emily mutota-rangeland-management-in-namibia
TRANSCRIPT
Beating
Famine in
Southern
Africa
15 April
2015
Emily MutotaRANGELAND MANAGEMENT IN
NAMIBIA
New possibilities for restoring grassland
and prosperity to rural areas.
SIGNIFICANT FOR RANGELAND MANAGEMENT
IN NAMIBIA
Agriculture is the 3rd largest industry
(economic sector) of which livestock
farming contributes 80 – 85% of the
income generated.
Its also at the heart of Namibians and their culture.
RANGELAND MANAGEMENT POLICY AND
STRATEGY
1. Guided by National Management and Policy
and Strategy
2. Min. Agriculture, Water and Forestry
3. Focus on community mobilisation and
engagement: both communal and commercial
Community-based Rangeland and
Livestock Management (CBRLM)
.
To address environmental
degradation on common grazing
land in the North of Namibia.
To increase incomes of poor
rural households
ACTIVITIES
1. Improve husbandry practices
Reading the land
Improve rangeland conditions
2. Planned and combine grazing
Communities develop grazing plan
Synergies livestock and crop
3. The business of farming training
1. Encourage selling (de-stocking)
2. Strengthen marketing
Understanding grasses
growth
“Reading and recording
what we observe on the
land
1. READING THE LAND
“I thought I was a cattle
farmer.. Now I feel I am a
grass farmer..”
SHORTER (DAILY) ROTATIONAL GRAZING
Livestock moved once a day: 112 days to allow enough regrowth at each site
Farmers managing the
risks off drought and
debt can grow wealth
and stability in rural
areas.”
TRAINING
LESSON LEARNT FROM ACTIVITIES
1. When well managed livestock, could help to regenerate the
grass land.
2. Large herding have a beneficial impact on soil and plants
3. Reducing animals number alone has not addressed the root
causes of land degradation
4. Regular monitoring of livestock helps farmer to know if their
investment is worth it
5. Crucial to award herders– motivation
6. Livestock is best tool available to bring about productive lands.
CHALLENGES
1. Country too large: large has not be reached , success
not well shared
2. Cultural belief (status)
3. Communal land: Tragedy of the common
4. Population growth and climate change
Effort need to be scaled up !