Viyani Ndlovu (40) is a smallholder farmer based in Hwange’s Jambezi village in Matabeleland North. Viyani has embraced the idea of regenerating the landscape using livestock that is managed according to a grazing plan.
“I started the process of land and livestock management in 2012. The reason why I started this work is because land was degraded and farming output had drastically gone down because of poor soils,” says Viyani.
Viyani started the process of planned grazing as an individual farmer in 2012. He then mobilised other smallholder farmers through awareness campaigns with the help of the local Chief and village heads. By 2018 more than 15 farmers had joined him. Viyani says livestock play a critical role in regenerating the land.
“We do planned grazing, a process of collectively herding cattle and rotating grazing lands according to a grazing plan. Ever since we started planned grazing, we now have abundant grass. There is also increased livestock due to reduced cattle mortality rates as a result of tick related diseases. Planned grazing has also increased the plant species. Livestock do not trample on one location. This gives time for flora and fauna to flourish,” says Viyani.
Viyani says one of the notable changes in the landscape is that the Jambezi River, which used to dry soon after the rains, was now a perennial river.
“Planned grazing has revived the Jambezi River. This was successful because of abundant grass which reduce run-off, increase infiltration and recharge underground water,” says Viyani.
Viyani works with Astrid Huelin, a veterinary doctor and expert in land and livestock management and the Africa Centre for Holistic Management. Astrid and ACHM are members of PELUM Zimbabwe.
Elias Ncube (64) a technical expert in land and livestock management at the Africa Centre for Holistic Management explains that his organization provides knowledge and skills to farmers and organisations working with farmers on how to regenerate their landscape working with livestock.
“We support farmers with knowledge on how to regenerate their landscape using livestock. The farmers can then practice planned grazing to restore degraded landscapes and use movable kraals to improve cropland soils. These activities restore grasslands and recharge rivers and raise the water tables in boreholes,” says Elias.
Astrid Huelin (51), says landscape regeneration is important because it increases biodiversity in a natural ecosystem. She says low biodiversity is mainly caused by human activities.
“Humans are drivers of biodiversity loss because of poor decision making, training and outdated beliefs in which they do not value the importance of fauna and flora,” says Astrid.
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