Alleviating Adverse Impacts of Drought on Livestock Farmers - South Africa

Categories: Land Use

For decades, farmers have lost livestock due to poor rangeland management techniques. This is a result of lack of information that enable farmers to take the relevant action such as moving livestock to a different pasture when drought strikes. Droughts account for 85.8% livestock losses (FAO, 2015). More often than not, farmers rely on insurances and government relief funds to deal with the destructive effects of drought. Regular information is required to ensure that farmers develop risk management and coping strategies to avoid dealing with the after effects of drought. On the other hand, the decision makers and policy makers formulate and update policies that are related to land management and food security. Therefore, the actionable information provided by the livestock service is critical to them.


Story 1: Decision or Policy maker

As a policy/decision-maker, I want to view the projected and current vegetation health status and trends so that I can make informed decisions, formulate land management policies (or strategies) and evaluate their effectiveness or impacts.

Required AfriCRS Products:

AfriCRS-S2-P02 - Crop Condition Monitoring

AfriCRS-S3-P01 - Seasonal Drought Forecast

AfriCRS-S3-P02 - Drought Monitoring and Early Warning

AfriCRS-S7-P01 - Weather Forecast


Story 2: Agricultural Extension Services / Production Scientist /GIS specialist

As an Extension officer / Scientist / GIS officer, I want to analyze and visualize the projected and current drought status and trends so that I can advise farmers to reduce livestock numbers in sufficient time to avoid livestock and profit losses and rangeland degradation as a result of drought.

Required AfriCRS Products:

AfriCRS-S3-P01 - Seasonal Drought Forecast

AfriCRS-S3-P01 - Seasonal Drought Forecast (Dashboard)

AfriCRS-S3-P02 - Drought Monitoring and Early Warning

AfriCRS-S7-P01 - Weather Forecast


Story 3: Farmer

As a farmer, I want to see the month-to-month changes in vegetation health in my gazing fields so that I can implement livestock rotation strategies, determine if I need to supplement fodder and manage my livestock population better to avoid degradation.

Required AfriCRS Products:

AfriCRS-S2-P02 - Crop Condition Monitoring

AfriCRS-S3-P01 - Seasonal Drought Forecast

AfriCRS-S3-P02 - Drought Monitoring and Early Warning