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Use
of Sustainable Livelihoods Approaches
Phase
1 of the project was people centred and holistic, by focusing
on understanding the farming systems and livelihood strategies
of farmers in Kavango region. A major part of the early work
was on crops and crop variety testing and evaluation, soil
fertility and prospects for agroforestry. Studies were also
done on how farmers manage their environment, in terms of
agronomy, livestock (both inland and riverine communities)
and forestry. This enabled the project to show livelihood
strategies and assets, at different levels within the
system. A study on how farmers manage the inland fishery in
Katima in relation to their other livelihood components is
in train.
A study of the social systems present in Kavango region has
been undertaken, in addition, in conjunction with an NGO a
study of the San Bushmen livelihood system. Particular attention
was paid to the effect of commercialisation of non-timber
forest products on the San people. Moreover the project undertook
a case study over a 2-year period of a purposive sample of
8 farmers. This was undertaken using participatory monitoring
methods. From these and other studies, generic and specific
livelihood diagrams have been drawn [change assessment].
The project was instrumental in establishing a livestock group,
which agreed best livestock practice and designed/redesigned
extension messages.
The results of these studies have shown areas where further
interventions can be determined and better focused. A list
of livelihood opportunities and possible extension messages
has been created, for forestry, livestock and agronomy.
By piloting new methods and approaches to research and extension
at a time when there was a big on-going debate in the Ministry
about their structure and organisation, the project activities
had an impact on the Ministry's of Agriculture's policies,
institutional structure and processes.
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