Surviving drought with encroacher bush

KIRSTY WATERMEYEROMAZERAThe thornveld savanna of the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia is, while beautiful and expansive, in some places so overgrown, that a wall of vegetation allows nothing through. This area is also home to the Omazera village, home of the Kauari family.Salomo Kauari, like his father before him, is a fulltime farmer. He is a communal farmer and a member of the African Wild Dog Communal Conservancy.Farming was always in his blood, and even when he left the farm to work in Windhoek, he did so for 15 years at one of the largest agricultural retail entities. While there, he also took the time to attend as many training opportunities as he could and learnt about “animal health and nutrition”.Then in 2014, when his father passed away, Kauari returned home, to begin what he was always meant to do.How Training Sparked InnovationAccording to Kauari, he had an added advantage because of the training he attended.“I attended courses by GIZ. The first training I attended was the 19th Rangeland Forum in Otjiwarongo, which was mostly on adaptation to climate change. Then I attended the 21st Rangeland Forum, also in Otjiwarongo were the bush-based feed booklet was launched. This was my first time to hear about bush-to-feed and link to drought. The training helped me a lot because you get different ideas. Some you can use, and others you can’t, but it helped me a lot.”Kauari continued to attend as many training courses as he could over the years, especially those on the topic of bush-based animal feed.“It was around April 2019 that I bought my own machine. I also attended a bush-based animal feed production workshop and training of trainers workshop that year. I was just collecting experience on bush-to-feed: on how to prepare it; how to make some rations and some recipes for different animals. So, when I came back home, I could try it. At that time, I was just trying to make different recipes for different animals.”Kauari purchased a hammer mill machine, which is used to grind material into small pieces. What he did not know then, was that by investing in his bush-to-feed production, he was ensuring a lifeline for his family farm.Surviving the DroughtThe area where Omazera is situated, would normally receive around 350 to 400 mm of annual rainfall. Namibia has however, been in the grips of a nine-year drought since 2012, with rainfall averages dropping each year. “The year 2019 was also the time our rainfall was very low. In 2018 we had about 290 mm, and in 2019 we only had 130 mm,” says Kauari.“I knew I had to make a plan. I used the bushes. I made different recipes, for survival or maintenance feed. This was how my twelve calves survived the drought.“The mothers of the calves died in the drought, so I had to try help the calves survive. I used a mixture of bush feed, bran, molasses syrup and salt. If it was not for the idea that I got from most of the trainings of using bush-to-feed, I could have lost everything - even the bull itself.”Kauari’s process and InnovationKauari uses biomass for his animal feed, from encroaching species, which he then mixes with other food supplements such as bran and molasses.“You take the problematic bushes, the encroaching bushes, you then cut off the branches, and put them in the hammer mill. When you are finished you put them on a black sheet to dry. I have found though, that it’s better to cut and leave the bushes in the field overnight before they go in the hammer mill machine. Then most of the water is out. After you dry the feed on a sheet, you can mix it to feed to the cattle.”To further the ease of his process, Kauari welded an old barrel to create an instant mixer.“I made my own barrel for mixing, you put all ingredients in the barrel and roll it (on the ground) and it comes out already mixed,” says Kauari, proudly showing off his innovation that has already impressed his farming neighbours. While he experimented to perfect his recipe for bush-based animal feed, Kauari has also created a recipe for protein blocks, which are made using a mix of tree pods, mixed with bran, a bit of phosphate, molasses syrup, water and salt.He has also started the production of activated charcoal, which came about in response to a common problem faced by farmers here.“From September to January we have a problem with poisonous plants in our area,” Kauri explains. He now uses his hammer mill to create charcoal powder which can be added to the livestock’s drinking water to help reduce toxins and prevent poisoning.“With the same machine and the same process, I also make activated charcoal. I pack this into one-kilogram bags and sell it to other farmers, the product helps that their cattle do not die from their poisonous plants.”Climate Change and Farming TodayKauari notes that farming today is very different from farming in years gone by. This he feels, is why it is so important for farmers to be adapting and looking for sustainable innovations in farming practices.“Climate change has affected everything and has also changed everything. When I grew up, my father didn’t even use most of the supplements we use. They didn’t even vaccinate their cattle as often. Nowadays if you have small stock, you have to vaccinate them four times a year. I do not know, there is a lot of diseases nowadays.”He says that the other challenge is that the grazing areas are becoming smaller because there are a lot of camps around. Everything is fenced, so I have to plan how to let mine survive in a small space. So, I have to supplement. Farming is very different.”The Future is in Sharing IdeasDespite the many challenges, Kauari is optimistic about the future.“I am very proud of where my operation is going. There are always many challenges in farming, but the trainings happened in the same period that we faced a drought, and it helped me. It meant my cattle and livestock could survive the drought.”Kauari now shares his knowledge and learning with other farmers as a mentor.He feels there is still a need for more support in the animal feed sector, as it’s an emerging sector, and there is still much to learn. However, he also feels that farmers are good communicators, and as they continue to share their experience, the sector will grow.His advice to anyone wanting to learn more about this sector is to attend information days and visit workshops.“That is where you get the information, and if you are a farmer you really need that information. Auctions are a great place to get information, even if you are not selling, you might meet a farmer who gives you an idea.”

Surviving drought with encroacher bush

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Namibian Sun 2026-01-08

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Surviving drought with encroacher bush

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Namibian Sun 2026-01-08

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