Project Detail

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION THROUGH OSTRICH PRODUCTION BY CHESA PROJECT IN MOUNT DARWIN

The project is situated in Chesa 40km east of mount Darwin in natural region 3b with erratic rainfall not reliable for cropping, and was initiated by a group of 6 farmers .The project was proposed as an alternative land use option that will reduce cultivation and protect the natural resources against soil erosion, siltation and deforestration.By adopting the ostrich land use option , farmers will reforest and revegetate overgrazed and formerely cultivated , degraded lands and give the farmer a better land use return per unit area through ostrich production diversification.This project will reintroduce the ostrich species within the indegenous community for dual purposes.this project was also aimed at increasing income and standards of living through sustainable environmental means.

The objectives of the project are :
-to promote the conservation of the ostrich species and save it from extinction among the smallholder farmers.
-reduce soil erosion ,overgrazing and deforesration
- reduce cultivation by introducing ostrich farming land use system.
-inrease incomes and improve standard of living for beneficiaries.
-to support community initiatives aimed at protecting the environment and achieve sustainable development.
The activities inthis project include fencing ostrich paddocks, planting mulberry and Leucaena trees . conserving and breeding the ostrich species and strengthening indigenous grassrootland use systems.The Chesa Ostrich Syndicate community of 7 farmers are the immediate beneficiaries including othr small scale farmers who will benefit by adopting the ostrich land use system in the long run.
Some of the anticipated results include ;
-conservation of biodiversity through reforestation and ostrich species protection.
-increased knowledge on environmentally sound land use other than crop husbandry
- increased income and improved standard of living .
-ecologically sound development with community participation
- the combatting of siltation ,deforestration and soil etrosion.

The anticipated project results include conservation of biodiversity through reforestatiuon and ostrich species protection. In addition the project endevours to increase the local community's knowledge on environmentall sound land-use and other traditional crop husbandry activities. Increased income and improved standard of living among beneficiary groups is also the other key result area.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Chesa Ostrich Production Syndicate

Country:

Zimbabwe

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

Pilot Phase

Grant Amount:

US$ 40,567.68

Co-Financing Cash:

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 26,500.00

Project Number:

ZIM/92/G31/01

Start Date:

10/1995

End Date:

12/1996

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Gender Focus

Although the treasurer of the syndicate is a woman, the actual project is male-dominated since all the farmers are men. Thus as the project grows, there is need to ensure that women are also incorporated into the project.

Notable Community Participation

Chesa Ostrich Production syndicate has 7 farmers who are immediate beneficiaries. This project was initiated by the group of farmers and they have contributed in terms of labour for infrastructural development activities and the erecetion of fences for their paddocks. The group has also identified their training needs or areas which they need strengthening in ostrich farming.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

Chesa Ostrich project has been an alternative land-use option which has helped to reduce land degradation, soil erosion and has enabled the revegetation of the overgrazed areas. Ostrich farming has resulted in improved income and a better standard of living as they can sell the meat and ostrich skins both at local and outside markets.

Policy Impact

No policy impact

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

One of the major actvites of the project is the marketing of ostrich products not only at local level but also at regional level. This will help the group in terms of income generation for livelihood improvement. In addition, ostrich production is one of the huge foreign currency earners and hence this group will not only make an impact at their local level in terms of revenue generation but also at national level.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

The farmers have become aware that by engaging in ostrich farming there has been a change in their immediate environment which also impacts global environment. This has led to protection of biodiversity and through reforestation activities they have reduced greenhouse gas emissions. However, there is need for more awareness raising in their neighbouring communities in how ostrich farming can contribute to the global environment.

Capacity - Building Component

The group is now empowered to raise ostriches on their own and to train other farmers in neighbouring communities. Their knowledge on environmentall sound land-use other than the traditional crop and animal husbandry has increased.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

The project has been a landmark for indigenous small scale farmers to diversify from the traditional cropping farming systems to environmentally sound farming by adopting ostrich farming. This group has created a network with a group of farmers in Concession to facilitate their exports to the international market.

Project Results

1)ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS.
Ostrich has managed to relieve pressure on the environment as compared to other activities like livestock farming. There has been a significant improvement on the vegetative cover especially on the paddocks that have been established.

2) INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS
The farmers managed to establish incubation facilities, chick rearing facilities together with chick and breeder paddocks. Farmers have gained full practical experiences in nOstrich Nutrition, Incubation and Hatching. The producers also experienced the foramation of the Zimbabwe Ostrich Producer Association which they are a member and the Association helps in co-ordinating, facilitating, monitoring and evaluating the activities of the members.

By and large, most of the project objectives were achieved. The main objective of conserving wild ostriches was well attended to. Soil and vegetation conservation have also been addressed. What still remains is the marketing of ostriches and the products through legal channels.

3)CONSTRAINTS
i) The most outstanding issue that was left unattended to in the funding was the water issue. The farmers had to put requests to other donors for installation of two boreholes at theincubation centers but the requests have not been approved.
ii) The costs of feeds is ever-increasing
ii) Lack of proper implementation of governement policies towards the marketing of Ostriches and their products
iv) Disease outbreaks e.g Newcastle

4) PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY
The Ostrich industry is growing so rapidly and the demand for ostriches locally is also growing. This creates opportunities for the initiation of more new ostrich projetcs either thriugh replication or scaling up of the existing initiatives.

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