ICRISAT Archival Report 2006 - The seedlings of success in the ...

2.3.3 Up-scaling the technology
This technology is applicable to all areas with savannah-like vegetation but should be adaptable to other vegetation
structures as well. It is therefore scale-neutral for savannahs and can be implemented where required. At present, we
are only up-scaling in the Molopo region. Further up-scaling will require additional funding and time. It can
definitely be applied in other countries, for which new partners will have to be identified.
2.3.4 Contribution to the overall DMP project goal and objectives
This technology specifically contributes to improved understanding of ecosystem and dynamics with regard to loss
of biodiversity (Output 1), development and implementation of strategies for conservation, restoration and
sustainable use of degraded agro-ecosystems, enhancing the capacity of stakeholders (Output 3) and implementation
of participatory natural resources management (Output 6). Reports are available for most of these, but other aspects
are still being developed or are being tested.
2.3.5 Projected potential impact
This project is mainly aimed at protecting existing biodiversity and improving bio-diversity in impacted areas
through local empowerment (CLI). Four areas have been targeted in the Molopo region, and to date about 50
farmers and 1700 pupils have been reached.
B. Botswana
1. The context
Botswana is a semi-arid country and water is often in short supply. However low rainfall does not mean low levels
of soil erosion by water as much of the rainfall comes through thunderstorms of high intensity and erosive power.
When these rains do come, there is often poor protective vegetative cover. Reduction of soil fertility by soil erosion
leads to low crop yields. This type of land degradation is particularly common in the hardveld of eastern Botswana
where Bobirwa sub-district, a DMP target area, is located. The challenge is how to effectively control soil erosion.
Pastoralists of the communal rangelands of Botswana mainly perceive their worst problems as being drought and
inadequate number of livestock. Most of them try to promote rapid increase of their livestock between droughts as a
way of compensating for low productivity per animal due to limited grazing area. Besides, the primary aims of
security of livestock assets and subsistence encourage having a high number of livestock. As a result, livestock and
rangeland conditions are particularly poor during drought periods and the farming communities are equally
adversely affected. However, there are mechanisms they can be used to deal with lowered productivity of rangeland
and to alleviate its impact on sustainable development. Techniques that lessen the impact of drought are more
effective if they provide early warning to resource users of possible unfavorable rangeland conditions. Continuous
monitoring and observation of existing rangeland conditions are essential to be able to detect any patterns or trends
towards a decline in agricultural or ecological activity. The challenge is how to empower the communities to
monitor and observe the environment around them.
Although agriculture is still the mainstay of the rural economy in Botswana, there are other activities undertaken in
the rural areas, which supplement the income of the rural dwellers. These activities, which are undertaken together
with agricultural activities, include harvesting of forest products, trading and beer brewing, in order of importance.
In Bobirwa sub district (hardveld), non-agricultural activities that are sources of income include the harvesting of
phane caterpillar (Imbrosia belina) and mokolwane (Hyphaene petersiana, palm tree). Although phane and
mokolwane are potential sources of income for rural dwellers, the majority do not exploit these resources for
commercial purposes. In Kgalagadi district (sandveld), there is commercial harvesting of forest products especially
sengaparile (Harpagophytum procumbens, grapple plant) and mahupu (Terfezia pfellii, Kalahari truffle) by remote
area dwellers (RADs). In both eco-regions, harvesting of forest products is carried out under open access regime.
Thus, everyone is free to harvest the forest product phane without any limitation as to quantity and harvesting
methods used. Open access resources are prone to over harvesting since the benefits accrue to individual harvesters,
while the costs in terms of damage to the resource is borne by all. Among factors that inhibit rural dwellers from
engaging in commercial harvesting of forest products is lack of coordinated marketing systems for the products. For
example, phane harvesters do not have proper markets to sell their produce, and instead mainly rely on people who
come to buy from harvest sites. Moreover, most of these forest products are sold after very little processing. For
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