Mara Beef (Lippa Wood (2017))

Mara Beef: value added beef for for improved rangeland management, livelihoods, and conservation. (Quênia)

Descrição

Mara Beef provides a new direct to market sales approach for pastoralist's in Kenya, in an effort to make livestock production more viable to local landowners. This livestock production model is combined with rangeland management and training in an effort to improve pastoral livlihoods, restore rangelands and prevent degradation, and support biodiversity conservation.

Mara Beef is a limited company that raises top quality beef on the edge of the Maasai Mara, Kenya. The Mara Beef company uses their own private land - Naretoi farm - as well as partnering with the Enonkishu Conservancy, to introduce high quality beef breeds to local herds, and sell the beef onto high end supermarkets and restaurants through their own abattoir. There is a large gap in the prime beef market in Kenya, and Mara Beef is trying to fill this gap. Other cuts, not prime cuts, are sold to other less expensive restaurants. The beef is slaughtered and butchered on site. Mara Beef is engaged in many facets of improved rangeland management; the management of Enonkishu Conservancy and Naretoi farms; through the Mara Training Centre, a training hub for rangeland management; and using the Mara Beef network to link pastoral communities with higher value market.

The Enokishu Conservancy is a conservancy created on the edge of the Maasai Mara ecosystem, and is registered under the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies association. The conservancy is 6,000 acres in size, and is owned by 34 landowners who are Maasai pastoralists. Mara Beef has worked with the conservancy to develop a grazing plan for the conservancy. This plan encourages seasonal rotational grazing that allows grasslands to be heavily grazed for short periods, and allowed to recover over long periods. Conflict between predators and cattle is minimised through the use of mobile bomas (enclousers), to protect cattle at night. Integrating wildlife and livestock management into this conservancy aims to i) provide financial benefits through livestock sales from community cattle to build resilience to stochastic events, such as droughts; ii) to increase food security through supplementary income generation; iii) establish sustainable livestock production, to reduce rangeland degradation in an effort to restore and protect ecosystem functioning. This includes the improvement of soils, watershed protection, carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation. The conservancy pays each land owner to use the land for cattle fattening, and the average land rent paid to each landowner per year is $20 per acre, spending roughly $119,680 per year. Community members also receive conservancy fees from tourists visiting the area.

The Mara Training Centre was established within the Enonkishu training centre to work with communities to help them create and manage the future they desire. The programs build on three principles: building social participation, governance and participation; creating locally implemented and led planned grazing; and stimulating growth in livestock and wildlife based enterprises. The centre runs a variety of training courses including: boot-camps on rangeland management; extension services; and ecological monitoring.

Finally Mara Beef also provides market linkages for the broader pastoral community to premium beef markets. This service lets pastoral communities from across the region to sell beef at a guaranteed price based on both weight and grade at the animals. This price is often significantly higher, on average around $50, than any price offered by local markets, and the lower transport costs and less weight loss on transport also benefit the seller. The emphasis on high quality beef, with high weight requirements, should have a broader affect on pastoral communities, encouraging improved rangeland management for improved livestock productivity. Although this process will be slow. Mara Beef, for example, was granted a loan from the Agricultural Finance Corporation in January 2017 to purchase malnourished cattle during the drought - where Mara Beef bought 1000 animals from105 individuals at an average of $250 per cow.

Localização

Localização: Maasai Mara, Narok, Quênia

Geo-referência de locais selecionados
  • 35.24776, -1.07628

Data de início: 2013

Ano de término: n.a.

Tipo de abordagem
Enonkishu conservancy (Lippa Wood (2017))
Mara Training Centre; (Lippa Wood (2017))

Objetivos de aproximação e ambiente propício

Principais metas / objetivos da abordagem
- Establish sustainable livestock production and premium market for pastoralists
- Improve grazing management systems through implementation and training
- Conserve and restore biodiversity through an integrate wildlife-livestock approach
Condições que permitem a implementação da Tecnologia(s) aplicada(s) sob a Abordagem
  • Normas e valores sociais/culturais/religiosos: Cultural and traditional ecological knowledge complements the teaching of the Mara Training Centre and the holistic management of Enonkishu conservancy.
  • Disponibilidade/acesso a recursos e serviços financeiros: Provision of a grant (and loan) through the African Enterprise Challange Fund allowed for the improvement of the slaughter house ; livestock purchases from community members; the establishment of Enonkishu conservaiton area; and the building of the Mara Training Centre Support has also been provided by WWF to help establish the conservation area.
  • Quadro institucional: Enonkishu is a community onwned conservancy which operates as a legal entity and acts as the interaction point between Mara Beef and the local community.
  • Quadro jurídico (posse de terra, direitos de uso da terra e da água): Enonkishu conservancy has formed under the provisions of the Wildlife Act 2013 to form a conservancy, bringing together private landowners.
  • Conhecimento sobre GST, acesso a suporte técnico: The creation of the Mara Training Centre acts as a hub of knowledge for information sharing and technical support in rangeland management, offering courses and extension services to communities. This is supported by the Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association and the Savory Institute.
  • Mercados (para comprar entradas, vender produtos) e preços: The creation of the Mara Beef premium market ensures that pastoralists receive improved prices on their livestock compared to normal markets.
Condições que dificultam a implementação da Tecnologia(s) aplicada(s) sob a Abordagem

Participação e papel das partes interessadas envolvidas

Partes interessadas envolvidas na abordagem e seus papéis
Que partes interessadas/órgãos de implementação estavam envolvidos na abordagem? Especifique as partes interessadas Descreva o papel das partes interessadas
Usuários de terra/comunidades locais 33 landowning families established the Enonkishu Conservancy They are the landowners and receive benefits from land rents provided by the conservancy. They receive benefits from sale of Enonkishu cattle to Mara Beef, receiving financial returns on the investment. They also receive benefits of conservancy fees from visiting tourists.
Especialistas em GST/ consultor agrícola Savory Insitute Act as advisers for the Mara Training Centre programs.
Organização não governamental Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association Acts as the umbrella body for wildlife conservancies in the region, including Enonkishu. They are also responsible for encouraging sustainable rangeland management practices and livestock production within the Mara conservancies.
Organização internacional African Enterprise Challange Fund (AECF) Provided funding for the establishment of the conservancy; construction of the mara training centre; and the improvement of the slaughterhouse.
Envolvimento do usuários de terra/comunidades locais nas diferentes fases da abordagem
Nenhum
Passivo
Apoio externo
Participativo
Automobilização
Iniciação/motivação
x
Mara Beef began the process of developing Enonkishu conservancy with the local community members, and found funding and technical capacity to develop the project.
Planejamento
x
The fundraising and planning of the Mara Beef business model, the Mara Training Centre, and Enonkishu was largely supported by members external to the local Maasai community.
Implementação
x
Enonkishu conservancy has a manager supported by Mara Beef that controls grazing management across the conservation area. Mara Beef is owned an operated by non community members. Mara Training Centre involves local communities in the development of the training curriculum - to incorporate traditional knowledge - and during teaching of courses.
Monitoramento/avaliação
x
Monitoring and evaluation of grazing management, beef prices and community benefits is conducted by Mara Beef staff.
Fluxograma

Tomada de decisão sobre a seleção da Tecnologia GST

As decisões foram tomadas por

  • Somente usuários da terra (iniciativa própria)
  • Principalmente usuários da terra, apoiados por especialistas em GST
  • todos os atores relevantes, como parte de uma abordagem participativa
  • Principalmente especialistas em GST, após consulta com usuários da terra
  • Somente especialistas em GST
  • Políticos/líderes

As decisões foram tomadas com base em

  • Avaliação de conhecimento bem documentado de GST (tomada de decisão baseada em evidências)
  • Resultados de pesquisa
  • Experiência pessoal e opiniões (não documentado)

Suporte técnico, reforço das capacidades e gestão do conhecimento

As seguintes atividades ou serviços têm sido parte da abordagem
Reforço das capacidades/formação
Foi fornecido treinamento às seguintes partes interessadas
  • Usuários de terra
  • Equipe de campo/consultores
Tipo de formação
  • Em exercício
  • Agricultor para agricultor
  • Áreas de demonstração
  • Reuniões públicas
  • Cursos
Assuntos abordados

Serviço de consultoria
Foi prestado um serviço de consultoria
  • nas áreas dos usuários da terra
  • Em centros permanentes
Mara Training Centre provides advise and courses both at the training centre, located in the Mara, and through outreach programs to pastoralists across the region.
Fortalecimento institucional
As instituições foram fortalecidas / estabelecidas
  • Não
  • Sim, pouco
  • Sim, moderadamente
  • Sim, significativamente
no seguinte nível
  • Local
  • Regional
  • Nacional
Descreva instituição, papéis e responsabilidades, membros, etc.
The Enoonkishu conservancy was established with 50 landowners to protect and manage their land in a more sustainable and profitable way.
Tipo de apoio
  • Financeiro
  • Reforço das capacidades/ formação
  • Equipamento
Mais detalhes
Support was provided by several conservation NGOs, including the African Conservation Centre and WWF to support the initial costs of motorbikes and wildlife rangers within the Enonkishu conservation area. Further funding from African Enterpise Challange Fund was used to pay lease fees to the Enonkishu community and further equip the wildlife rangers and managers.
Monitoramento e avaliação
Mara Beef monitors its purchase and sales records, as well as purchase weight and sale weight . Enonkishu monitors its rangeland health using (?)

Financiamento e apoio material externo

Orçamento anual em USD para o componente GST
  • < 2.000
  • 2.000-10.000
  • 10.000-100.000
  • 100.000-1.000.000
  • > 1.000.000
Precise annual budget: n.a.
The initial budget for this project was large (>$500,000). This large amount of funding was needed to establish Enonkishu conservation area through payment of land rent, the purchasing of equipment for the Mara Beef slaughterhouse and distribution network, and the construction of the Mara Training Centre. The company has a large turnover each year, purchasing over $850,000 of cattle in 2017.
Os seguintes serviços ou incentivos foram fornecidos aos usuários de terras
  • Apoio financeiro/material concedido aos usuários da terra
  • Subsídios para insumos específicos
  • Crédito
  • Outros incentivos ou instrumentos
Apoio financeiro/material concedido aos usuários da terra
Landowners of Enonkishu conservancy are provided with land rent, roughly $3,390 per landowner per year.
Parcialmente financiado
Totalmente financiado
Slaughter house improvement

Grant from AECF

x
Mara Training Centre

Grant from AECF

x

A mão-de-obra dos usuários da terra foi

Análise de impactos e declarações finais

Impactos da abordagem
Não
Sim, pouco
Sim, moderadamente
Sim, significativamente
A abordagem concedeu autonomia aos usuários locais de terra, melhorou a participação das partes interessadas?

The approach established the Enonkishu conservancy, providing them with a platform for better land management, conservation and revenue generation.

x
A abordagem auxiliou os usuários da terra a implementar e manter as tecnologias de GST?

The approach provides training and outreach through the Mara Training Centre

x
A abordagem mobilizou/melhorou o acesso aos recursos financeiros para implementação da GST?

The approach improved access for funding to the Enonkishu conservation area.

x
A abordagem aprimorou o conhecimento e as capacidades dos usuários da terra para implementar a GST?

Over 600 pastoralists trained in rangeland management and livestock production in the first 6 months of the establishment of the Mara Training Centre.

x
A abordagem aprimorou o conhecimento e as capacidades de outras partes interessadas?

Mara Beef organised a conference in Nariobi, called Grazing for Change, with other 300 delegates debating the role of livestock production in conservation and development.

x
A abordagem construiu/fortaleceu instituições, colaboração entre partes interessadas?

The approach established the Enonkishu conservancy, and its links with Mara Beef.

x
A abordagem concedeu autonomia aos grupos social e economicamente desfavorecidos?

In 2017 Mara Beef provided an estimated benefit of $103,600 to livestock owners (estimated at at a $50 increase in value per cattle sold to Mara Beef as opposed to other markets). In 2017 Mara Beef also bought cattle from an Agricultural Finance Corporation drought contingency fund. Mara Beef bought 1000 animals off 105 farmers at an average of $250 each cow. These cattle would have certainly died due to lack of food. Therefore, a net Benefit of $ 250 per (cow) multiplied by 1000 cows spread over 105 farmers. So, a net benefit of $250,000 divided by 105 farmers. $2380 for 105 farmers

x
Principal motivação dos usuários da terra para implementar a GST
Atividades de sustentabilidade de abordagem
Os usuários da terra podem sustentar o que foi implementado através da Abordagem (sem apoio externo)?

Conclusões e experiências adquiridas

Pontos fortes: visão do usuário de terra
  • Provision of knowledge on improved livestock production and rangeland managment
  • Provision of an improved market for cattle
Pontos fortes: a visão do/a compilador/a ou de outra pessoa capacitada
  • Creation of a production oriented approach provides the potential for improved rangeland management across the region. With pastoralists beginning to produce fewer, higher quality cattle for sale, through efforts to improve grazing management across the region.
  • This approach has a huge potential to be up-scaled to support community conservation through a sustainable and well managed livestock production and rangeland management model.
  • Mara Beef has also been a key catalyst of conversation across SSA relating to sustainable rangeland management, livestock production, and mixed livestock-wildlife ecosytems.
Pontos fracos/desvantagens/riscos: visão do usuário de terracomo superar
  • Lack of ability to practice individual herding within the conservation area Use of tradtional Maasai community structures to enforece grazing rules
Pontos fracos/desvantagens/riscos: a visão do/a compilador/a ou de outra pessoa capacitadacomo superar
  • The focus on cattle present a great opportunity, but sheep and goats also need a better, readily available market to increase off-take. Building of a pack-house in Nairobi for goat meat for the export market, to compete with other markets.
  • Lack of impact on improved rangeland management beyond the Enonkishu area, especially when livestock is purchased from all over the country. There is also a lack of high quality cattle. Establish links with other conservancies and landowner groups to encourage improved grazing management, producing higher quality cows.

Referências

Compilador/a
  • Peter Tyrrell
Editores
  • Alex Freeland
Revisor
  • Donia Mühlematter
  • Rima Mekdaschi Studer
  • Hanspeter Liniger
Data da documentação: 28 de Fevereiro de 2018
Última atualização: 3 de Setembro de 2018
Pessoas capacitadas
Descrição completa no banco de dados do WOCAT
Dados GST vinculados
A documentação foi facilitada por
Instituição Projeto
This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareaAlike 4.0 International