Cattle for Change: Reimagining Community Resilience Through Livestock Sharing
Published: Dec 10, 2024 Reading time: 3 minutes
Imagine a community where the exchange of three cows fosters resilience and drives economic growth. The Pass on Scheme within the Livestock Integration Initiative (LII), run by our colleagues at People in Need (PIN) Zambia, is enabling communities in Western Zambia to transform livestock into a resource for long-term progress.
The scheme operates on a simple principle pass-on: selected participants begin with in-calf heifers, nurturing these animals while passing on the mother stock to other households as calves are born. Passing animals on creates a chain of mutual support, expanding access to resources and opportunities across the community.
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Mercy's Story: A Testament to Community-Led Progress
Mercy Ingutu Nowanga, a grandmother and one of the programme's participants, reflects on the difference livestock ownership has made.
She now cares for five cows, including two calves, providing her household of eight—comprising children, grandchildren, and a great-grandchild—a stable source of milk and manure for farming.
Scaling Progress Across Communities
Currently, we are set to distribute 12 bulls and 40 in-calf heifers to the Mongu, Nalolo, and Kalabo districts of Western Zambia, marking the third round of distributions. This phase will benefit 15 households and seven locally-led livestock management committees. These committees not only ensure transparency but also contribute to decision-making processes, reinforcing local ownership.
Additionally, under the Pass-on Scheme, 65 cows from the previous distribution will be passed on as mother stock to new households, leaving behind at least 65 calves in their original homes. The introduction of hybrid bulls aims to improve the quality of local breeds further, contributing to long-term resilience and productivity.
Beyond Survival: Opportunities for Growth
Participants have integrated this livestock into their livelihoods. Milk provides household nutrition, cow dung enriches crops, and livestock sales serve as a safety net during financial hardship. Beyond supporting individual households, these benefits collectively enhance food security and promote sustainable agricultural practices across the community.
Joyful Muzyoka observes,
As the LII continues, it also aligns with our global commitment to supporting resilience-building efforts in climate-vulnerable communities.
At PIN, we believe in the power of locally led solutions to tackle the intersecting challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, and social inequalities. By working in solidarity with communities, we promote systemic change that builds their capacity to adapt, transform, and thrive amidst external stresses. Initiatives like the Pass-on Scheme exemplify how climate-resilient livelihood systems can be designed with communities to restore resources, diversify opportunities, and support sustainable development.
As the cascading benefits of the Pass-on Scheme ripple across households, these efforts embody our broader mission: to fight against inequality and injustice while empowering communities to become active agents of change in building a resilient and equitable future.
