Lubango - The implementation of an animal transfer process between members of the San communities, in five locations in the municipalities of Cacula and Quipungo, in the southern Huíla Province, ha, in the last three years encouraged the breeding of several species and stimulated agriculture in this group, also called nomadic.
Launched in August 2020 and July 2023, of the 15 cattle, 72 goats, 28 sheep and 120 chickens delivered to 131 families, the project has already passed on to another 372 households, in the same localities, 11 cattle, 84 goats, 5 sheep and 495 chickens, after a breeding cycle.
The information was released this Tuesday by the executive director of the Christian Community Development Support Organization (OCADEC), Benedito Quessongo, highlighting that the implementation of the process falls within the Family and Nutritional Agriculture Support projects.
He highlighted that during this period cattle, chickens, kids and sheep were acquired and distributed to the villages of Mumue-Cateta, Mupembati, Nondjava, Sassa and Hupa, and after reproduction, the villagers passed on some sows to other families.
According to Benedito Quessongo, the transfer process, in animal husbandry, worked regularly in the villages of Hupa, Mupembati and Sassa, with emphasis on the first, were families achieved above 50%, taking as a reference the baseline of quantities received.
He stated that the project at first raised fears in some families, but once understood, it is contributing to achieving sustainability with good results, as with this practice, the affected families are becoming more sedentary and step by step the hunting activity that led them to nomadism is reducing.
He highlighted that given the results obtained, the project will continue this year, where OCADEC plans to acquire and distribute 170 small animals, such as 40 goats, 30 sheep and 100 chickens, to reinforce the system.
The San community is part of the first peoples of Angola, before the invasion of the Bantu, at the beginning of the 6th century BC.
Today the San community are at risk of extinction, with their longevity declining, mainly due to the influence of eating habits outside their culture, previously based on hunting and collecting wild fruits, activities today affected by climate change. BP/MS/CF/jmc
