Project Detail

Demonstration and promotion of sustainable rangeland resources management in Mokhotlong

The proposed project site is located in Mokhotlong district, in the highlands of Lesotho, where predominately the current land use is rangeland. Most of the farmers in the district are largely dependent on livestock (i.e. small and large stock), as the major driving economic force for community livelihood. The identified project site is located in Mokhotlong sheep stud, and covers approximately 10 hectares of land. The area became degraded because of overstocking and soil erosion on the slopes due to poor vegetative cover. Overstocking was caused by increased number of livestock from adjacent villages which encroached into the area without proper control and management, and that resulted into decreased plant cover and land degradation. The other cause for decreased vegetative cover is drought.
The main focus of the proposed intervention is enhancement of sustainable range management systems through: Rehabilitation of rangeland resources as part of sustainable land management; promotion of sustainable land husbandry practices in livestock and crop farming; and education and training of communities in sustainable management of natural resources. This intervention is in line with the GEF-SGP objective of conservation and improvement of carbon stocks through improved and sustainable land use and management.

Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Liphamola Dairy Farmers Association

Country:

Lesotho

Area Of Work:

Land Degradation

Operational Phase:

Phase 5

Grant Amount:

US$ 26,313.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 310,000.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 33,135.00

Project Number:

LSO/SGP/OP5/Y2/CORE/LD/2012/15

Start Date:

11/2012

End Date:

10/2014

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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Project Characteristics and Results

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

Planning gef grant

Planning non gef grant

Project sustainability

- A dairy project that is anchored to the sustainable range resources management project results is sthe strongest link in the sustainability of the project.

Notable Community Participation

1.6 Plan to ensure community participation In project planning and design the stakeholder community were involved as follows; the ministry of Agriculture identified suitable project site and allocated it to the organization, ministry of Local government processed the authority to use the land and ministry of Tourism, Environment and culture organized a training workshop on conservation of biodiversity, while the ministry of Forestry demonstrated on how to plant supplementary fodder and grasses. Therefore, in project implementation, monitoring and evaluation stages, all the stakeholders are committed to work concurrently and complement each other with the Association and rural communities, where public gatherings had already been convened for them to participate.

Capacity - Building Component

Education and training in sustainable management of range resources is a major component of the project. There will also be campaigns and demonstration of rehabilitation of degraded rangeland in villages within the vicinity of the project site.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

Public gatherings to deliberate on range resources, their condition and importance in sustaining livelihoods and the role of local communities in their sustainable use. Joint demonstration site visits Training workshops for grantee members and key stakeholders.

Replication of project activities

Several farmers from adjacent villages who have benefitted from training demonstrations are approaching the Association and the Ministry of Forestry and Land Reclamation for supply of grass and other types of fodder seed to plant on their own fields. These farmers have embarked on forming village grazing schemes in their respective villages, a demonstration of change of attitude towards range resources use and replication of projectactivities. The total number of farmers now adopting good land use practices and the total hectarage are yet to be determined.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The beneficiaries of improved range resources are the entire Mokhotlong community, including livestock owners and their beneficiaries as well as the Association members. When the vegetative cover is improved and land degradation is under control, they will have increased economic returns from the envisaged dairy farming enterprise which will facilitate employment of poor and vulnerable people who could not have any means of survival on their own.

Policy Influence

The intervention isl contributing towards the national priority of "promoting sustainable and integrated land management that will reduce land degradation and support increased land use productivity that sustains economic development" as encapsulated in the National Strategic Development Plan.

Policy Impact

The intervention will contribute towards the national priority of "promoting sustainable and integrated land management that will reduce land degradation and support increased land use productivity that sustains economic development as encapsulated in the National Strategic Development Plan.

Linkages gef projects

The project area falls within the former Maloti Drakensberg Tranfrotier Project, funded by GEF and it is within the catchment of the Polihali Dam (Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Development Water Project between Lesotho and South Africa) within the upper reaches of the Senqu (Orange) river.

Gender Focus

This is no discriminating between men and women roles, membership is opened equally to everybody, and the benefits that accrue from the successes of the project will be equally shared.

Project Results

- 10 ha of degraded rangeland has been rehabilitated and put back to productive use. Paddocks have been re-established and re-seeded with Eragrostis curvula. 4 ha of land has been put under perennial fodder crops (fodder sorghum and Lucerne). On their own, grantee members have bought dairy cows and are running a dairy project with the livestock feeding requirements being supported by the improved rangelands and fodder production. Prospects for generation of the urgently needed employment are good.
- Awareness about good range resources management practices has been raised in 3 villages (Ntsiking, Nkotoane, Bafali) adjacent to the project area. 45 farmers, 15 per village we trained on planting of Eragrostis curvula and Lucerne during which two demonstration plots were established per village. This has resulted in several of these farmers approaching the Association and the Ministry of Forestry and Land Reclamation for supply of seed to plant on their own fields. THese farmers have embarked on forming village grazing schemes in their respective villages, a demonstration of change of attitude towards range resources use. The total number of farmers now adopting good land use practices and the total hectarage are yet to be determined. The buffer around the project area is slowly being strengthened with the result that the prospects for achieved project results will be sustained over the long-term.
- The project has become a good demonstration initiative that shows complementarity of programmes of various government ministries: Agriculture and Food Security (dairy production); Forestry and Land Reclamation (range resources management and sustainable land management and fodder production); the project has afforded these ministries to work together harmoniously.
- Through private sector support, the project has been up-scaled into a fully fledged dairy venture, with a fully equipped and mechanized milking parlor.
-Through partnerships with local farmers, 750 ha of land will be put under fodder production to supply the dairy project which is now has dairy cows.

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