land regeneration on smallholder farmers in southern africa- what works?

Land regeneration on Smallholder farmers in

Southern Africa- What works?

Rolf Shenton & Sebastian ScottGrassroots Trust

02/05/23 Grassroots Trust 1


Renewable resources biodiversity

Population growth xConsumption rates

Regeneration: opportunity for small-scale farmers

Finite resources fossil fuels, ag inputs, cheap transport

Its all about decisions


Complexity!

• Every decision considers social, environmental and economical context, both short and long term, simultaneously (Holistic Context)

• Assume decisions are wrong, quick identification , re-plan and correct decision• Helps identify and address Root Cause not Symptom and REDUCES unintended

consequences

Grassroots Trust- Shaping a Viable Future 5

Holistic Management FRAMEWORK

Preparing business structure for commons Land and natural resources

Sell land with natural capital Secure commons and co-manage resources with Govt under a conservancy structure

Immediate income but it finishes and people remain poor and land-less

Traditional Authority secures 5% of income derived from all common pool resources (fish, forest products, wildlife)

Income increases forever as community becomes more organised at exploiting resources


Large-scale farms tend tomechanise so don’t create many jobs

People forced to migrate to citiesand other areas


Namibian Community Conservancies

Eg: Soya 1ha50kg bags

Maize 1ha50kg bags

Pigeon Pea50kg bags

Cost USD

Profit selling as grain

Profit if fed to livestock

Current 20 35 0 400 320

Yr 1 30 60 5 400 750 2130Yr 2 40 80 15 260 1400 4260Yr 3 50 100 15 200 1850 5550Yr4 50 120 15 133 2100 6260

Key drivers of community, biodiversity and wealth decline• Thinking poor- mindset• Burning- animals eat vegetation - stop burning food• Over- Rest – too few animals• Sedentary grazing - no time for vegetation to re-grow and diseases

to die • Unsustainable harvesting of trees, animals, fish • Mono-cultures – plants help each other grow • Soil compaction- tillage (see Elaine Ingham soilfoodweb)• Poisoning soil and water- over-use of chemicals, fertilizers and

waste02/05/23 Grassroots Trust 11

When did modern agricultural practices arrive in your community? 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2015

Ploughing x x

Fertiliser use x

Breakdown of Communal planned grazing livestock management (big herds) to individual (small herds)

x

Fencing x

Resettlement from big villages to small spread out farms

x x

Fire: controlled patch / mosaic burning to widespread burning culture

x

Fire: late burning to early burning x

Local/ traditional decision- making to fortress structure

x x

Mixed cropping to mono-cropping x


When did you notice symptoms of desertification (less water and fertility)?

1920 1940 1960 1970 1980 1990 2015

Streams drying earlier in season x x xSprings drying earlier in season x x xDambo’s drying earlier in season x x xWells and boreholes drying x xCrops suffering drought x x xInvasive species in pastures ( ie: sporobulus family of grasses- Nkungwa, ulendo)

x x x x

Floods and droughts x x xFarmers making charcoal x x xPeople migrating to cities and north x x xPoverty indicators x x xLost sense of ownership of land and resources x x x x


Rainfall vs effective rainfall


Are early or late rains due to Climate Change?


To accept and hold water soil must be covered


1. Ensure that all decision makers in the catchment are involved in this process

2. Stakeholder develop vision of how they want their lives to be 10-20 years from now including how much money that all stakeholders want to have

3. Discuss how the Chiefdom must should look like, what kind of resources that will be needed to produce such lives

4. Sharing holistic context helps ensure everyone pulls together in the right direction- collective action

Holistic Management process to collective action


Adding value to wood

• A hardwood tree cut for charcoal fetches approx $14 for the producer- • The same tree made into good crafts or furniture can realise $650


• Adapted breeds scavenge nutrient better, tolerate heat and so have high resistance to endemic diseases – body condition

• Better quality, meat-bone, calving, • Demand for African breeds is high in wet/dry environments


Ideal compact bodyLong legs,large frame

Adapted breeds


Livestock prices


• Most people prefer village chickens

• healthier for people and environment and help distribute wealth

• 80% of village chickens die of Newcastle's disease- Inoculation is simple and cheap

Unlocking poultry


Farming rivers


Farming wildlife


Bio-energies


Low input, regenerative farming

Key recommendations• Focus on soil cover/ organic matter• Reprogram mindsets to Regeneration• Facilitate local CBNRM process & use of decision- making framework• Secure sense of ownership and tenure over land and nat resourses• Stop: burning, tillage, mono-cropping, poisons & unsustainable

harvesting• Share regenerative technologies, opportunities for benign energy

and renewable fiber industries• Develop local value add • Develop markets to cater for increasing production


land regeneration on smallholder farmers in southern africa- what works?

Environment