IMELDA AMBONDO
More than 10,000 smallholder farmers have benefited directly from the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) five-year climate change adaptation project aimed at improving food security, income generation and climate resilience.
EIF says the recently concluded project assisted farmers with access to clean water as well as restocking their livestock.
EIF spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said the project funded to the tune of N$164 million (N$10million) significantly improved the resilience of smallholder farmers and rural communities in the drought-prone areas of Sesfontein, Fransfontein and Warmquelle.
Muyunda said the project reached an estimated 68,600 people, significantly exceeding the original target of 21,000 beneficiaries.
The project, known as Improving Rangeland and Ecosystem Management Practices of Smallholder Farmers under Conditions of Climate Change in Sesfontein, Fransfontein and Warmquelle Areas (IREMA), was implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform.
It was approved by the Green Climate Fund in March 2018.
“The successful completion of the IREMA project demonstrates how targeted climate finance can deliver real, lasting benefits for communities on the frontline of climate change,” Muyunda said.
He said the initiative focused on strengthening drought preparedness, improving land and water management and supporting communities to adopt sustainable livelihoods under changing climate conditions.
According to EIF, community gardens and green schemes were rehabilitated across the three project areas.
“If we can get another project like for sheep or cattle we would really appreciate that” Muyunda said.
In Fransfontein, 16 hectares of community horticulture gardens were brought back into production, directly supporting 90 households and indirectly benefiting a further 390 households.
In Warmquelle, a 16-hectare Green Scheme equipped with drip irrigation was rehabilitated, while seven commercial greenhouses were established to restore local food production and ensure year-round access to fresh produce.
“The project placed strong emphasis on supporting vulnerable households, particularly women and small-scale farmers, to strengthen their ability to cope with recurrent drought,” Muyunda said.
Seth Murorua (51) one of the beneficiaries of the goat revolving scheme,said drought has affected their potential yields.
“This project is really a good help to us, we were struggling but we got help from IREMA through the project and that is a good start for a farmer” Murorua said
“When drought comes we suffer, our animals die because they have nothing to eat,”Murorua said.
Agricultural Technician at the Ministry of Agriculture, Anton Joseph said many farmers benefited from the goat revolving scheme project.
“We continue this process until everyone benefits from it,” Joseph said.
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