E-SLIP FACILITATES A PARTICIPATORY APPROACH TO RANGELAND MANAGEMENT

 

Grazing areas are fast depleting and deforestation has adversely 
affected the already low rainfall pattern of Chirundu

As the effects of climate change continue to reveal themselves in the livestock sector, rural farmers are being compelled to make aggressive efforts towards enhancing their resilience and ultimately protect their livelihoods.

In valley areas such as Chirundu, a grim scenario exists which continues to hinder farmers’ capacity to grow their livestock population most especially cattle.

The Enhanced Smallholder Livestock Investment Programme is a government intervention under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. The Programme which is jointly financed with the International Fund for Agriculture Development(IFAD) aims to improve the sustainable production and productivity of rural livestock farmers. One of E-SLIP’s interventions has been facilitating the revamping of existing rangelands through over sowing of forage and pasture so as to enhance available grazing areas for livestock among other things.

E-SLIP has been facilitating the over sowing of 35 rangelands around the country through the establishment of Rangeland Management Committees that are comprised of farmers who are located in areas that are directly dependent on the rangelands.

Headmen in Chirundu take action against indiscriminate tree cutting

 

Roy Habasimbe - a headmans of Sikoongo area

Chirundu district is renowned for its high temperatures and low rainfall. But this scenario has been exacerbated by climate change and is bordering on becoming unbearable for both human and livestock if no interventions are made.

The District experienced only one month of rainfall during the 2022/2023 rain season and boreholes around the district are already drying up.

Livestock can be seem roaming in search of food and water; and farmers in the district have every right to be disturbed by what they are observing.

Roy Habasimbe is a farmer and village headman in an area called Sikoongo. He explained that in the last 7 years, he has observed a significant reduction in rainfall in the area.

“In 2019, our cattle were even dying of dehydration,” he lamented.

HEAD WOMAN JUSTINA PHIRI - AN ADVOCATE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCE

Justina Phiri has been headwoman in Mumbulumba 

village for 15 years

Women in leadership positions in rural areas remains a wonder to see but their contributions to their communities often go un-acknowledged. This is because the increase in patriarchal attitudes disguised as cultural norms hinders women’s participation in leadership roles in rural areas.

Mumbuluma village is located in Luangwa district of Eastern province in Zambia. The area has 12 village headwomen and only 4 headmen. These women are also advocates for climate change interventions that their area is in dire need of. 

59-year-old Justina Phiri has been a headwoman in the area for the past 15 years. She explained that indiscriminate tree cutting for charcoal has led communities to observe the reduction of rainfall over the years and hence the need to conserve the environment was finally being taken seriously by rural communities.