Fodder system management

Reduced Overgrazing and Rangeland Rehabilitation for small livestock

"Reduced Overgrazing and Rangeland Rehabilitation" represents a holistic approach to land management and conservation, particularly in regions where overgrazing and rangeland degradation are prevalent. This technology embodies a comprehensive strategy aimed at restoring and maintaining the health and productivity of these ecosystems. It involves the implementation of various practices, methodologies, and systems that enable the sustainable use and rehabilitation of overgrazed rangelands. Through the application of diverse techniques such as rotational grazing, silvo-pastoralism, fodder production, improved pasture management, and sustainable intensification of ruminant production, the technology aims to restore ecological balance. Moreover, the focus is not just on addressing the consequences of overgrazing but also on preventing and managing conflicts arising from grazing rights and land usage between different stakeholders, such as pastoralists and farmers. This technology seeks to establish a harmonious and sustainable coexistence among various users of these lands by encouraging participatory and collaborative approaches in resource management.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

7•7

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 7/9; level of use 7/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

The poor: Positive medium

Under 18: Positive medium

Women: Positive medium

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Biodiversity: No impact on biodiversity

Carbon footprint: A bit less carbon released

Environmental health: Greatly improves environmental health

Soil quality: Does not affect soil health and fertility

Water use: Same amount of water used

Problem

Overgrazing due to Population Pressure: Rising population and increased demand for animal products lead to excessive pressure on land, resulting in overgrazing and subsequent rangeland degradation.
Environmental Impact: Overgrazing leads to soil erosion, nutrient depletion, water scarcity, and loss of biodiversity, impacting the ecosystem's health and productivity.
Conflict Between Pastoralists and Farmers: Overgrazing often causes conflicts between wandering pastoralists and sedentary farmers due to disputes over land usage and grazing rights.

Solution

Sustainable Land Management: It emphasizes the importance of managing grazing areas, regulating herd movement, and preventing overgrazing by implementing technologies like rotational grazing and improved pasture management.
Ecological Rehabilitation: Techniques such as afforestation through silvo-pastoralism and soil and water conservation help restore and rehabilitate degraded rangelands.
Community Empowerment: The technology advocates for community involvement and participatory approaches in managing rangelands, fostering stakeholder engagement and resolving conflicts through participatory rangeland management.

Key points to design your program

Fodder System Management improves livestock productivity, restores degraded rangelands, and promotes sustainable grazing practices through improved pasture management, fodder production, and rangeland rehabilitation. The technology can be integrated into livestock development, climate resilience, land restoration, food security, and natural resource management programs. Its adoption contributes to SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger), 5 (Gender Equality), 13 (Climate Action), and 15 (Life on Land).

To integrate this technology into your project, plan and budget for the following activities and prerequisites:

Assess rangeland conditions, grazing pressure, feed shortages, land degradation, and livestock production challenges in target areas.
Establish partnerships with ILRI, research institutions, pastoralist organizations, extension services, local authorities, and other livestock value chain stakeholders to support technology dissemination and scaling.
Facilitate access to improved forage seed, pasture management inputs, fodder production technologies, and sustainable grazing systems adapted to local conditions.
Implement demonstration sites and training for livestock keepers, cooperatives, extension agents, women's groups, and youth enterprises on rotational grazing, fodder production, pasture rehabilitation, soil and water conservation, and sustainable livestock management.
Support extension and dissemination activities to promote sustainable grazing practices, silvopastoral systems, and rangeland restoration.
Promote the participation of women, youth, and pastoralist communities in forage production, livestock enterprises, and technology adoption activities.
Implement monitoring, learning, and inclusion activities throughout the project lifecycle.
Track key indicators such as pasture productivity, forage availability, livestock performance, land restoration, farmer adoption, household income, and rangeland condition.

IP

Open source / open access

Scaling Readiness describes how complete a technology\’s development is and its ability to be scaled. It produces a score that measures a technology\’s readiness along two axes: the level of maturity of the idea itself, and the level to which the technology has been used so far.

Each axis goes from 0 to 9 where 9 is the “ready-to-scale” status. For each technology profile in the e-catalogs we have documented the scaling readiness status from evidence given by the technology providers. The e-catalogs only showcase technologies for which the scaling readiness score is at least 8 for maturity of the idea and 7 for the level of use.

The graph below represents visually the scaling readiness status for this technology, you can see the label of each level by hovering your mouse cursor on the number.

Scaling readiness score of this technology

Maturity of the idea 7 out of 9

Semi-controlled environment: prototype

Level of use 7 out of 9

Common use by projects NOT connected to technology provider

Maturity of the idea										Level of use
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Burkina Faso	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Cameroon	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Ethiopia	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Kenya	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Mali	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Niger	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Senegal	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
South Sudan	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Tanzania	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Uganda	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Zimbabwe	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid
Semiarid
Subhumid
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 13: climate action

Goal 15: life on land

Goal 2: zero hunger

Goal 5: gender equality

Determine the desired outcomes: improved ecosystem services and better livelihoods for stakeholders affected by rangeland degradation.
Manage Vegetation, Water, and Soil: Aim to maintain vegetation cover, prevent uncontrolled runoff of water and soil, and limit the spread of invasive plant species.
Implement Management Mechanisms: Adjust grazing intensity and control livestock movement to align with rangeland vegetation and existing wildlife. Employ rotational grazing, periodic re-seeding, and water harvesting as part of the management process.
Control Grazing Activities: Replace larger livestock (cattle) with smaller ruminants (goats and sheep) to control grazing intensity.
Monitor and Adjust: Continuously monitor the effects of implemented measures on vegetation, water, soil, and the overall health of the rangelands.
Evaluate Success: Assess the success of the implemented strategies in achieving the desired outcomes related to improved ecosystem services and livelihoods for stakeholders.