Farm Uibis No.34, /Huibes Conservancy, Daweb Constituency, Hardap Region, 14th November 2022- The Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta today officiated at the handover ceremony for the Integrated Wildlife and Sustainable Rangeland Management for improved livelihoods project handover in the /Huibes Conservancy, Hardap Region funded under the CBNRM EDA Project that is implemented through the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia. 

Delivering the welcoming remarks was Hon. Salamon April, the Governor of the Hardap Region who thanked the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia for empowering the community of /Huibes Conservancy and Hardap region in general through the project intervention. 

In his keynote address Hon. Pohamba Shifeta, stated that the “Integrated Wildlife and Sustainable Rangeland Management for improved livelihoods” is funded by the Environmental Investment Fund and being implemented by the /Huibes Conservancy in Hardap region. The project aimed at enhancing climate change resilience of communities in the /Huibes landscape area through integrated farming systems”. He further urged made the farming communities and specifically the small farmers by noting that they have the potential to contribute significantly to national food security as well as national economic growth of this country. “It is in our best interest to foster conservation of our natural resources through community based natural resource management system as established by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism”. 

Situated in the Daweb Constituency, the Huibes Conservancy was funded to the tune of N$ 1 500, 000 under Ecosystem Based Adaptation investment window under the Empower to Adapt (EDA) project, which is centred around Creating Climate Change Resilient Livelihoods through Community Based Natural Resource Management in Namibia (CBNRM EDA Project). 

The /Huibes Conservancy forms part of the Daweb Constituency in the Hardap Region. /Huibes lies about 120 km south west of Mariental. There are two hundred and twenty households (220) registered with the /Huibes conservancy of which most live in abject poverty. The total population is seven hundred and fifty (750). Livestock farming and specifically small stock farming is the dominant farming activity for most households. 

The project is aimed at enhancing climate change resilience of communities in the /Huibes landscape area through integrated farming systems. The project objectives include establishing livestock breeding and livestock revolving bank and enhancing community food security through backyard gardens and Poultry production. 

To date the projects has ensured that 6 backyard gardens have been established, two hydroponic units for fodder production have been completed, and292goats of which 10 are ramsfor small stock breeding schemeprocured livestock,chicken feeds and feeder(poultry production system)and 400 chickens procured will be distributed to identified household of beneficiaries.