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

THE DESIRED GOAL

Heathy and productive grazing areas

Heathy livestock

Benefits for the farmer

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..”

2. PLANNING AND COMBINE GRAZING

Plan where to graze,

how long Info on

grasses regrowth

SHORTER (DAILY) ROTATIONAL GRAZING

Livestock moved once a day: 112 days to allow enough regrowth at each site

3. FARMING BUSINESS

1. PROMOTE DE-STOCKING WHEN GRAZING IS POOR

De-/re-stocking help to increase the number of animals.

Farmers managing the

risks off drought and

debt can grow wealth

and stability in rural

areas.”

TRAINING

SIMPLE BOOK KEEPING

SUBSIDIES TO ATTRACT FARMERS TO SELL

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 !

Thank You!