Restoring The Rangeland Dryland Farming Organisation

Agriculture plays a pivotal role in ensuring food security and supporting the economies of nations across the globe. However, the current methods of farming have put great strain on our environment, degrading soil fertility and contributing to climate change. It's time to shift towards sustainable practices that restore the natural ecosystem and promote resilience. One such initiative that shows promise is the restoration of the Rangeland Dryland Farming Organisation.

The Rangeland Dryland Farming Organisation is a non-profit organization dedicated to rehabilitating the degraded rangeland areas and promoting sustainable agriculture practices. With its focus on dryland farming, the organization aims to restore the balance between agriculture and nature, ensuring food production while protecting our delicate ecosystem.

Understanding Dryland Farming

Dryland farming refers to agricultural practices carried out in regions with low rainfall and scarce water resources. These areas are often prone to droughts and are most affected by the negative consequences of conventional farming methods. The Rangeland Dryland Farming Organisation recognizes this vulnerability and works towards creating solutions specific to this landscape.

Restoring the rangeland (Dryland Farming Organisation Book 1)

by Brian Chatterton(Kindle Edition)

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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One of the key strategies employed by the organisation is soil restoration. By focusing on regenerative farming practices, such as conservation agriculture, organic farming, and agroforestry, the Rangeland Dryland Farming Organisation aims to rebuild the soil organic matter and improve its water-holding capacity. This approach not only enhances crop productivity and resilience but also sequesters carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, mitigating climate change.

Restoring Biodiversity and Resilience

The degradation of rangelands and drylands often leads to a loss of biodiversity, with negative impacts on local ecosystems. The Rangeland Dryland Farming Organisation recognizes the interconnectedness of biodiversity and sustainable agriculture. By implementing restoration efforts, the organization works towards rehabilitating native grasses, fostering the return of wildlife, and recreating a balanced ecosystem.

Restoring biodiversity not only safeguards plant and animal species, but it also enhances the ecological services provided, such as pest control and pollination, which are crucial for sustainable agriculture. By promoting diverse crop rotations and integrating livestock, the Rangeland Dryland Farming Organisation aims to achieve a harmonious balance between production and conservation.

Education and Community Engagement

Restoring the rangelands and drylands requires not just technical expertise but also community involvement. The Rangeland Dryland Farming Organisation places great emphasis on education and outreach programs to raise awareness about sustainable farming practices and the importance of ecosystem restoration.

Through workshops, training sessions, and collaborative projects, the organization empowers farmers with the knowledge and skills needed to implement sustainable practices. By partnering with local communities, the Rangeland Dryland Farming Organisation establishes long-lasting relationships, ensuring the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices at a grassroots level.

The Future of Sustainable Agriculture

The restoration of the Rangeland Dryland Farming Organisation serves as a shining example for the future of agriculture globally. By focusing on sustainable practices that restore the natural ecosystem and promote resilience, this organization presents a pathway towards a more environmentally friendly and economically viable agricultural system.

As more people become aware of the need for sustainable food production, the demand for organizations like the Rangeland Dryland Farming Organisation will increase. Governments, communities, and individuals must support and invest in initiatives that prioritize the restoration of degraded lands and the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices.

By restoring the rangelands and drylands, we can create a resilient food system that can withstand the challenges of climate change while minimizing its impact on the environment. The restoration of the Rangeland Dryland Farming Organisation is a testament to the power of collaboration and dedication in achieving a sustainable future for our planet.

Restoring the rangeland (Dryland Farming Organisation Book 1)

by Brian Chatterton(Kindle Edition)

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1544 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	82 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

“Governments need to build a coalition of support for pastoralists to tap the potential for economic development in east Africa, a top US official said last week. Jeff Hill. Director for policy at USAid, the US development arm, said underinvestment in pastoral communities in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya have contributed to the extreme levels of food insecurity in the Horn of Africa's dry lands…
“and this vulnerability to drought that is eroding food security in these area” Hill told agricultural experts at a meeting in Nairobi, “and this vulnerability is a result of chronic under-investment. This is particularly true for livestock based systems which are and will be the dominant part of arid and semi-arid lands”
Lloyd Le Page, CEO of the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR) agreed on the importance of livestock in the current crisis. “Livestock provide more food security than growing crops in many arid and semi-arid areas,” he told the meeting.”

Reported in Guardian Weekly 09-09-11

To say that Brian Chatterton presents an alternative view of rangeland restoration is to understate this book. Brian Chatterton inverts the conventional wisdom on rangeland restoration in the North African and West Asian region. He is critical of the attempts to restore the rangeland using expensive fodder shrubs. While they provide, in theory, a stable supply of feed through periods of drought they depend on a sophisticated level of grazing management that is not currently achievable. It is time to admit that they are a failed option. He points to the failure to tie grazing management and pasture improvement together in a package that also includes an appropriate form of tenure. Ideas on land tenure need to be based on current patterns of land use and grazing traditions not ranches developed from models used in USA and Australia.
The sentiments expressed by Jeff Hill and Lloyd Le Page are sound but the reality is more difficult. Investment in what? How does one invest in a pastoral community? Pastoral nomads have been on the fringes of rural development for decades. There have been many well intentioned attempt to improve their lives but these have almost invariably failed to put together a package that is attractive for investors. This ebook explains how pasture improvement and grazing have to tackled simultaneously as each is dependent on the other. For longer term management and investment it is essential to resolve the thorny issue of land tenure. Marketing the production of the rangeland flocks is vital to improve the flock owners' incomes and a return on investment in pastures.
This ebook is based on Brian Chatterton's experience as a farmer in the semi arid region of Australia, Minister of Agriculture in South Australia, consultant and adviser to national governments in North Africa and West Asia as well as international development agencies. He has worked in West Asia and North Africa from Iraq to Morocco for forty years. He has seen many projects fail and some have limited success. The major cause has been a failure to deal with all the element simultaneously.
Tenure problems have been left on the back burner. Brian Chatterton proposes new forms of tenure for the rangeland and a totally new concept defining the boundaries of pastoral land. While the ebook is based on West Asia and North Africa the ideas have much wider application throughout Africa.
Brian Chatterton is joint author with Lynne Chatterton of “Sustainable Dryland Farming” published by Cambridge University Press, “Fodders for the Near East: annual medic pastures,” published by Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, “Why grow medic?” a series of farmer training kits also published by FAO and the web site www.drylandfarming.org He has written numerous articles for journals and farming magazines.