Rangeland management in Namibia aims to restore grasslands and prosperity through community-based programs. Livestock farming is a major industry, contributing 80-85% of agricultural income. The Community-based Rangeland and Livestock Management program addresses environmental degradation through improved husbandry practices like rotational grazing, planning grazing periods to allow regrowth, and training farmers in business skills like record keeping and marketing. The goal is to achieve healthy grazing areas and livestock herds to benefit farmers. While activities have led to regeneration and higher incomes, challenges remain in fully implementing programs due to Namibia's large size, cultural beliefs, communal land ownership, and effects of population growth and climate change.

1. Beating
Famine in
Southern
Africa
15 April
2015
Emily Mutota
RANGELAND MANAGEMENT IN
NAMIBIA
New possibilities for restoring grassland
and prosperity to rural areas.

2. SIGNIFICANT FOR RANGELAND MANAGEMENT
IN NAMIBIA
Agriculture is the 3rd largest industry
(economic sector) of which livestock
farming contributes 80 – 85% of the
income generated.
Its also at the heart of Namibians and their culture.

4. RANGELAND MANAGEMENT POLICY AND
STRATEGY
1. Guided by National Management and Policy
and Strategy
2. Min. Agriculture, Water and Forestry
3. Focus on community mobilisation and
engagement: both communal and commercial

5. Community-based Rangeland and
Livestock Management (CBRLM)
.
To address environmental
degradation on common grazing
land in the North of Namibia.
To increase incomes of poor
rural households

6. THE DESIRED GOAL
Heathy and productive grazing areas
Heathy livestock
Benefits for the farmer

7. ACTIVITIES
1. Improve husbandry practices
 Reading the land
 Improve rangeland conditions
2. Planned and combine grazing
 Communities develop grazing plan
 Synergies livestock and crop
3. The business of farming training
1. Encourage selling (de-stocking)
2. Strengthen marketing

8.  Understanding grasses
growth
 “Reading and recording
what we observe on the
land
1. READING THE LAND
“I thought I was a cattle
farmer.. Now I feel I am a
grass farmer..”

9. 2. PLANNING AND COMBINE GRAZING
Plan where to graze,
how long Info on
grasses regrowth

10. SHORTER (DAILY) ROTATIONAL GRAZING
Livestock moved once a day: 112 days to allow enough regrowth at each site

11. 3. FARMING BUSINESS

12. 1. PROMOTE DE-STOCKING WHEN GRAZING IS POOR
De-/re-stocking help to increase the number of animals.

13. Farmers managing the
risks off drought and
debt can grow wealth
and stability in rural
areas.”
TRAINING

14. SIMPLE BOOK KEEPING

15. SUBSIDIES TO ATTRACT FARMERS TO SELL

16. LESSON LEARNT FROM ACTIVITIES
1. When well managed livestock, could help to regenerate the
grass land.
2. Large herding have a beneficial impact on soil and plants
3. Reducing animals number alone has not addressed the root
causes of land degradation
4. Regular monitoring of livestock helps farmer to know if their
investment is worth it
5. Crucial to award herders– motivation
6. Livestock is best tool available to bring about productive lands.

17. CHALLENGES
1. Country too large: large has not be reached , success
not well shared
2. Cultural belief (status)
3. Communal land: Tragedy of the common
4. Population growth and climate change
Effort need to be scaled up !

18. Thank You!