Meat Naturally performance evaluation : ecorangers and communal grazing systems in South Africa

The organization collaborates with non-profit organizations to manage communal grazing land in three regions around South Africa with the purpose of conserving grassland and improving rural livelihoods. MNP partners are Implementing Agents (IA), they include Conservation South Africa (CSA), LIMA Rural Development Foundation (LIMA), TransKinira Trust (TKT), Environmental and Rural Solutions (ERS), and others. Generally, IA’s are responsible for the planning, facilitation, and monitoring and evaluation of activities in line with MNP objectives relating to the ecorangers management and rotational grazing. However, the capacity and projects of each organization influence its scope of work in collaborating with MNP and, therefore, the end results. The work of MNP was evaluated using a questionnaire that investigated the farmer, farm, income and expenditure, and farmers’ perceptions of the innovation. Six locations were visited with a total of 65 customers participating. All 65 interviewed farmers participated in MNP auctions by selling cattle. A significant number of farmers acknowledged the role of MNP as paramount in helping them sell their cattle, thereby improving their income and reducing poverty. MNP and the partners positively contributed to grassland restoration with farmers acknowledging a change in livestock health and their herd increasing with no mortality as a result of overgrazing. Overall MNP and its partners (including the EcoRangers) are reviving the grazing land of Umzimvubu and the practice of communal farming by involving farmers and community members and subsequently improving their livelihoods. This has yielded positive results so far. However, for sustainability, the EcoRangers need to do more to help farmers positively embrace rotational grazing, understand the dynamics of pricing per kilo, and know the value of different breeds. Also, MNP should reach out to make farmers further realize the impact of climatic variability.