30 Aug 2023

The herding for health project in Eretsha and Habu in Okavango District has brought smiles on the faces of pastoral farmers.

The European Union funded project is facilitated by Conservation International and implemented by Communities Living Among Wildlife Sustainability (CLAWS) organisation.

The five-year project has reduced human-wildlife conflict in the two Okavango villages by introducing a herding system and a mobile quarantine facility.

Briefing stakeholders during a review of the project, an official from CLAWS, Ms Catja Orford, said since they started the project some farmers in Eretsha, Habu and surrounding areas had enjoyed economic rewards from their livestock.

She said 10 farmers in Habu were able to quarantine their cattle last December and that through the project they managed to sell the animals directly to Maun Botswana Meat Commission (BMC).

She said they made more than P116 000 while in Eretsha 25 animals were sold and they generated more than P118 000.

Ms Orford said farmers were no longer compelled to travel long distances to Makalamabedi to quarantine their cattle.

She also said animals from the mobile quarantine were transported directly to BMC for slaughter unlike in the past when farmers used to incur costs transporting the animals.

She said communities where the project was working were in support of it and were running the herding programme.

She said farmers have benefitted from veterinary assistance and improved rangelands. She added that community members had devised herding practices and practiced rotational grazing to maximise restorative ecological principles.

Some farmers who have benefited from the project have hailed it as a welcome development.

They said it restored their waning confidence in the cattle industry.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Monnaaleso Sanga said the project had brought smiles and improved their livelihoods.

It motivated them to take pastoral farming to another level.

He said they no longer paid transport and other expenses to quarantine their cattle in Makalamabedi, adding that the project enabled them to cut costs and make better profits.

He also said the pilot project has created jobs for the youth work as cattle herders.

Another beneficiary, Mr Dinawa Kutlwano, hailed the project, saying it had done wonders for farmers and ignited their passion for farming.

He said the project has secured them a market for their beef in some safari companies operating in the delta. He added that some safari operators had also resorted to buying cattle directly from farmers.

Mr Kotlhao Senwametsi said they learned a lot from the project and that it helped them to establish the true value of their cattle. ENDS