o p e r a t i o n s . T hese a n t i - e r o s i o n o p e r a t i o n s s u b s e q u e n t l y f o rm e d a m a j o r p a r t o f t h e c o l o n i a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ' s e f f o r t s to im p ro v e t h e l e v e l o f a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n i n L e s o t h o . S t a p l e s and. Hudson u n d e r t o o k an e c o l o g i c a l s u r v e y o f t h e m o u n ta in a r e a o f L e s o th o a s p a r t o f t h e e f f o r t to com bat s o i l e r o s i o n . T h e i r s u r v e y i n c l u d e d g e o l o g i c a l a n d s o i l s t u d i e s a n d i n t h e i r r e p o r t , p u b l i s h e d by t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e i n 1938, t h e y s u g g e s t e d among o t h e r t h i n g s t h e r e c l a m a t i o n o f b a d l y e r o d e d a r e a s by ' h ‘ * r e l o c a t i n g v i l l a g e s t h a t w ere s i t u a t e d i n s u c h a r e a s t o more
s u i t a b l e o n e s . A l t h o u g h t h e r e p o r t was i n t e n d e d f o r t h e m o u n ta in a r e a s , i t s r e c o m m e n d a tio n on t h e r e l o c a t i o n o f v i l l a g e s was
c a r r i e d o u t t h r o u g h o u t L e s o t h o . S t a p l e s a n d Hudson a l s o p o i n t e d o u t t h a t o v e r g r a z i n g was one o f t h e c a u s e s o f s o i l e r o s i o n .
A r e c o n n a i s s a n c e g e o l o g i c a l s u r v e y was s t a r t e d i n November 1938 by S t o c k i e y a n d h i s p a r t y . The p u r p o s e o f t h i s s u r v e y was to i n v e s t i g a t e p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f t h e o c c u r r e n c e o f m i n e r a l d e p o s i t s o f e c o n o m ic i m p o r t a n c e , b u t t h e r e p o r t , p u b l i s h e d i n 1947? a l s o t h r e w l i g h t on t h e s o i l a n d g r o u n d w a t e r r e s o u r c e s o f t h e
t e r r i t o r y .
L e s o th o by t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e to c o n d u c t a n a g r i c u l t u r a l s u r v e y . The m ain p u r p o s e o f t h e s u r v e y was to make an i n v e n t o r y o f
a g r i c u l t u r a l r e s o u r c e s i n L e s o th o a s a c o n t r i b u t i o n to t h e w o r l d c e n s u s o f a g r i c u l t u r e w h ic h was i n i t i a t e d by t h e f o o d and
a g r i c u l t u r a l o r g a n i s a t i o n (PAO). S i n c e t h e s u r v e y was t h e f i r s t o f i t s k i n d i n L e s o t h o , i t was a l s o aim ed a t p r o v i d i n g d a t a f o r e c o n o m ic d e v e lo p m e n t i n L e s o t h o . The s u r v e y was b a s e d on random s a m p l i n g a n d a c c o r d i n g to D o u g la s a n d T e n n a n t ' s r e p o r t (1 9 5 2 ) i t m e r e l y p r o v i d e d e s t i m a t e s b e c a u s e o f t h e p r o b l e m s e x p e r i e n c e d i n c o l l e c t i n g t h e d a t a .
U n d e r t h e a u s p i c e s o f c o l o n i a l r e s e a r c h s t u d i e s , and
f i n a n c e d by t h e c o l o n i a l s o c i a l s c i e n c e r e s e a r c h c o u n c i l , S h e d d i c k s e t o u t to e xam ine l a n d t e n u r e i n L e s o th o i n a b o u t t h e same tim e t h a t D o u g la s a n d T e n n a n t c a r r i e d o u t t h e i r a g r i c u l t u r a l s u r v e y . S h e d d i c k ' s s t u d y was r e q u e s t e d by t h e H igh C o m m is s io n e r o f B o ts w a n a , L e s o th o a n d S w a z i l a n d , f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f p r o v i d i n g f a c t s a b o u t n a t i v e l a n d t e n u r e . B e i n g a n a n t h r o p o l o g i s t , S h e d d i c k made a d e t a i l e d s t u d y o f l a n d t e n u r e p r a c t i c e s i n L e s o th o from a s o c i o l o g i c a l p o i n t o f v i e w a n d h i s r e p o r t , p u b l i s h e d i n 1954, p r o v i d e s a v a l u a b l e r e c o r d o f B a s o t h o ' s a g r i c u l t u r a l p r a c t i c e s .
I n 1959 a c o m m is s io n u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f C h a n d l e r Morse was a p p o i n t e d by t h e B r i t i s h g o v e rn m e n t t o c o n d u c t a g e n e r a l . s u r v e y o f t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s a n d n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s o f t h e t h r e e High Com m ission t e r r i t o r i e s B o ts w a n a , L e s o th o a n d S w a z i l a n d . The r e p o r t o f t h e Morse c o m m is s io n was p u b l i s h e d i n 1960 by H er
M a j e s t y ' s S t a t i o n e r y O f f i c e (HMSO). I t p r o v i d e d i n f o r m a t i o n and r e c o m m e n d a ti o n s w h ic h l e d , among o t h e r t h i n g s , to t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t
26
o f more m e t e o r o l o g i c a l s t a t i o n s f o r t h e p r o v i s i o n o f c l i m a t i c d a t a a n d t h e b e g i n n i n g o f l a n d r e s o u r c e s t u d i e s by t h e l a n d r e s o u r c e d i v i s i o n (LRD) o f t h e D i r e c t o r a t e o f O v e r s e a s S u r v e y s (DOS).
I t s h o u l d be n o t e d a t t h i s s t a g e t h a t up to 1950 t h e r e were no a e r i a l p h o t o g r a p h s f o r L e s o t h o . The o n l y map u s e d f o r a l l s u r v e y s was t h e 1 : 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 t o p o g r a p h i c map c o m p i l e d by C a p t a i n Dobson i n 1911 hy t r i g o n o m e t r i c t r i a n g u l a t i o n . H en c e , a l t h o u g h D o u g l a s a n d T e n n a n t were a b l e t o p r o d u c e a n a g r o - e c o l o g i c a l z o n i n g o f L e s o th o f ro m i t , t h e i r s u r v e y d i d n o t p r o v i d e d e t a i l e d s p a t i a l d i m e n s i o n s o f t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d u s e i n L e s o t h o . The f i r s t a i r p h o t o g r a p h y , c o v e r i n g o n l y t h e w e s t e r n h a l f o f t h e t e r r i t o r y , was t a k e n i n A p r i l 1950 a n d t h e r e s t o f t h e c o u n t r y was c o v e r e d i n March 1952. The a p p r o x i m a t e s c a l e u s e d was 1 : 3 0 , 0 0 0 . A f t e r t h i s p h o t o g r a p h y t h e D i r e c t o r a t e o f O v e r s e a s S u r v e y s p r o d u c e d t h e f i r s t maps o f L e s o th o w i t h l a n d u s e d e t a i l s a t t h e s c a l e o f 1 : 5 0 , 0 0 0 . H ow ever, s i n c e t h e m ain p u r p o s e o f t h e s e maps was t o p o r t r a y t o p o g r a p h i c d a t a , t h e d e p i c t i o n o f l a n d u s e f e a t u r e s i n them was r a t h e r s k e t c h y . More d e t a i l e d l a n d u s e maps w ere p r o d u c e d from t h e 1950 p h o t o g r a p h s f o r t h e T e b e - t e b e n g v a l l e y a g r i c u l t u r a l d e v e lo p m e n t scheme by f i r s t , t h e A i r c r a f t O p e r a t i n g Company (AOC) b a s e d i n J o h a n n e s b u r g , S o u t h A f r i c a , a n d l a t e r t h e D i r e c t o r a t e o f O v e r s e a s S u r v e y s . The T e b e - t e b e n g v a l l e y a g r i c u l t u r a l d e v e lo p m e n t scheme was s i t u a t e d n e a r L e r i b e ; i t was s t a r t e d i n 1951 h u t h a s s i n c e b e e n d i s c o n t i n u e d . The l a n d u s e maps p r o d u c e d f o r t h e
scheme w ere p i l o t p r o j e c t s , a s i t w e r e , to d e t e r m i n e t h e p o s s i b i l i t o f m a p p in g fro m a i r p h o t o g r a p h s l a n d u s e i n f o r m a t i o n o f v a l u e to t h e d e p a r t m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r e i n L e s o t h o .
May 1961 f o l l o w i n g t h e re c o m m e n d a tio n s o f t h e M orse c o m m is s io n , an d i t p r o v i d e d m a t e r i a l f o r t h e s t a f f o f t h e D i r e c t o r a t e o f O v e r s e a s S u r v e y s i n c a r r y i n g o u t t h e i r l a n d r e s o u r c e s u r v e y s . From t h i s p h o t o g r a p h y Bawden a n d C a r r o l l ( 1 9 6 8 ) p r o d u c e d a s o i l map, a l a n d s y s t e m s map a n d a n a g r i c u l t u r a l p o t e n t i a l map, a l l p u b l i s h e d a t t h e 1 : 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 s c a l e a n d c o v e r i n g t h e whole t e r r i t o r y . The maps were a c c o m p a n ie d by a v e r y i n f o r m a t i v e r e p o r t e n t i t l e d
"The l a n d r e s o u r c e s o f L e s o t h o " . A n o t h e r r e p o r t b a s e d on t h e same work e n t i t l e d " D o t e s on t h e s o i l s o f L e s o t h o " was p u b l i s h e d i n 1967 by C a r r o l l a n d Bascomb. A i r p h o to i n t e r p r e t a t i o n i n t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e s e maps was c a r r i e d o u t by means o f p h o t o g r a m m e t r i e s t e r e o - p l o t t e r s a n d , a l t h o u g h no maps d e p i c t i n g t h e d i f f e r e n t
e l e m e n t s o f t h e l a n d w ere p u b l i s h e d , i t i s i m p l i e d i n t h e r e p o r t s t h a t t h e d i f f e r e n t e l e m e n t s o f t h e l a n d e . g . s o i l s , s l o p e s ,
v e g e t a t i o n , e r o s i o n e t c . , w ere mapped a t t h e v a r i o u s s t a g e s o f p h o t o i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , a n d t h a t t h e maps were a p r o d u c t o f t h e c o m b i n a t i o n o f a l l t h e s e e l e m e n t s . A p a r t fro m t h e w orks o f Bawden a n d C a r r o l l t h e r e h a s b e e n t o d a t e l i t t l e , i f a n y , work p u b l i s h e d t h a t was b a s e d on a i r p h o to i n t e r p r e t a t i o n i n L e s o t h o , a n d m o st o f t h e maps p r o d u c e d were b a s e d on t h e 1 : 5 0 , 0 0 0 t o p o g r a p h i c s h e e t s , e n l a r g e d p h o t o g r a p h s , f i e l d w o r k a n d s t a t i s t i c a l d a t a . I n t h e Thaba B o s i u r u r a l d e v e lo p m e n t p r o j e c t u s e was a l s o made o f o r t h o p h o t o maps p r o d u c e d by H u n t i n g S u r v e y s .
The r e p o r t o f t h e Morse c o m m issio n seem s t o h a v e s t i m u l a t e d wide r e s e a r c h i n t e r e s t i n L e s o t h o . B e s i d e s t h e c o m p a r a t i v e l y l a r g e am ount o f w ork p r o d u c e d by t h e l a n d r e s o u r c e d i v i s i o n o f t h e D i r e c t o r a t e o f O v e r s e a s S u r v e y s a f t e r 1960, t h e r e was more r e s e a r c h w ork u n d e r t a k e n by p e o p l e from c o u n t r i e s o t h e r t h a n B r i t a i n and
28
L e s o t h o . T h e i r f i e l d s o f i n t e r e s t were v a r i e d , h u t many seemed to have b e e n i n t e r e s t e d i n e x a m i n in g t h e l a n d t e n u r e s y s te m . I t w as, h o w e v e rj d i f f i c u l t to a t t r i b u t e t h e r e s e a r c h w o r k e r s ' s u d d e n i n t e r e s t i n L e s o th o s o l e l y to t h e Morse c o m m issio n r e p o r t , s i n c e t h e y e a r 1960 a l s o m arked t h e a t t a i n m e n t o f i n d e p e n d e n c e
from c o l o n i a l r u l e by many A f r i c a n s t a t e s a n d L e s o t h o ' s i n d e p e n d e n c e ( 4 t h O c t o b e r , 1966) was n o t f a r o f f . I t w ould a p p e a r t h a t some o f t h e r e s e a r c h w o r k e r s t o o k i n t e r e s t i n t h e t e r r i t o r y b e c a u s e o f i t s i m p e n d in g i n d e p e n d e n c e . I n f a c t , a f t e r i n d e p e n d e n c e many p e o p l e a n d o r g a n i s a t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g t h e UN a g e n c i e s , came t o work i n L e s o th o a t t h e i n v i t a t i o n o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t o f L e s o t h o .
Among t h e s u r v e y s c o n d u c t e d d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d was t h e s t u d y on w a t e r r e s o u r c e d e v e l o p m e n t , w h ic h was f i n a n c e d by a s p e c i a l f u n d o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s D e v e lo p m e n t Programme (UNDP). The s t u d y r e s u l t e d i n a n i n v e n t o r y o f t h e v a r i o u s e l e m e n t s o f t h e l a n d r e s o u r c e s a n d was p u b l i s h e d i n s i x v o lu m e s w i t h a c c o m p a n y in g maps i n 1972. The dawn o f t h e 1 9 6 0 's was a l s o a c c o m p a n ie d by t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f more a g r i c u l t u r a l d e v e lo p m e n t p i l o t p r o j e c t s w h ic h c o u l d a l s o have a t t r a c t e d t h e a t t e n t i o n o f r e s e a r c h w o r k e r s .
B e f o r e 1960 o n l y t h r e e s u c h sc hem es e x i s t e d i n L e s o t h o , n a m e ly , t h e T s a k h o lo i r r i g a t i o n dam c o n s t r u c t e d i n t h e 1 9 3 0 ' s , t h e T e b e - t e b e n g v a l l e y scheme ( s t a r t e d i n 1951) a n d t h e Taung r e c l a m a t i o n scheme ( s t a r t e d i n 1 9 5 6 ) . I n 1976 t h e p o s i t i o n o f r u r a l
d e v e lo p m e n t p r o j e c t s i n L e s o th o was a s p o r t r a y e d i n F i g . 1 . 4 .
N o te t h a t w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f t h e T s a k h o lo i r r i g a t i o n schem e, a l l a g r i c u l t u r a l d e v e lo p m e n t schem es t h a t were commenced p r i o r to
i n d e p e n d e n c e were d i s c o n t i n u e d , m a i n l y b e c a u s e t h e y w ere n o t s u c c e s s f u l .
The m o s t i m p o r t a n t g o v e rn m e n t s u r v e y s u n d e r t a k e n i n a n d a f t e r
r e s o u r c e s i n L e s o th o were t h e 1960 a n d t h e 1970 a g r i c u l t u r a l c e n s a , a s w e l l a s t h e 1969 p r e l i s t i n g s u r v e y , a l l c o n d u c t e d by t h e d e p a r t m e n t o f s t a t i s t i c s i n M a s e r u . The Thaba B o s i u r u r a l d e v e lo p m e n t p r o j e c t c o n d u c t e d a n o t h e r p r e l i s t i n g s u r v e y c o v e r i n g o n l y i t s a r e a o f o p e r a t i o n i n 1974.
Among w orks done f o r a c a d e m ic p u r p o s e s , m e n t i o n c o u l d be made o f t h e w o rk s o f Q u i r i o n ( 1 9 5 8 ) , B r o s s a r d ( 1 9 5 9 ) s S t u t l e y ( i 9 6 0 ) . H e n ry ( 1 9 6 4 ) a n d W i l l i a m s ( 1 9 6 9 ) . The w orks o f t h e s e w r i t e r s , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h o s e o f o t h e r s t h a t were n o t so c l o s e t o t h e s t u d y o f a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d r e s o u r c e s , a r e l i s t e d u n d e r t h e h e a d i n g
" u n p u b l i s h e d r e s e a r c h w ork" i n t h e b i b l i o g r a p h y . S i n c e a r e v i e w o f b i b l i o g r a p h y i s n o t a c e n t r a l theme o f t h i s c h a p t e r , i t w ould n o t be u s e f u l t o m e n t i o n a l l work done i n L e s o th o t h a t was r e l a t e d t o t h e t o p i c o f t h i s t h e s i s . B u t by g o i n g t h r o u g h t h e b i b l i o g r a p h y ( a p p e n d i x A ) , t h e r e a d e r may become more i n f o r m e d on o t h e r w orks t h a t w ere n o t m e n t i o n e d i n t h i s b r i e f r e v i e w o f t h e b i b l i o g r a p h y .
A g r i c u l t u r e i s t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t s e c t o r i n t h e economy o f L e s o th o w i t h a b o u t 85 p e r c e n t o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n d e p e n d i n g on i t . I t s c o n t r i b u t i o n to g r o s s d o m e s t i c p r o d u c t (GDP) was a b o u t 41 p e r c e n t i n 1976. T h e re w e r e , h o w e v e r , a num ber o f d i f f i c u l t i e s
e x p e r i e n c e d i n c a r r y i n g o u t f a r m i n g o p e r a t i o n s s u c h t h a t t h e l e v e l o f p r o d u c t i o n f o r t h e m a j o r i t y o f f a r m e r s was p r o d u c t i o n f o r
s u b s i s t e n c e . Any s t u d y t h a t was c o n c e r n e d w i t h e x a m i n i n g t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s o f o p e r a t i n g f a r m s i n L e s o th o was i m p o r t a n t t o t h e
t e r r i t o r y , w h ic h was one o f t h e r e a s o n s why t h i s s t u d y was u n d e r t a k e n .
The o r i g i n a l o b j e c t o f t h i s s t u d y was t o exa m in e l a n d u s e c h a n g e s i n L e s o th o u s i n g t h e m ethod o f a i r p h o t o i n t e r p r e t a t i o n and f i e l d o b s e r v a t i o n s . I n c h a p t e r 2 i t w i l l be shown t h a t L e s o th o was d i v i d e d i n t o a g r o - e c o l o g i c a l z o n e s a n d t h a t t h e w e s t e r n lo w l a n d
zone was more d e n s e l y p o p u l a t e d t h a n t h e o t h e r z o n e s . I n t h e l o w l a n d zone t h e r e w ere a l s o more a g r i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s a s i l l u s t r a t e d by t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f r u r a l d e v e lo p m e n t p r o j e c t s i n i t ( f i g . 1 . 4 ) . S i n c e t h e a u t h o r was r e s i d e n t a t Roma, t h e Thaba B o s i u r u r a l d e v e lo p m e n t a r e a i n w h ic h Roma i s s i t u a t e d was a m ost c o n v e n i e n t a r e a f o r t h e s t u d y . A p a r t from t h e f a c t t h a t t h e a u t h o r knew t h e a r e a w e l l a n d was i n d a i l y c o n t a c t w i t h i t , f i e l d c h e c k i n g o f p h o t o s , a s w e l l a s o t h e r f i e l d o b s e r v a t i o n s a n d m e a s u r e m e n ts c o u l d be c o m p l e t e d v e r y e c o n o m i c a l l y from t h i s b a s e . The
a v a i l a b i l i t y o f a w i d e r r a n g e o f a i r p h o t o g r a p h s t h a t p r o v i d e d more s c o p e f o r s e q u e n t i a l s t u d i e s o f l a n d u s e c h a n g e s , t o g e t h e r w i t h more e x t e n s i v e s t a t i s t i c a l r e c o r d s , were o t h e r f a c t o r s t h a t
f a v o u r e d t h e c h o i c e o f t h e Thaba B o s i u r u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t a r e a f o r t h e s t u d y . W i t h i n t h e Thaba B o s i u r u r a l d e v e lo p m e n t a r e a , t h e
32
Fig. 1.4
AGR10iiLTIIHE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES IN LESOTHO - 1976
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rural d e v e lo p m e n t u t m a t s c m ai r r i g a t i o n & l i v e s t o c k t h a b a - b o s i u
r u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t
t h a b a - t s e k a m o u n t a i n a r e a
d e v e l o p m e n t s e e d p o t a t o
^ J a k h o l o m a t s i e n g / r n o r i i la p r ° l 0Cf
>sh farm development
s c h e m e
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s e n q u r i v e r r u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t
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2 8 °E
Source: Secon d d ev elo p m en t p lan ® -1976
one t h i r d o f t h e t o t a l d e v e lo p m e n t a r e a ) a s i l l u s t r a t e d i n F i g . 1 . 2 . A re a n o .1 e x t e n d s o v e r two a d m i n i s t r a t i v e w a r d s , n a m e ly , t h e ward o f Thaba B o s i u a n d t h e ward o f Maama ( F i g . 1 . 5 ) . T h i s a r e a was i d e a l f o r t h i s s t u d y b e c a u s e s o i l c o n s e r v a t i o n w orks h a d a l r e a d y s t a r t e d i n i t when f i e l d work was u n d e r t a k e n f o r t h e s t u d y .
S i n c e t h e f i r s t a i r p h o t o g r a p h s i n L e s o th o w ere t a k e n i n 1950, t h e s t u d y was c o n f i n e d -to c h a n g e s i n l a n d u s e t h a t t o o k p l a c e b e tw e e n 1950 a n d 1976. A i r p h o t o g r a p h s c o v e r i n g t h e t e r r i t o r y o f L e s o th o a s a w hole w ere t a k e n i n 1 9 5 0 / 5 2 , 1 9 6 1 / 6 2 , a n d 1975. I n t h e Thaba B o s i u r u r a l d e v e lo p m e n t a r e a t h e r e w ere a d d i t i o n a l p h o t o g r a p h s t a k e n i n 1968, 1971 a n d 1974. I n a d d i t i o n to t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y o f a w i d e r r a n g e o f a i r p h o t o g r a p h s , t h e r e w ere a l s o o r t h o p h o t o maps p r o d u c e d by H u n t i n g S u r v e y s from t h e 1971 a i r p h o t o g r a p h s a s w e l l a s s t a t i s t i c a l d a t a c o m p i l e d by b o t h t h e
d e p a r t m e n t o f s t a t i s t i c s a n d t h e Thaba B o s i u r u r a l d e v e lo p m e n t p r o j e
The r e s u l t s o f t h e s t u d y showed t h a t t h e n a t u r e o f t h e c h a n g e s i n l a n d u s e , e s p e c i a l l y t h e m a g n i tu d e o f t h e p r a c t i c e o f o p e n i n g up v i r g i n l a n d f o r c u l t i v a t i o n i n u n s u i t a b l e a r e a s , w ere s y m p to m a tic o f a more s e r i o u s p r o b le m o f i n a d e q u a t e a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n . I t was t h u s d e c i d e d t o make a d e t a i l e d s t u d y o f a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i v i t y a n d t h e f a c t o r s t h a t i n f l u e n c e d i t , a s a m eans o f e x a m i n i n g t h e l e v e l a t w h ic h t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d r e s o u r c e s were m anaged i n L e s o t h o . A f u r t h e r s t u d y o f p o p u l a t i o n d i s t r i b u t i o n became n e c e s s a r y i n d e t e r m i n i n g t h e a d e q u a c y o f a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n . P r e v i o u s w r i t e r s h a v e r e f e r r e d t o t h e p o p u l a t i o n
p r o b le m i n L e s o t h o . I n 1935* f o r i n s t a n c e , S i r A l a n Pirn n o t e d t h a t t h e r e was " p o p u l a t i o n p r e s s u r e " i n t h e t e r r i t o r y , a n d i n 1954
m o s t w r i t e r s w r o t e on t o p i c s r e l a t e d to p r o d u c t i o n s h o r t a g e i n L e s o t h o , w h ic h shows how i m p o r t a n t t h e s u b j e c t was t o t h e t e r r i t o r y . T a k i n g a c c o u n t o f t h e a v a i l a b l e a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d r e s o u r c e s ,
p r o d u c t i v i t y , a n d m a n / l a n d r a t i o s , t h e f i n a l p u r p o s e :of t h e s t u d y was to e x a m in e t h e u s e o f a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d r e s o u r c e s i n L e s o t h o . The Thaba B o s i u r u r a l d e v e lo p m e n t a r e a i n w h ic h f i e l d work was done w i l l be r e f e r r e d to a s t h e s t u d y a r e a t h r o u g h o u t t h e t h e s i s .
I t s h o u l d be n o t e d t h a t among t h e w orks l i s t e d i n t h e b i b l i o g r a p h y v e r y few w e re p r o d u c e d by g e o g r a p h e r s . I n f a c t , e x c l u d i n g t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s t h a t some a u t h o r s o f a r t i c l e s p u b l i s h e d i n p e r i o d i c a l s c o u l d be g e o g r a p h e r s , t h e r e w ere o n l y f o u r w r i t e r s t h a t w ere r e a d i l y i d e n t i f i e d a s g e o g r a p h e r s i n t h e b i b l i o g r a p h y , v i z . P o l l o c k , M akhanya, M e i j s a n d S m i t . T h i s shows t h a t L e s o th o h a s t o d a t e b e e n n e g l e c t e d by g e o g r a p h e r s , a n d i t i s h oped t h a t t h i s s t u d y w i l l p r o v i d e a s t i m u l u s f o r f u r t h e r g e o g r a p h i c a l s t u d i e s t h a t w i l l b r i n g more s p a t i a l and r e g i o n a l e m p h a s i s to t h e s t u d y o f
a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d u s e i n t h e t e r r i t o r y . A p a r t f ro m b e i n g a
g e o g r a p h e r ' s c o n t r i b u t i o n to t h e s t u d y o f a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d r e s o u r c e s i n L e s o t h o , t h e s t u d y h a s n a r r o w e d t h e gap t h a t was f e l ; t by S h e d d i c k when he w r o t e h i s r e p o r t i n 1954. W r i t i n g o n l a n d s h o r t a g e I n L e s o t h o , S h e d d i c k ( p . 186) s t a t e d t h a t i t was n o t p o s s i b l e to s u b m i t
t h e a l l e g e d s h o r t a g e o f l a n d t o any s t a t i s t i c a l c h e c k , a n d he e x p r e s s e d t h e hope t h a t t h e a i r p h o t o g r a p h y o f 1 9 5 0 /5 2 would make t h i s p o s s i b l e . U n f o r t u n a t e l y no one h a s t o d a t e made u s e o f t h i s p h o t o g r a p h y to m e a s u r e l a n d s h o r t a g e i n L e s o t h o . The n e a r e s t a t t e m p t was t h a t p r o d u c e d by Bawden a n d C a r r o l l ( 1 9 6 8 ) i n t h e i r
s t u d y o f t h e l a n d r e s o u r c e s o f L e s o t h o , i n w h ic h t h e y u s e d t h e 1 9 6 1 /6 2 a i r p h o t o g r a p h s . The work o f Bawden a n d C a r r o l l p r e s e n t e d
36
u s e f u l i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e a v a i l a b l e a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d r e s o u r c e s i n L e s o t h o , b u t s i n c e i t d i d n o t t a k e p o p u l a t i o n num bers i n t o a c c o u n t , i t d i d n o t p r o v i d e t h e f u l l a n s w e r on t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y o f
a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d r e s o u r c e s . I n t h i s s t u d y t h e m eth o d o f a i r p h o t o i n t e r p r e t a t i o n was u s e d i n t h e a s s e s s m e n t o f t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d r e s o u r c e s v i s - a - v i s p o p u l a t i o n d i s t r i b u t i o n a n d p r o d u c t i v i t y , and i t i s b e l i e v e d t h a t a more c o m p l e te p i c t u r e o f t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y o f a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d r e s o u r c e s h a s b e e n c r e a t e d . How ever, s i n c e t h i s was done o v e r a s m a l l p a r t o f L e s o th o o n l y , i t c o u l d be a r g u e d t h a t
t h e p i c t u r e was n o t t h a t c o m p l e te a f t e r a l l ; f o r t h i s r e a s o n t h e r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d fro m t h e s t u d y a r e a w ere c o n t i n u a l l y com pared w i t h n a t i o n a l f i g u r e s . I t s h o u l d be m e n t i o n e d t h a t a few o t h e r w r i t e r s h a d done w ork o n m a n / l a n d r a t i o s . F o r i n s t a n c e , L .B . Monyake, ( 1 9 7 4 ) , a g o v e rn m e n t s t a t i s t i c i a n , u s e d d a t a o f p o p u l a t i o n a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l c e n s a t o ex a m in e m a n / l a n d r a t i o s . The l i m i t a t i o n s o f t h e s e n a t i o n a l f i g u r e s w ere t h a t t h e y were r a t h e r g e n e r a l i s e d an d t h e r e f o r e c o u l d n o t be u s e d w i t h p r e c i s i o n . S h e d d i c k (1954- p . 186) w a s, f o r i n s t a n c e , d i s a p p o i n t e d a t t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e 1950
c e n s u s o f a g r i c u l t u r e w h ic h he h a d hoped w ould p r o v i d e s t a t i s t i c a l c h e c k i n t h e a s s e s s m e n t o f l a n d s h o r t a g e . A l t h o u g h t h e r e h a s b e e n g r a d u a l im p ro v e m e n t i n t h e m ethod o f e n u m e r a t i o n , t h e n a t i o n a l f i g u r e s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e o f a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n , w ere s t i l l mere e s t i m a t e s i n L e s o t h o . The u n i q u e c o n t r i b u t i o n o f t h i s s t u d y was t h a t i t was b a s e d on d i r e c t m e a s u r e m e n t o f b o t h t h e l a n d r e s o u r c a n d p o p u l a t i o n num bers o v e r s m a l l a r e a s t h a t c o u l d be s u b j e c t e d to a n y num ber o f c h e c k s .
■ The u s e o f a i r p h o t o g r a p h s f o r e n u m e r a t i n g r u r a l p o p u l a t i o n h a s . b e e n u s e d w i t h s u c c e s s by o t h e r w r i t e r s . F o r i n s t a n c e , A l l a n a n d A lem ayehu ( 1 9 7 5 ) u s e d t h e m ethod i n E t h i o p i a , a n d D a y a l and
