Key to this is shifting the mindset of traditional cattle producers who are able to move their cattle from area to area and therefore see little value in investing in more sustainable practices. By improving cattle producers’ access to livestock auctions they have the platform to turn cattle into cash. The programme has seen success in this approach in Namibia where cattle sales amounted to N$28,3 million Namibian dollars contributing to significant improvements for the community who is now able to more promptly pay for school fees and uniforms.
Learning livestock management
While a growing middle class in the Southern African region has led to a steady growth in the demand for animal protein, livestock producers have faced significant challenges in terms of the drought that has affected the region for the past couple of years. The livestock programme aims to support livestock producers to improve management that can increase productivity and efficiency while simultaneously helping to reverse land degradation that has occurred across the region from unsustainable grazing patterns.