Farmers, their animals and the environment – Africa – Part 1

Posted by Admin on May 11, 2015 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Curved horns help these codes push away the tall grass, when food is scarce tales filled with fat help these sheep survive. The extra skin on this Bulls neck helps it stay cool in the heat is shiny coat reflects the hot Sun light. these donkeys can digest food with very little water, these are genetic traits evolved over the centuries as these animals adapted to survive the hostile environment this region.not only have individual farmers benefited from the animal’s ability to survive, the entire region has benefited in terms reliable agricultural production.

Every day list them Zebedayo Mchiwa faces the same problem he must find grass for the animals he tends sometimes it’s easy, sometimes it’s not, he passes his time by making music he offers as is music to be the soundtrack for this video. as we listen will meet other farmers and hear their stories, these are the farmers of southern Africa all rely on animals these farmers recognize that their best hope for the future is with indigenous animals, local animals that have already survived in this region for thousands of years and will continue to survive and to provide benefits to the farmers who need them. The Zebedayo Mchiwa is one of those farmers the rains came late in central Tanzania this year his crops failed, but it’s not a total disaster because he has his cattle his herd include a local breed called improper of during the drought several years ago when most improved cattle in this region died the umpapa what survived so he’s added them to is heard and knows they will see him through the tough times.

Zebedayo Mchiwa
I plan to use these cattle because I can sell one or two of them, I can use the money from the sale to buy the food I need to feed my family. There is a bit of irony here yes the umpapa will help mister Mchiwa and his family survive, but the breed itself is at risk of extinction and the fade of the umpapa is not unique acrossthe region many other breeds indigenous farm animals face similar features. Southern Africa is a land of harsh climates depleted natural resources from flat grasslands to rocky and mountainous regions the environment is in control here droughts are common, there’s a shortage of water and grass that’s one of the advantages of the indigenous animals they require less food because their body size is small but it’s exactly because of that small size that in the past they were not appreciated by commercial operators governments began cross-breeding programs with larger exotic animals trying to increase size and that bring more money in the market.

But as those kilos knows where added kenitic treats that allowed the animals to survive here would being lost the crossbreeding it was a big price to pay,at this Agricultural Research Station in Zimbabwe they’re trying to stop this loss of biodiversity building herds indigenous truly and in grozny cattle. Doctor Sibonisio Moyo was the station director. She’s convinced that indigenous livestock is the only solution for local farmers.

Doctor Sibonisio Moyo Said “you can fit them into it small hotel room setup you can use them as female in large-scale commissions tap in their own give you the answer to higher productivity has the 55 pridgen and a resistance to some diseases”

James Hlabanga is nearly 80 his family has always lived in these parts Southwest’s Zimbabwe and kept her to the indigenous Mooney cattle but several years ago he joined the government breeding program cross-breeding is in union with exotic cattle, did it work

James Hlabanga ” It helped at the beginning but a big drop came in they all died, I had to start over, eventually I only want to have been going again I think they’ll bring my head up.”

Animal genetics research is now underway in the 14 countries that make up the South African Development Community siddig the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the UN Development Programme are working with siddig to serve and support research into the genetic traits and assets local farm animals. This regional survey will give governments and international organizations more information about the contributions that these animals and about those that are in danger. another setting activity the integrated project for food security is supported by the government of Norway is also working to raise awareness of the importance of these local animales.

Dr. James Msechu is an animal geneticist representing the Sadeq program in Tanzania he feels that these animals can be considered a renewable natural resource there a vital component the region’s biodiversity. When many important aspect of the genetic resources would be and near Fort to pry entry reverse the trend all those animals with endangered that someone was rich and I’ll running towards extinction very fast and we want to reverse it.