In Botswana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, farming conditions are tough: drought, depleted soils and unpredictable rainfall. Livelihoods are also vulnerable to conflict with wildlife—lions prey on cattle, elephants damage crops, and families can lose their means of survival.
Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is our response. We help communities develop farming practices adapted to the local climate: drip irrigation to use water efficiently, shade nets to protect crops from the midday heat, heat-tolerant varieties and organic fertiliser made from manure from their own livestock enclosures. These practices help families secure a reliable food supply, earn an income and reduce potential sources of conflict with wildlife.
“The CSA programme aims to improve nutrition in rural communities while providing an alternative to livestock farming.”
— Onalethata Kealebale, Okavango Farm Manager
Through five sites around the Okavango Delta, we support environmentally sustainable farming near wildlife habitats.
Botswana
Environmental Education in the Okavango Delta
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Democratic Republic of the Congo
Environmental Education at Virunga National Park
Developed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the concept brings together three goals:
Our main project is located in the NG 32/35 concession area in the southern Okavango Delta. Together with the Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust (OKMCT) and the Ministry of Agriculture, and with support from schauinsland-reisen, we run a community farm that serves as a training and mentoring centre for surrounding villages.
What’s happening here:
In North Kivu, we apply the same approach under very different conditions. Soil quality is better here, but the region has been affected by decades of armed conflict and displacement. Climate-resilient farming also helps communities rebuild their livelihoods.
Tomato growing in Kanyabayonga
Together with local women, we grow tomatoes on around two hectares of land. More than 80 women have received training in sustainable agriculture, and many have since established their own income-generating activities.
Community farmland in Kabaya & Rumangabo
Communities collectively cultivate around five hectares of land bordering mountain gorilla habitat. This helps improve food security for families while reducing pressure on the neighbouring protected area.
Chilli oil production
Adding value beyond raw produce: two processing machines turn locally grown chillies into high-quality chilli oil. Hundreds of bottles are produced each year and sold across the region. The same approach can be applied to other products.
TOCaDi is a non-governmental organisation based in Shakawe that promotes sustainable vegetable growing. In the small village of Shaikarawe, just 15 kilometres from Shakawe and 10 kilometres west of Mohembo, TOCaDi runs a community vegetable-growing project supported by SAVE. The organisation aims to alleviate poverty and unemployment. Led by ten members, the project received BWP 35,010.74 in funding from SAVE. Through its commitment, TOCaDi supports the community in building a more sustainable future.
Climate-Smart Agriculture works best where seeds, tools, and mentoring are reliably available. That’s exactly what your donation makes possible: seedlings, irrigation equipment, shade nets, training—and long-term support for the farms until they can stand on their own.
