05 Sep 2023

Ngamiland farming community has been implored to embrace a new project dubbed ‘Ecosystem based adaptation and mitigation of Botswana’s communal rangelands’ aimed at promoting conservation and improving cattle management in their region.

This comes after another pilot programme previously adopted by the farming community in the region, termed Herding for Health (H4H), which is ending this year.

Implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture in partnership with Conservation International (CI) this year in the district, the new project’s overall goal is to sustain enhanced adaptive capacity through policy transformation in promoting the livestock value chain.

Speaking at the just-ended workshop meant to train farmers, project manager from Conservation International organisation, Mr Phemelo Ramalefo said the new project would be a continuation of efforts made through H4H as they both used the same concept of mitigating human wildlife conflict by introducing herding and kraalling system and a mobile quarantine facility that enabled commodity based trade (CBT) compliance to access beef markets.

The project, he said aimed to support livelihoods by bringing economic benefits through improved livestock production while at the same time promoting conservation and improved cattle management.

“We are happy that our project will ensure continuity to H4H project, which is coming to an end this year and I urge you to put your support behind the new project to ensure smooth implementation for your benefit,” he added.

However, H4H was facilitated by Conservation International and implemented by a non-governmental organisation, Communities Living Among Wildlife Sustainability (CLAWS) at villages of Eretsha and Habu in the Okavango district while the new project will be implemented in 19 villages in North West and 33 villages in the Okavango District.

The project is expected to restore vegetation in communal rangelands that were severely impacted by climate change and to reduce greenhouse gas emission over 8.5 years.

Mr Ramalefo said the project would be focusing on three components being to strengthen institutions and support systems; regenerate grazing and improved livestock management as well as green livestock value chain.

The gathering also learnt that the project would utilise collective management of livestock and ecosystem to restore the district’s communal rangelands as well as increase the climate resilience of vulnerable populations and reducing greenhouse gas emission.

Mr Ramalefo said the project would be driven by farmers and its activities included the development and deployment of a rangeland stewardship portal through which data would be collected on ecosystem health, climatic conditions, cattle herd sizes and locations, fires, disease outbreaks and economic returns from livestock sales by farmers.

The portal will allow open access to herders, communities, government and organisations to inform their decision-making and planning. 

The portal will also contribute to an innovative, participatory project monitoring and evaluation system where information flows both to and from project beneficiaries.

Mr Ramalefo appreciated that all stakeholders at all levels had been engaged throughout the development of the project and were very supportive of the project approach.

One of the farmers, Mr Ontiretse Mphareng from Mogotlho village in the Okavango District appreciated that the project would promote herding and kraalling, noting that they had been challenged to collect their animals because of fear of wildlife attacks.

He also urged farmers to unite and speak with one voice, saying by so doing they could advocate for interventions that would mitigate human wildlife conflict and take the cattle industry to a higher level. ends