13 Feb 2018

As part of a preparation for community trusts to start managing their newly allocated community ranches, some trust committee members undertook a three day training on holistic land and livestock management.

The training, which was jointly organised by Ngamiland Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Project and African Centre for Holistic Management in Zimbabwe, targeted specifically Lake Ngami Trust and Nxaraga Community Development Trust members.

Holistic management is the process of decision-making and planning that gives people insights and management tools needed to work with nature; resulting in better, more informed decisions that balance the economic, social and environmental considerations.

Outlining the objectives of the training, one of the facilitators from African Centre for Holistic Management in Zimbabwe, Mr Simon Garikayi stated that, holistic management was practised world-wide, adding that it was vital for the trustee leadership and farmers to have full understanding of the basics of holistic land and livestock management so that they fully support the practice from the onset.

He also revealed that at the end of training, the participants would understand the need to work together as a committed team for successful implementation of the concept, adding that they would also appreciate its benefits.

The concept encourages proper land planning for grazing and zoning of land, he added.

Furthermore, he said participants would also have skills and knowledge of creating and monitoring grazing plans during implementation and appreciate the need to re-plan when necessary.

Officiating at the training, the district agricultural coordinator, Mr Obert Mabutha indicated that the SLM project has introduced several innovative concepts of development to farmers in Ngamiland.

The project, he said had taken bold steps in the development of the discourse of the district and commended the implementers for a job well done. 

He said he had reliably been informed that the concept promotes a 24/7 supervision of livestock by farmers hence reducing predation, stock theft, stray animals and road traffic accidents involving livestock.

Mr Mabutha encouraged participants to take the training seriously, adding that at end of the workshop, he would like to see the two ranches functional and being production centres for agricultural goods and services in the near future.

He said he believed that the training would be customised and domesticated to suit local situation to the advantage of the participants. 

He also emphasised the need to have a buy in and support in whatever they were doing so that they enjoy the benefits.

SLM project coordinator, Mr Innocent Magole observed that the training was important for the Ngamiland community and the Ministry of Agriculture Development and Food Security adding that they would like to see the concept growth in the district in terms of food production and security.

He noted that they had created a partnership with African Centre for Holistic Management in Zimbabwe hence they had brought some facilitators to equip the locals on basics of the concept.

Last year, two groups of farmers were sent to Zimbabwe to benchmark on the concept and currently, it was piloted at Hainaveld ranches.

For his part, Lake Ngami Conservation Trust manager, Mr Galefele Maokeng thanked the SLM project and officials from Zimbabwe for organising the training noting that it would be an eye opener to the participants.

He called on all partners to come on board and support the concept so that it produced the expected results. 

At the lake, he said they had misfortune of unattractive location as they were surrounded by grazing areas but stated that the concept would help them to be creative and bold to make informed decision to ensure sustainability. Ends