Project Detail

Improving Livelihoods of Vulnerable groups through Sustainable practices and Environmental protection

Context
SMARTD development area faces a number of challenges which can be described as inefficient resources to fight poverty, inadequate capacity of communities to deal with climate change and massive environmental degradation. Agriculture production in our area is affected by climate change and losses are severe. Water availability on the other hand is threatened by climate change. Water sources are disappearing or becoming scarce, streams that used to run all year round are now seasonal. Changes in the ecosystem have also affected wild sources of food such as wild vegetables and herbs which were used as medicines and as nutrient supplements during scarcity of food. Intensive tillage accompanied by mono cropping, mismanaged grazing and other conventional farming practices limit the lands ?potential to sustain to sustain food security and preserve biodiversity. Rain-fed agriculture systems suffer the most of these impacts especially under irregular rainfall patterns and extreme

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temperatures resulting from climate change. Framers now harvest 50% less than before the emergence of climate change phenomenon.
In this regard, SMARTD will work with communities in shifting to a system that improves soil health by improving soil aggregates, structure, moisture content and its capacity to regulate temperatures to those favorable to crop growth. We will encourage among communities practices that promotes minimal soil tillage, biodiversity, environmental conservation and management, fodder production and water storage capacity of farmlands for farmers to increase productivity of diverse nutritious food thereby improving food security. Working with communities on prevention and reversal of destruction of the environment and natural resource base in our operational area is very crucial. We will support our communities in their efforts to manage and conserve the natural resource on which they depend and support the use of appropriate technologies to enhance adaptive capacities of the vulnerable community so that in the ultimate end we have a sound and protected environment on which to produce food and maximise yields for our communities to be food sovereign and food secure.
The project ?Improving Livelihoods of Vulnerable groups through Sustainable practices and Environmental protection? will be operating in the southern Mountains of Quthing in Ha-Tlhaku and rural Maseru in T?senekeng Semonkong. In Ha-Tlhaku this project will cover the villages of Ha-Mosehle, Ha-Ratjeka, Polateng, Mahlachaneng, Ha-Ntami and Ha-Tlhaku while in Semonkong our main focus will be in the villages of Likueneng, Moriting, Masaleng, Ha-rasefale and Letlapeng. The SMARTD Resource Centre is about 200m above the Senqu river on the southern side, on the outskirts of the small rural town of Ha-Sekake. This area consists of relatively gently sloping terrain used as arable land for field crops, but the larger part is mountainous with steep slopes and cliffs. The sloppiness of the farm land makes it easier for soil to wash away with heavy and mild rains. Wind erosion is also affecting farmland and other soil degradation factors that result mostly from the practices that people engage in when farming.

Project Objectives

Primary objective
To contribute to improved livelihoods and protected environment on which farm households depend on for their survival in areas of Ha-Tlhaku and T?enekeng.

Specific objectives:
Specific objectives which will help us reach our primary objective are as follows:
? To enhance the capacities of communities, farmers and local authorities on environmental protection
? Raise awareness to livestock owners, herders, communities and local authorities on the importance of keeping well managed rangelands
? To improve adaptation capacities of farmers on the effects of climate change in food production
The specific outcomes of our intervention will be as follows:
? Small holder farmers, communities and local authorities participate in environmental protection technologies advocated to them by SMARTD.
? Livestock owners, herders, communities and local authorities implement proper range management and practice supplementary feeding.
? Smallholder farmers use sustainable agriculture initiatives for their livelihoods enhancement.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Southern Mountains Association for rural Transformation and Development (SMARTD)

Country:

Lesotho

Area Of Work:

Land Degradation
Land Degradation
Land Degradation

Operational Phase:

OP7 - Y1 (Jul 20-Jun 21)

Grant Amount:

US$ 45,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 58,585.00

Project Number:

LSO/SGP/OP7/Y1/CORE/LD/2021/02

Start Date:

5/2021

End Date:

4/2023

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

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Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

Among the socio-economic livelihoods which the project intends to promote are merino sheep breeding, agroforestry, conservation agriculture, environmental protection, range management and water conserving activities. With these activities we will harness the production capacities of communities and farmers thus improve on their standard of living.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

Information about project will be translated into pamphlets or flyers written in Sesotho and made available to the communities (both beneficiaries and non ? beneficiaries). Success stories of the project will be documented in the form of reports and small documentaries (video clips) and will shared with other stakeholders.

Gender Focus

Men and women will have equal shared responsibility in implementation and monitoring of this project. However, in some activities like agroforestry and merino sheep, women will be given a greater responsibility because of a believe that they have the to nurture these projects to their full stability.

Capacity - Building Component

No specific capacity needs identified because of long experience in working with communities on the above-mentioned activities. However, we will still collaborate with the Ministry of Forestry and Land Reclamation and the Ministry of agriculture to gain further experience and skills on range and sustainable agriculture practices.

Project sustainability

Project implementation is farmer-led. Self-help and participatory approaches have been the main strategies for project implementation to foster ownership. Local authorities, livestock owners and herder have all been involved during planning an implementation with farmers themselves becoming stewards of all development initiatives through election of leadership groups to ensure sustainability of achieved results over the long term.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

Sesotho, a local and official language has been the main language in pitsos, meetings and during mobilization; and will continue throughout project implementation.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

The communication strategies for the project will range from reports, beneficiary inter ? sessions, monthly meetings and public event or gatherings. SMARTD will produce videos, photo-stories and social media platforms will provide information to general public and sensitize stakeholders on projects developments. Results and lessons either emanating from the project or acquired to strengthen project activities efficiency will be consolidated and shared with stakeholders.

Replication of project activities

Thus far, the focus is on two villages namely, Ha Tlhaku and Tsenekeng and significant results are yet to be realized. The plan is to allow best practices and successes to be copied by neighboring villages by seeing and through peer-to-peer exchanges.

Notable Community Participation

Youth will form part of the communities in terms of implementation. They will be trained with communities and will take some responsibility in monitoring daily activities during implementation. The main focus in involving youth is to generate the culture of ownership among youth with regard to their community development.

Project Results

*Working with 2 communities of Ha Tlhaku and Tsenekeng, SMARDT has promoted adoption of conservation agriculture and agroforestry technologies through trainings and demonstrations that involved 85 farmers (81 women and 36 men). An agroforestry interest grouped has been formed and to date 1272 fruit trees have been planted by members (individual households, farmer field school and local primary school), with a survival rate of 95%. Although only 44 farmers (25 women and 19 men) benefitted from the conservation and agroforestry training, a total of 94 farmers (37 men and 57 women) have adopted CA in their food production. Promotion of the technology is continuing.

*13 acres of degraded cropland have been put under fodder production (alfalfa, lucerne, barley and Eragrostis curvula) for supplementary feeding and for restoration of the cropland. 40 farmers (36 men and 4 women) are benefiting from this initiative.

* As SMARDT is also keen on improvement of quality and quantity of wool and mohair in Quthing and Qacha's Nek, local communities were trained in sustainable rangeland management as a prerequisite for securing good forage for livestock and improved production of wool and mohair. Thus, local communities at Ha Tlhaku and Tsenekeng were mobilized for brush control and construction of buffer strips and check dams resulting in a total of 395 acres of land reserved and rested for rehabilitation. Work is continuing.

*Through strong partnerships established with local authorities and government department, the initiated rehabilitation and conservation works are secured.

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