agroecology in south africa: policy and practice · 2015. 5. 31. · agroecology in south africa, a...
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w w w . a c b i o . o r g . z a
Agroecology in South Africa: policy and practice
A discussion document
PO Box 29170, Melville 2109, South Africawww.acbio.org.za
Contents
List of figures 3List of images 3List of abbreviations and acronyms 4About this discussion paper 5 Structureofthepaper 5Engaging with policy 6Introduction 6What is an agroecological approach? 8Salient features of South Africa’s Agricultural Sector 9 Commercialagriculture 9 Smallholderagriculture 9 Subsistentagriculture 9 Production 9 Contributiontotheeconomy 10 Equityinthesector 10South African agriculture: policy and status quo in relation to small-scale producers 10 StrategicPlanforSmallholderSupport 12 DraftAgroecologyStrategy 13 NationalStrategyforIndigenousFoodCrops 14 DraftNationalExtensionPolicy 14 DraftOrganicPolicy 14 ComprehensiveAgriculturalSupportProgramme 15Recommendations 17Annex 1: Agroecology on the ground in South Africa 19 AbalimiBezekhayaandHarvestofHope 19 SiyavunaAbalimiDevelopmentCentre 20 BiowatchSouthAfrica 21 IthembaProjects 22 EnaleniFarm 23 JohnNzira–UkuvunaFarm 25 The“foodiemovement”andtheyouth 27 Transitioningtoagroecology 28 PhillipiHorticulturalArea(PHA) 29References 30
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The African Centre for Biosafety (ACB) is a non-profit organisation, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was established to protect Africa’s biodiversity, traditional knowledge, food production systems, culture and diversity, from the threats posed by genetic engineering in food and agriculture. It, has in addition to its work in the field of genetic engineering, also opposed biopiracy, agrofuels and the Green Revolution push in Africa, as it strongly supports social justice, equity and ecological sustainability.
The ACB has a respected record of evidence-based work and can play a vital role in the agro-ecological movement by striving towards seed sovereignty, built upon the values of equal access to and use of resources.
©The African Centre for BiosafetyMarch 2015
www.acbio.org.zaPO Box 29170, Melville 2109 South AfricaTel: +27 (0)11 486 1156
Design and layout: Adam Rumball, Sharkbouys Designs, JohannesburgCover and other illustrations: Vanessa Black
Agroecology in South Africa: policy and practice 3
List of figures
Figure1:Theinescapableinterconnectednessofagriculture’sdifferentrolesandfunctions 8
Figure2:Thesustainabledevelopmentcontinuumfororganicmicro-farmingprojects 19
List of images
Image1:FoodproductionintheCapeFlats 20Image2:Siyavunacooperatives 21Image3:Biowatch:fresh,healthyproduceatlocalmarkets 22Image4:Ithembaisallaboutthechildren 23Image5EntrancetoEnaleni 24Image6:Award-winningheritagebeans 24Image7:IndigenousZulusheep:rareandhardy 25Image8:Diversecroppingandeconomicstrategiesinanintegrated permaculturedesignatUkuvuna 26Image9:MarketsatTyisaNabanye 27
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Abbreviations and acronyms
ACB: AfricanCentreforBiosafetyCASP: ComprehensiveAgriculturalSupportProgrammeCOPAC: CooperativeandPolicyAlternativesCentreCSO: CivilsocietyorganisationDAFF: DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestryandFisheriesECARP: EasternCapeAgriculturalResearchProgrammeFHR: FoundationforHumanRightsGMO: GeneticallymodifiedorganismIAASTD: InternationalAssessmentofAgriculturalKnowledge, ScienceandTechnologyforDevelopmentIFOAM: InternationalFederationofOrganicAgricultureMovementsMAFISA: MicroAgriculturalFinancialInstitutionsofSouthAfricaNGO: Non-governmentalorganisationPHA: PhillipiHorticulturalAreaPLAS: ProactiveLandAcquisitionStrategySKI: SeedKnowledgeInitiativeSPP: SurplusPeople’sProjectSPPP: StrategicPlanforSmallholderSupportTCOE: TrustforCommunityOutreachandEducation
Agroecology in South Africa: policy and practice 5
About this discussion paperCivilsocietyengagedinaprocessin2014toexplore“therighttofood”inSouthAfricathroughaseriesofprovincialdialogueswithsmall-scaleproducers,farmworkers,supportivenon-governmentalorganisations(NGOs),labour,faith-basedorganisationsandothers.TheseprovincialdialoguesculminatedinanationaldialogueontheRighttoFood,resultingintheimminentlaunchofanewcross-sectorsocialmovementforFoodSovereigntyinSouthAfrica.TheprocesswasinitiatedbytheFoundationforHumanRights(FHR)incollaborationwithfourNGOs–theAfricanCentreforBiodiversity(ACB),theCooperativeandPolicyAlternativesCentre(COPAC),theTrustforCommunityOutreachandEducation(TCOE)andtheEasternCapeAgriculturalResearchProgramme(ECARP).
AspartofthepreparatoryworkforthenationaldialogueontheRighttoFood,theACBconductedacursoryscanofagroecologyprojectsinSouthAfricatoinformfurtherdiscussionanddebate.Thisinvolvedsitevisitsaswellascollectinginformationthroughdesktopresearchandconsultationwithrelevantstakeholders.Wealsofeltitnecessarytoprovideshortcritiquesofsomeofthekeypoliciesappearingtosupportagro-ecologyandtoidentifypotentialopportunitiestosupportagro-ecology.Whiletheinitialideawastolookforlocalexamplesofbestpracticesinagroecologyandpresenttheseascasestudies,timeandresourcelimitationspreventedusfromvisitingthevastarrayofprojectsinSouthAfrica,manyoftheminremoteareas,meaningwewereunabletodojusticetothescopeofagroecologyinSouthAfrica.
TheRighttoFooddialogueprocesshasalreadybeguntocoversomegroundtowardscreatingagreementonprinciplesthatshouldunderpinourFoodSovereigntymovementandtoidentifypolicyareaswhereweneedtointerveneandthesediscussionsgaveguidancetothepolicyscanweundertook.SomeoftheagreedprinciplesthatemergedfromtheRighttoFooddialogueincluded:• Foodsovereigntyencompassestheright
andobligationofpeopletodefinetheirownagrarianpoliciesandproductionintheircontextusingagroecological-farmingprinciplesasabase.
• Itshouldalsofocusontheentirefoodchainandtheconcernsthroughoutthefoodchain.Wethereforeneedtoaimformulti-sectorinterventions,includingland,water,extensionsupport,finance,wagesandlivingconditions,womenandyouth,ruraldevelopmentandtradepoliciesatanationalandinternationallevel.Inaddition,ourstrugglesneedtobenestedinanalternativeeconomicmodelthatcreatessustainablepatternsofproduction,consumptionandliving.1
• Themovementshouldbeabletoinfluencegovernmentandsmall-scaleproducers.ThoseonthegroundshouldheadanddefinethemovementwithNGOsplayingasupportingrole.2
• Ultimately,itshouldstrivetoproducefoodthatishealthyandofasufficientvarietytobeavailabletoallataffordablepricesandwhichisproducedinasociallyjustandenvironmentallysoundmanner.3
Wefoundthattherearemanypoliciesrelevanttosmall-scaleproducersandecologicalagriculturespanningacrossmanygovernmentdepartmentsandpiecesoflegislation.Manyofthesepolicieswillnotbenewtoorganisationsworkingwithsmall-scaleproducersandthereisalreadyalongrecordofengagementandadvocacywork.Thisdiscussiondocumentattemptstocontributetothepolicydebatesbyidentifyinganddiscussingsomekeypoliciesthatmaypresentopportunitiestostrengthentheagro-ecology/foodsovereigntymovement.
Ithopestostimulatefeedbackonthesuccessesandchallengesfacedindoingsoandtogenerateaconversation,critiqueandstrategytousetheresourcesallocatedtosmall-scaleproducersinamoreeffectivewayandtoshiftourbrokenandunjustfoodsystem.
Structure of the paper
ThisdiscussiondocumentpresentsanoverviewoftheagroecologicalapproachandhighlightshowfarwearefrommainstreamingthisapproachintheSouthAfricancontext.ItsketchesthesalientfeaturesofSouthAfrica’s
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agriculturalsector,asdefinedbytheSouthAfricanAgriculturalProductionStrategyoftheDepartmentofAgriculture,ForestryandFisheries(DAFF).Itoutlinesthepolicyenvironmentrelevanttosmall-scaleproducers,withaparticularfocusonDAFF,althoughmanyotherdepartmentsplayarole.Itidentifiescurrentgovernmentprogrammesmeanttosupportsmall-scaleproducersandnotesthechallengespresentedbytheseprogrammes,aswellasidentifyingseveraldraftpolicies/strategieswithwhichwecouldstillengage.ThedocumentconcludeswithanoverviewofseveralagroecologicalinitiativesunderwayinSouthAfrica,includingthosespearheadedbyNGOsormanagedbyindividualsoryouthgroups.TheexampleofthePhillipiHorticulturalArea(PHA)isincludedinthissectionbecause,despiteitnotfocusingonecologicalproduction,itdemonstratesthesuccessfulstrugglebysmall-scaleproducerstoretainagriculturallandforfoodproductioninthefaceofrezoningfordevelopment.ThisexampleisinspiringandinstructiveforSouthAfrica’sfoodsovereigntymovement.
Engaging with policy Governmenthascommitted,since2009inparticular,tonurturingsmall-scaleproducersthroughanumberofprogrammes.Ithasallocatedsubstantialfundstotheseprogrammes.Themostprominentisthewell-fundedComprehensiveAgriculturalSupportProgramme(CASP).Thisprogrammepresentsmanychallengesincludingthatitalignswiththelandreformstrategy,underpinnedbyadevelopmentalprinciplethatseekstoreplicatetheprinciplesoflarge-scalecommercialfarmingwithinthesmall-scalesector.However,governmentisgrapplingwithalltheshortcomingsofprogrammedeliveryanditcouldbefruitfultoengageinastrategicandunifiedmannerwithgovernmentonthisprogramme.
Similarly,itwouldbeusefultocritiqueandengagewithgovernmentontheStrategicPlanforSmallholderSupport(SPPP).AssociatedprogrammesIlima/LetsemaandLandcarealsohavesubstantialbudgets.Itwouldbeconstructivetolearnwithandfromcivilsocietyorganisations(CSOs)andfarmersthathaveengagedwiththeseprogrammes.
Additionaldraftstrategiesworthengagingwithincludethe:• NationalAgroecologyStrategy• NationalExtensionPolicy• NationalOrganicPolicy• NationalStrategyforIndigenousFoodCrops.
Sharingofinformationamongcivilsocietyofotherimportantpolicyprocessesandcoordinatedengagementwiththeseshouldbeongoing.
Agroecology in South Africa: policy and practice 7
IntroductionAgroecologyisafoodproductionsystemthatisequitableandjust,offeringdecentlivelihoods,healthyenvironmentsandfood,allstemmingfromcollaborationwithnatureandbasedonawidevarietyofknowledgesystems,includingindigenousknowledgeandthelatestscienceandtechnology.ItisatvariancewiththewaytheSouthAfricanagriculturalsectorandrelatedvaluechainsarecurrentlyorganisedandoperate,inwhichfarmersmustbeabletocompeteateconomiesofscaletofeedintoanindustrialisedfoodsystem.Thissystemreliesonmonocrops,elite,oftenpatented,advancedbreedingtechnologiesandexpensive,environmentallydestructiveagriculturalinputs.Itisinthedomainofthosewhohavesecurelandtenure,whichisnecessarytomakehugecapitalinvestmentsworthwhileanditisoftenarequirementforgainingloansFurthermore,withinthissystem,ahandfulofcorporationscontroltheproduction,manufacturing,retailinganddistributionoffood,exacerbatingstructuralinequalitiesinthecountry.
Whilelow-inputandenvironmentallysoundproductionmethodsareimportantforrealisingagroecologyinSouthAfrica,afirststepmustbetransformingthecurrentlyhostileenvironmentwithinwhichsmall-scaleproducersoperate.Currentlyallsmall-scaleproducers,regardlessoftheirproductionmethods,strugglefortechnicalandinfrastructuralsupportandtoparticipateinviableandfairmarkets.
Aplethoraofwell-intentionedpoliciesinSouthAfricaspeakstoupliftingsmall-scaleproducers.Oftensubstantialfinancialresourcesarecommittedtoimplementingthesepolicies.However,theeffecttodatehasbeenlimited.Thisisdueprimarilytothecomplexitiesofdeliveringservicestomillionsofsmall-scalefarmersinremoteruralareas,theresultantallocationofsupportto“winners”andlargeprojects,politicalfavouritismandlackofexpertisetoprovideadequatesupportandservicestosmall-scaleproducers.4Canaunifiedfoodsovereigntymovementbetteraccessandusetheopportunitiesandbudgetsaffordedtosmall-scaleproducers?
“Agroecology is not only about capacity building and agro-ecological innovations on the ground. Agroecology represents a more radical transformation of agriculture, guided by the notion that ecological change in agriculture cannot be promoted without comparable change in the social, political, economic and cultural contexts. Trade liberalization is the main mechanism for driving people from the land and the main obstacle to local economic development and food sovereignty.
It is only by changing the export-led, free trade based industrial agriculture of large farms that poverty, rural-urban migration, low farm worker wages, hunger, and environmental degradation can be stopped”.
CivilSocietyStatementontheNationalAgroecologyStrategy(coordinatedbytheSurplusPeople‘sProject)
http://www.spp.org.za/civil-society-statement-on-the-draft-agroecology-strategy-for-south-africa-draft-7/
SouthAfricanCSOshavebeenpromotingandsupportingenvironmentallysoundproductionpracticeswithinavalue-systemofsocialjusticeforatleastthreedecades.Therearealsosmall-scaleproducersproducinginenvironmentallysoundwaysthatareunsupportedbygovernmentorNGOs.Thiscollectiveandcumulativeworkrepresentsatreasuretroveofexpertise,experienceandlongreachintothemostvulnerablesocietiesinourcountry.
Lackofgovernmentsupportfortheireffortsseemstobethenormatbest,whileatworst,itoftenimposesservicesinatop-downway,whichundermineeffortstocreatealternativesociallyjustandecologicallysustainableproductionsystems.
Duringtheprovincial“RighttoFood”dialogues,whichtookplaceoverayear,participantsconsistentlyraisedtheproblemoffragmentedeffortstowardsagroecology,givingtheimpressionthatagroecologicalprojectswereoccurringinisolatedpocketsalloverthecountry.Participantsalsohighlightedtheneed
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forsolidarityandacoherentandorganisedfoodsovereigntymovement.Suchaplatformisnecessarytolobbyforandshapeapoliticalandinstitutionalframeworktosupportagroecologicalproductioninallitscomplexitiesandtoaccesstheavailablefundsandservicesallocatedbygovernmentforthebenefitofsmall-scaleproducersinparticular.Thereisalsoneedtoshareexpertiseandexperiences,aswellasputtheweightofsolidaritybehindthemultiplicityoffoodsovereigntycampaignsbeingwagedonthegroundrangingfromaccesstolandandwater,fishingrights,decentwages,andtheencroachmentofmining,tonamebutafew.
What is an agroecological approach?TheInternational Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development(IAASTD)reportpublishedin2008definitivelynamedagroecologyasthemostappropriateagriculturalsystemtocaterforsmall-scaleproducerswhilemeetingourglobalclimatechangechallenges.Thisseminalreportofanextensiveresearchprojectintothestateofglobalagriculture,commissionedbytheUnitedNationsFoodandAgricultureOrganisation(FAO)andtheWorldBank,notes
thatan“agroecologicalapproachrecognizesthemultifunctionaldimensionsofagricultureandfacilitatesprogresstowardabroadrangeofequitableandsustainabledevelopmentgoals.Awidevarietyoftechnologies,practicesandinnovationsincludinglocalandtraditionalknowledgedrawonthescienceofagroecology”.5
Thegraphicbelow,takenfromtheIAASTDreport,showstheinteractionsoffunctionsthatmakeupajust,resilientandenvironmentallysoundagriculturalsystem.Thisdiversityandcomplexityisperhapsthebiggestchallengetotherealisationofagroecology,givenourgovernment’spreferenceforcentralised“one-sizefitsall”solutionstobeimplementedwiththehelpofprivate-publicpartnerships,alongwiththe“silomentality”ofgovernmentdepartmentswhencollaborationisnecessary.Perhapsthiscomplexityalsodividesusasamovement,focusingonourownpieceofthepuzzleandrarelyprioritisingtogetherandsupportingoneanother’sstruggles.
ThesheercomplexityofrealisingagroecologyinSouthAfricaisextremelydaunting,necessitatingstrategicprioritisationofkeyjointinitiativesofactionbytheFoodSovereigntymovement.Someofthesechallengesarehighlightedbelow:• Theissueoflandwasbeengivenhigh
prioritybyallstakeholdersthroughouttheRighttoFooddialogues.
Figure 1: The inescapable interconnectedness of agriculture’s different roles and functions
Agroecology in South Africa: policy and practice 9
• Agroecologyismuchmorethanatoolboxoffarmingtechniques;itisafoodproductionsystemsituatedwithinafoodsovereigntycontextandrequiresthefundamentaltransformationoftheagriculturalsectorandashiftincurrentpowerrelations.
• Adearthofknowledge,understandingandexpertisewithingovernmentpolicymaking,extensionservicesandacademicinstitutionsonecologicallysoundproductionmethods.
• Governmentprogrammesdesignedtosupportsmall-scaleproducersareinsteadreachingrelativelyeliteproducers,whilethemostmarginalisedreceivenothing.
Salient features of South Africa’s Agricultural SectorThefollowingsectionistakenfromtheSouthAfricanAgriculturalProductionStrategy2011–2025,andistheirassessmentofthesalientfeaturesofthesector,covering:6• Commercialagriculture• Smallholderagriculture• Subsistentagriculture• Production• Contributiontotheeconomy
Commercial agriculture
Thecommercialsectorismadeupoflessthan40000farmingunits,coveringaproductionareaofapproximately82millionhectares,anditisresponsibleformorethan99%ofSouthAfrica‘sformallymarketedagriculturaloutput.
Accordingtothestrategy,“Therehasbeenasignificantincreaseintheconcentrationoffarmholdingsasaresultofsmallerandlessefficientfarms,unabletotakeadvantageofincreasingeconomiesofscale,beingforcedoutofthesector.Despitethedecreaseinthenumberoffarmingunits,outputfromcommercialagriculturehascontinuedtogrow,implyinganincreaseintheefficiencyofproduction.”Thedocumentalsoreportsthatdespiteincreasedefficiency,“percapitaproductionisatanall-timelow”,meaningthatfoodsecurityneedsarenotbeingmetonthe
nationallevel.Italsoraisesconcernsregardingthemassivesheddingofjobsinrecentyears,aswellastheconcentrationevidentthroughoutthevaluechain,whichleadstoanti-competitivebehaviour,whichaffectsfoodprices.
Smallholder agriculture
Thereportnotesthatthereare“1.3millionfarminghouseholdsonabout14millionhectaresofagriculturalland,whichareconcentratedprincipallyintheformerhomelandareasofthecountry,thusmarginalizedintoregionsofpoorproductiveland,withlittleornoinfrastructuralsupport,andwaterresources.Smallholdersarecharacterisedashavingtypicallylowlevelsofproductionefficiency,andengaginginagriculturalproductiontosupplementtheirhouseholdfoodrequirements,withsurplussoldatlocalmarkets.
Smallholderfarmers’productioninefficiencyisfurtherrelatedtotheirlackinsufficientfarmmanagementskillse.g.naturalresourcemanagement,productionandinfrastructuralmanagementetc.Thisisfurtherexacerbatedbypoorsupportservicesdirectedatsmallholderfarmerse.g.financialservices,technicalsupport,accesstotransportandothersupportinfrastructure.”
Subsistent agriculture
Thestrategyreportsthatthereiscurrentlyalackofsufficientdataregardingthesubsistentsectorandthissentimentisechoedinmanyotherspheres,includingacademiaandNGOs.
Reportedly,thereareapproximately2.7millionblackfarminghouseholdsinSouthAfrica7(includingthesmall-scaleproducersmentionedabove).
Production
“Thelargestcomponentofagriculturalproductioncurrentlyisanimalproducts,withincreasingimportanceofhorticulturalexportsasashareoftotalagriculturaloutput…Variationsincropproductionarelargelyderivedfromthevariabilityinmaizeproduction,whichisinturninfluencedby
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climaticconditions,producers’willingnesstoplant,andindustryaverageyields…Farmers’willingnesstoproduce,inturn,isinfluencedbytheprofitabilityofproduction,i.e.priceoffers,bothdomesticallyandinternationally,andthesuitabilityofthenaturalresourcebase.Thetrade-offsbetweenthesefactorsinfluencetheaffordabilityandavailabilityoffood.
Self-sufficiencylevelsarecurrentlybelowdomesticconsumptionrequirementsformostprincipledfoodcommoditiesandaresupplementedbyincreasingimportlevels.Onaverage,agriculturalproductionincreasedby30%overthementionedperiod,whilethepopulationincreasedby32%…ResearchconductedbySouthAfrica‘scompetitioncommissionfurthersuggeststhatanincreaseinanti-competitivebehaviour,negativelyimpactsfoodproductivity,foodavailabilityandaffordabilitywithinthecountry.Highfoodpricesmaythereforenotbeafunctionoflowlevelsofproduction,climatechangeandprofitabilityalone”.
Contribution to the economy
“ShareofGDP≈3%in2005-2007(downfrom9.1%in1965),buthassomeofthestrongestbackward,forwardandemploymentmultipliersintheeconomy.8%oftotalemploymentissuppliedbyprimaryagriculture.Itishoweverconcerningthatagriculturehaslost50%ofitsemploymentduring1970-95.”
Equity in the sector
Theagriculturalsectorcontinuestowrestlewithentrenchedinequalitiesdespitethenumerousgovernmentstrategiesandprogrammesimplementedsince1995withtheintentofderacialisingthesectorviallandandlabourmarketreforms.
South African agriculture: policy and status quo in relation to small-scale producersIntheJuly2014budgetvotespeech,MinisterofAgriculture,ForestryandFisheriesSenzeniZokwanadeclaredthatnearlyR6.7billionwascommittedto“acceleratingtheimplementationofprogrammesasidentifiedinthe2014/15to2018/19StrategicPlanoftheDepartmentofAgriculture…”Aprimaryaimofthisplanisthe“provisionofcomprehensivesupporttosmallholderfarmersbyspeedinguplandreformandprovidingtechnical,infrastructuralandfinancialsupport”.8Inaddition,thebudgetmustcontributetowardsassistingsubsistencefarmerstoincreasefoodsecuritylevels.Theministerhighlightedthat1millionhectaresoffallowlandinruralareasmustbeplantedandharvested.Thedepartmentallocatedthefollowingamountstothesespecificprogrammes,whichaimtosupportsmall-scaleandemergingproducers:• R1.861billion,forCASP• R460millionfortheIlima/Letsema
programmes• R67.8millionforLandCare.
Governmenthasagreedon12outcomesaskeyareasofworkandeachofthe12outcomeshasadeliveryagreement,whichinmostcasesinvolvesallspheresofgovernmentandarangeofpartnersoutsidegovernment.Forexample,Outcome 7aimstoachieve“vibrant,equitableandsustainableruralcommunities”.Therearemanydepartmentsinvolved,eachhavingdevelopedtheirownstrategiestocontributetowardsthisoutcome.Contributingdepartmentsincludethe:• DAFF
Agroecology in South Africa: policy and practice 11
• CooperativeGovernanceandTraditionalAffairs
• DepartmentofPublicWorks• DepartmentofWaterAffairs• DepartmentofTradeandIndustry• DepartmentofSocialDevelopment• DepartmentofEnergy• EmploymentDevelopmentDepartment• DepartmentofHigherEducationand
Training• DepartmentofScienceandTechnology.
GovernmentperceivesOutcome7asa“vehicletofasttrackservicedeliveryinruralareas”andisimplementedthroughfiveoutputs:1. Sustainableagrarianreformwithathriving
farmingsector.2. Improvedaccesstoaffordableanddiverse
food.3. Improvedruralservicestosupport
livelihoods.4. Improvedemploymentandskills-
developmentopportunities.5. Enablinginstitutionalenvironmentfor
sustainableandinclusivegrowth.
DAFFisresponsiblefortwootheroutcomes:4and10,whichareconcernedwithdecentemploymentthroughinclusivegrowth,andprotectingandenhancingenvironmentalassetsandnaturalresources,respectively.
Theglobaleconomicmeltdownof2008andtheresultantfoodcrisisthathitmanycountriescausedmanygovernmentstoreconsidertheagriculturalstrategiestheyhadinplace.IntheSouthAfricancontext,theagriculturalstrategyindicatesthatgovernmenthastakenahardlookatthepoliciesandprogrammesimplementedsince1994andtheramificationsofthese.Thestrategydisplaysakeenawarenessoftheeffectsofglobalisationonagriculturalpracticesandlocalfoodsecurity.
Italsopointsoutthatnewtechnologieshaveresultedinfarmconsolidation,whichhaspushedoutsmallerenterprisesunabletocompeteateconomiesofscale.Itrecognisesthemassivesheddingofjobsinthesectorasamajorconcern.Italsonotesthatwhiletheconsolidationoffarmshasincreasedefficienciesinproductionandgeneratedprofitablereturns,“percapitaproductionisatanalltimelow”andfoodsecurityneedsarenot
met.Last,thestrategynotestheenvironmentalchallengesposedbyindustrialagriculture,suchassoilpollution.Akeyobjectiveofthestrategyistosupportsmall-scaleproducerstoincreasefoodsecurityandtoincreasetheirstakeintheagriculturaleconomy.Despitethisawarenessoftheissueswithinthesectorandthemanyprogrammesdesignedtoaddressthese,verylittletransformationisindeedtakingplace.Thispaperdiscussessomeofthereasonsforthisfurtherbelow.
BelowaresomeofthepoliciesandstrategiesrelevanttotherealisationofagroecologyinSouthAfrica:• StrategicPlanfortheDepartmentof
AgricultureForestryandFisheries2014/15• AgriculturalProductionStrategy2011–
2025• StrategicPlanforSmallholderSupport
2011–2014/15• PolicyonAgricultureinSustainable
Development• FoodandNutritionSecurityPolicy
(Section27hasraisedconcernsaboutlackofconsultationanddeficienciesinthispolicy.http://section27.org.za/2015/02/call-for-wider-food-policy-consultation/)
• OceanEconomyStrategy,OperationPhakisaandthefishingrightsallocationprocess(FRAP)
• PreservationandDevelopmentofAgriculturalLandFramework(PDALF)
• ClimateChangeResponseWhitePaper• RuralDevelopmentandLandReform
GreenPaper• DraftNationalExtensionPolicy• DraftNationalPolicyonOrganic
Production• DraftNationalAgroecologyStrategy• DraftNationalStrategyonIndigenous
Food• Tlalafoodsecurityinitiative.
Manyorganisationsworkingwithsmall-scaleproducershavenodoubtengagedwithsomeoftheseprogrammes.Itwouldbeusefultosharetheseexperiences,challengesandsuccesses,withaviewtostrengtheningthefoodsovereigntymovementthroughsharedexperience,learningandlobbying.
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Strategic Plan for Smallholder Support (SPSS)
TheSPSSappearstobeamuchmoreusefulpolicyforustoengagewithforrealisingagroecologythanthedraftAgroecologyPolicy(seebelow)becauseitfocusesoncreatingaconduciveenvironmentforsmall-scaleproducersandhasasignificantbudgetallocation.(TwomajorcritiquesoftheAgroecologyPolicyarethatitfailstoaddresstransformationintheagriculturesectoranditssmallbudgetisproofthatitisalowpriority.)TheoverallobjectiveoftheSPSSistoensuredevelopmentandsupportof45000newsmall-scaleproducersacrossthecountry.Thepolicyaimstodecentralisesupport,movingawayfrom“onesizefitsall”solutions,toengagewithsmall-scaleproducersontheirownterritory.Itlaysoutpracticalprogrammeswithbudgetallocationsanditexplicitlyrecognisestheroleofagroecologyinitsplans.
Accordingtothestrategy,small-scaleproducersarethosewho“producefoodforhomeconsumption,aswellassellsurplusproducetothemarket.”Small-scaleproducershavediversesourcesoflivelihoodandarecategorisedbythestrategyasfollows9:
Smallholder producer type 1 Productionisapart-timeactivitythatformsarelativelysmallpartofamultiple-livelihoodstrategy.Morethan50%ofthisgrouplivesinpoverty.
Smallholder producer type 2 Thesesmall-scaleproducersoperateroughlyinthemiddleofthespectrum.Thismeansthattheyrelyontheiragriculturalenterprisestosupportthemselvesandtheyarenotlivinginpoverty.Theyneedassistanceinexpandingproductionormakingexistingproductionmoreefficientorprofitable,joininginvalue-additionactivitiesandfindingmarkets.
Smallholder producer type 3 Thesearesmall-scaleproducerswhooperateaccordingtocommercialnorms,butwhohavenotreachedthethresholdatwhichtheyareobligedtoregisterforVATorpersonaltaxes.
TheSPSSaimsto“coordinate,alignandavailallprogrammesthattargetsupportand
developmentofsmallholderproducerstowardsachievingoptimumutilisationofresourcesforsustainedfoodsecurityandeconomicreturns.”
Itmentionsagroecologyexplicitlyasanappropriatemethodologythatmustpromoted,howeverthereislittleevidencetodatethatthishasindeedhappened.Itputsinplacesixmechanismstoachievetheobjectivesofthestrategy:
1. Improvedplanningandinvestmentco-ordinationthrougharea-basedplanningandidentifyinglandsuitableforsubdivision.
2. Investmentinskills:expandextensionservices,providespecialisedtraining,andfocusonconservationagricultureandagroecologicalagriculture,privatesectorandcivilsocietypartnerships.
3. Developingnewapproachestopartnerships:workingwithcommodityorganisationsandidentifyingpartnersthrougharea-basedplanningprocesses
4. Revisingandrefininginfrastructureandmechanisationsupportprogrammes:CASPintroducedin2004,nationalmechanisationprogrammeintroducedin2010/11,forexample.
5. Scalingupscheme-basedinterventions:toaffectgroupsofproducersatthesametime,commodityfocus,deliveredthroughpublic-privatepartnerships(usuallydevelopedoncommunalland).
6.Othersupportstrategies:makingtheeconomicenvironmentmoreconducivetosmall-scaleproductiondevelopment,developingmarketinginfrastructure,improvinginformationsystemsfortechnicalandmarketinformationdelivery,introducingprocurementthatfavourssmall-scaleproducers,improvingtenuresecurity,broadeningaccesstoaffordableinputsandprovidingsupportforcooperatives.
DAFFmonitoredtheimplementationofthestrategyintheOverbergregionintheWesternCapeandfoundthatfundswereawardedpredominantlytofarmersfallingintothethirdcategory,i.e.thosethatwerebetteroffandoftenalreadyinpartnershipswithcommercial
Agroecology in South Africa: policy and practice 13
ventures.10MonitoringofimplementationofCASPrevealsthesameproblem;thisisexpandedinmoredepthlaterinthepaper.ThepoorestandmostvulnerablefarmersremainunsupportedorsupportedbyNGOs,whoarethemselvesfacingfundingconstraintsandabletosupportonlysomegroups.ThesupportprovidedbyNGOshasresultedinvaluableworktakingplaceacrossthecountry;thisworkneedstobebroughttogetherintoanetworkofsupport,solidarityandpoliticalimpact.Suchnetworksofsolidaritycouldspreadtheexpertisethatexistsandmoreeffectivelylobbyforamutuallybeneficialrelationshipbetweencivilsocietyandgovernmentprogrammestoincreasethequalityandreachofsupporttothemostvulnerableproducers.Howthisrelationshipcouldbeorganisedandthekindofproposalsneededwouldstillneedtobeteasedoutwithinthefoodsovereigntymovement.
Itdoesnotdealwiththeissueoflandexcepttoringfencecommunallandfordevelopment,ratherthandealwiththeproblemoflandreform,withoutwhichagrarianreformandagroecologyisimpossible.
Draft Agroecology Strategy
WhilethepoliticalanalysisoftheagriculturalsectorintheNationalAgriculturalStrategyandtheAgriculturalProductionStrategyisencouraging,thereisalackofpoliticalunderstandingingovernment’sDraftAgroecologyStrategy.CSOscitethisastheprimaryflawinthedocument.
Theeighthandfinaldraftofthestrategyhasbeenconcludedand,accordingtotheleadofficialonthedraftpolicyMrKgomoPeterje,isreadytobefinalisedthroughParliamentinthenearfuture.
AnumberofCSOshaveengagedwiththepolicydevelopment(unfortunatelymostatalaterstage)andtheyhavefoundittobe
whollyinadequate.TheSurplusPeople’sProject(SPP)convenedanumberofworkshopswithsmall-scalefarmers,farmworkers,fisherfolkandNGOsandnotedthatthereisalackofpoliticalunderstandingregardingtheradicaltransformationneededintheagriculturalsectortocreateequity,environmentalhealthandensurequalityfoodforthenation.Inotherwords,thenotionoffood sovereigntyhasnotbeenunderstoodandtakenonboardandthisnotionliesattheheartofagroecology.11CSOsnotedthatmethodologiessuchas“conservationagriculture”i,whichhavebeenhijackedbyMonsantoandothersinrecentyears,havebeenexplicitlymentionedasworthyofsupport.Indeed,anumberofgovernmentdocumentsconsideragroecologyandconservationagricultureasthesamething.CSOsalsonotedthattheplandoesnotaddressthekeyissueoflandandwateraccess,whichmakesthepolicya‘papertiger’.Inaddition,theissueofgenderisabsent.
Mr.PeterjereportedthelackofcoherenceandorganisationinthefoodsovereigntymovementashisprimarychallengeindevelopingthepolicyandNGOsraisedthisissueconsistentlythemselves.12DevelopinganationalFoodSovereigntyCampaignistimelyandurgent
i. Conservationagricultureisoftenassociatedwith“notillage”agriculture.AccordingtotheFAO,ConservationAgriculture(CA)isanapproachtomanagingagro-ecosystemsforimprovedandsustainedproductivity,increasedprofitsandfoodsecuritywhilepreservingandenhancingtheresourcebaseandtheenvironment.CAischaracterizedbythreelinkedprinciples,namely:• Continuousminimummechanicalsoildisturbance.• Permanentorganicsoilcover.• Diversificationofcropspeciesgrowninsequencesand/orassociations.
Monsantohaseffectivelymarketedglyphosate(roundup)asanessentialtoolinno-tillagriculturebecauseploughingusuallyassistswithweedmanagement,initsabsence,roundupisextensivelyusedandassuchisconsideredtobeatoolinthesustainableagriculturetoolbox.
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anditwillundoubtedlyhelpinorganisingustowardstargetingthetransformationofourunjustfoodsystem,especiallyassomuchexpertiseisavailablewithinthemovement.
National Strategy for Indigenous Food Crops
ThisstrategyflowsfromtheIndigenousKnowledgepolicywithintheDepartmentofScienceandTechnologyandacknowledgesthatindigenousfoodsandfarmersvarietiesarevaluableresourcesintermsofnutrition,livelihoodsandappropriateagricultureforsmall-scaleproducers.Thestrategyacknowledgesthattheseresourceshavebeen“sentintoexile”throughthe“continualpromotionandadoptionofexoticcrops”13.Itseekstoremedythisthroughresearch,financialmobilisationandpolicyinterventionsinordercontributesignificantlytofoodandnutritionalsecurity,aswellasopenupeconomicopportunityforawidervarietyofproducersandentrepreneursthanarecurrentlyparticipatinginourfoodvalue-chains.Itmaybepossibleusingthestrategytogainaccesstotechnicalsupport,suchasparticipatorybreedingprogrammesforappropriateagroecologyplantvarietiesandotherresourcesandforagro-processingandthedevelopmentofnewproducts.Thedepartmenthasdevelopedanawareness-creationstrategytocreatedemandandmarkets.
However,indiscussionwiththeleadgovernmentofficialonthispolicy,MsMolokoMojapelo,14shenotesthatthebudgetandhumancapitalallocationforthepolicyisrelativelylow(shedidnotgivefigures).However,shewasextremelyenthusiasticaboutCSOinputandparticipation,especiallyfromsmall-scalefoodproducers.
Draft National Extension Policy
Extensionworkabsorbsmorethan50%oftheprovincialexpenditure.WhileprovincialagriculturaldepartmentshadcollectivepersonnelbudgetsofapproximatelyR3billionin2009/10,theyemployedonly2200extensionofficers,leavingthemunderstaffed.
Despitethis,47000small-scalefarmerhouseholdsreceivedoneormorevisitsfrom
anextensionofficerin2009/10.AtotalofR2.1billionwasspentaveragingR44000pervisit.15
Ithasbeenestimatedthatabout350000householdsreceiveR17000intheformofextensionadviceandotherservices,while2.3millionfarminghouseholdsreceivenothing.16Thishighlightsthetrendofsupportingaminorityofemergingfarmers.
Problemswithextensionservicesincludethatthereachintoruralareasislimitedandexpertiseonagroecologyislow.Inmanyinstances,theirservices,withahistoricalbackgroundofprovidingindustrialagricultureadvice,activelyundermineeffortstofarminanenvironmentallysoundmanner,forexample,somefarmersreportbeingtoldtheywillnolongerreceivesupportorwillberemovedfromincubatorprojectsiftheycontinuetorefuseusingchemicals.17
Governmentiswellawareofthelargeexpenditureonextensionservices,thelimitedimpactandthelowlevelofappropriatetechnicalexpertise.Attheriskofsoundingnaive,thisseemstopresentanopportunitytotheagroecologymovementinSouthAfrica,whichhasalongreachintothepoorestandmostvulnerablecommunitiesanddeepexpertisetosharewithgovernmentextensionofficers.Therewouldseemtobespacetonegotiateassistinginextensionservicesaswellastrainingextensionofficersonagroecologicalmethodsandtheparticularitiesofsmall-scaleproducersinvariousecologiesandsocioeconomiccircumstances.Thiscouldbedonethroughformaltrainingandprovidingextensionofficerswithaccreditationinagroecologyprinciplesandpractices,aswellasprovidinginputintorevisingthegeneralcurriculumforextensionworkers.
TheNationalExtensionPolicyiscurrentlyinitsthirddraft.ItwasreportedlyabouttogotoParliamentforapprovalin2013beforebeingreleasedforpubliccomment.18However,theprocessseemstohavestalledanditisunclearwhereexactlyitstandscurrently.
Draft Organic Policy
Thispolicyhasbeeninprocessformorethan10yearsnowandseemstohavegonecold.
Agroecology in South Africa: policy and practice 15
Intheabsenceofanyorganicpolicy,organicproduceiscertifiedvoluntarilyincooperationwithsuppliersandthevariouscertifyingbodiesoperatinginthecountry.Theyuseinternationalstandardstocertify,withtheexceptionofAfrisco,alocalcertifier,thathasdevelopedasetoftheInternationalFederationofOrganicAgricultureMovements(IFOAM)-accreditedstandardsforlocal(andfutureinternational)certification.ThelabellingoforganicproductsissubjecttotheConsumerProtectionActandtheAdvertisingStandardsAuthority.The“protection”offeredbytheselawsandregulationsareinessenceonlyinrespectofmisleadingadvertising.19
Thereisafairamountofcontroversyregardingorganiccertificationbecausethecostcanmakeitprohibitiveforresource-strappedsmall-scaleproducersproducingorganically–bydefaultordesign–toparticipateintheselucrativechains.Whilegroupcertificationandpeercertificationsystemsdoexist(peerguaranteedsystems),thesestillputextraexpenseandonerousadministrativeandmanagementproceduresontofarmerswhoarealreadyoperatingundereconomicallystressedcircumstances.Proceduresincludetheextensiverecordingofinputsandpractices.
WeneedtoaskifcertificationprocessesdevelopedbyIFOAMorbasedonIFOAMstandardsdesignedforsophisticatedandoftenlarge-scalecommercialorganicproducersarerelevantforSouthAfricansmall-scaleproducers.Inreality,wewouldliketoseelimitedregulationsplacedonsmallproducersthroughoutvaluechains,becausecurrently,productionandmanufacturestandardsaresetforindustrialsystemsandcanbewhollyinappropriateaswellaslockingoutsmall-scaleproducers.
Thereisaninternationaltrendtowardsshunningcertificationinfavourofdevelopinglocaleconomiesthatcutoutintermediariesasmuchaspossibleandenablingrelationshipsoftrustandcooperationbetweenproducersandconsumers.Thisreplacestheneedforcertification.
Itispossiblethatalloftheaboveoptionswillbeusefulforsmall-scaleproducersdependingonwhatmarketstheyaremanagingtogain
accesstoandwhatisrequiredforeachmarket.However,itdoesnotseemthatsmall-scaleproducershaveparticipatedintheorganicpolicydebatestodateinordertoensurethatalocalisedsystemistailoredtotheirproductionandmarketingneeds.Itmaybeusefultofollowupwiththeprocessandgiveitnewimpetus.
Thereisalsotheironythatfoodproducedwithtoxinsisconsiderednormal,whilefoodproducednaturallybearstheburdenofcertificationandlabelling.Thisspeakstotheskewedpowerrelationsandinequitycharacteristicofthesectorwhereagribusinesshasmouldedpolicytosuittheirneeds.(Thissameargumentiscurrentlybeingmadeforgeneticallymodifiedorganisms(GMO)labellinginSouthAfrica,whereindustryisinsistingthatthoseproducingwithoutGMOsshouldbeartheburdenoflabelling.IndustryclaimsthatlabellingindustriallyproducedandGMfoodswillincreasethepricewhilelabellingorganicandGM-freecangiveeliteconsumersthechoicethey’recallingforandtheycanaffordtheprice.)20
Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP)
Asmentionedearlier,CASPwasallocatedR1.86billioninthe2014budgetvote.Launchedin2004,itaimedtocreate“acomprehensiveapproachtochangingandprovidinganenablingenvironmentinwhichsmallholderandsubsistencefarmerscoulddevelopintoviablecommercialenterprises”.21
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Itwasinitiallyconceptualisedasaconditionalgrantforbeneficiariesoflandreformandthereforetheguidelinesstatethat70%offundsmustbeallocatedtolandreformbeneficiariesandtheremaining30%to“otheragrarianreformbeneficiaries”,i.e.thosewhoalreadyhavesomeaccesstoland,mostlikelypeoplealreadylivingandfarmingatsomelevelincommunalareasoftheformerBantustans.22ItisthereforealignedwiththeLandReformAgriculturalDevelopmentprogrammethatexplicitlyaimstocreatecommercialfarmers.Theunderpinningprincipleofdevelopmentespousedbygovernmentisthecommodityandvalue-chainapproach.
Thepresumptionthatlandreformisasphereofpotential“commercialviability”whilecommunalareasarefor“foodsecurity”isputforwardbyagriculturalofficialsasrationaleforprioritisingtheformer.Theyacknowledgethattheirowncriteriaforassessingbusinessplansset‘commercialviability’asapreconditionforapprovingfunds.23Thismeansthatitexcludesthosewhoarefarmingoncommunallandoroutsideoftheland-reformprogramme.Whattheymaybeabletoaccessis“foodsecurity”assistance,generallyintheformofstarterpacksofseedsandinputs,whicharemostlikelytobeimprovedcorporateseedandchemicalinputs.
Whiletherearesix“pillars”iiforwhichfundingcanbemadeavailable,CASPhasbecomesynonymouswiththeprovisionofinfrastructure,particularlyforthosewithsomekindofsecurelandtenure.Theotherpillarshavelargelybeenneglectedanda2008surveycommissionedbyDAFFfoundthat
“goodprogresswasmadeinsomeareas,suchassustainableresourcemanagement,whileotherareas,suchasequitableaccessandparticipation,stillrequiredurgentattention”.24
ApaperpublishedbyPLAASin2010pinpointssomeofthechallengesandweakpointsofCASP.PLAASfoundthatCASPfundingis25:• Excessivelychannelledintoland-reform
projects(whichneedadramaticdesignoverhaul,intheabsenceofwhichCASPsupporttothemwillcontinuetobeacaseof“throwinggoodmoneyafterbad”).
• Excessivelyorientedtosupportindividualfarmers.
• Dependentonanextensionservicethatisitselfequippedtoserveonlyfewsmall-scalefarmersandcannotbefeasiblyscaledup.
Ofgreatconcernwasthemassivesupportforeconomicallyviableventureswithnorequirementforfarmerstocontributeanything;CASP“isofferingupto100%grantstocommercialventures—ratherthanprovidingpartialsubsidiesandleveragingcommercialfarmers’ownresources—whileoftenproviding0%tosubsistenceproducers”26.Therearealsonocapsonallocations,forexample,aprojectwith12membersreceivedR10.8millionforapoultryproject.IninterviewsforthePLAASresearch,governmentofficialswerefrankabouttheirdirectivetospendtheirlargebudgetsandthereforethefavourdisplayedtowardslargerandfewprojectsinsteadoftryingtoservicemanysmallprojects.Theywerealsofrankaboutpoliticalfavouritism27.
Forthemostpart,thosewithsecurelandtenureandviablebusinessplansreceivesupportwhilefarmersoncommunallandtendtofallunderthefoodsecuritypolicy.OneofthereasonsforthisisbecauseCASPfocusesonsupplyingon-farminfrastructure.
Thoseacquiringleasesonstate-ownedlandthroughtheproactivelandacquisitionstrategy(PLAS)alsobattletogetloansfromthegovernment-sponsoredMicroAgriculturalFinancialInstitutionsofSouthAfrica(MAFISA).Thisinstitutionrequiresthat,forastandard
ii. Onandoff-farminfrastructure;informationandknowledgemanagement;trainingandcapacitybuilding;technicalandadvisoryservices;financingmechanisms;andmarketingandbusinessdevelopment.
Agroecology in South Africa: policy and practice 17
five-yearloan,theapplicantmusthavesecurityoftenureforfiveyears—whereasunderthePLASscheme,thefarmeronlygetsaleaseagreementforthreeyears;asaresult,MAFISArejectstheirapplications.ManypeoplehavebeenallocatedlandthroughPLAS,butareunabletobuylivestockbecausetheyarenoteligibleforstatesupport(eitherMAFISAloansorCASPgrants)andtheyareconsideredtohaveinadequatetenureforcollateralpurposes.
PLAASrecommends“theonlywayoutoftheimpassewouldappeartobetouseexistingresourcesmoreeffectively.InrespectofCASP,thereisanurgentneedtoshifttheemphasisofsupportfromon-farminfrastructureandinputs,tocommunity-levelinfrastructure,marketdevelopmentandinstitutionalre-engineering.Thecurrentmodeloffunding,whichfocusesonone-on-oneassistanceat‘project’level,haslimitedimpact,cannotfeasiblybescaledup,anddoesnotlenditselftowardsindivisiblepublicgoodsandregulation,whichareeffectivewaysofbenefitinglargenumbersofproducers,andwhichareamongthekeyformsofsupportusedinthepasttodevelopthewhitefarmingsector.Asforrefashioningextensionservices,thisisthelargerchallenge:itwillrequireaboveallexperimentingwithmodelsthathavethepotentialtogreatlystretchthereachofourlimitednumberofextensionofficers28.”
Associatedprogrammes,Ilima/LetsemaandLandcarealsohavesubstantialbudgets,whicharenotusedeffectivelyandequitably.
TheIlima-Letsemaprogrammefocusesonincreasingfoodproductionandrehabilitatingirrigationschemesandothervalue-addingprojects,whileLandcareaimstoreduceandmanageriskssuchaserosion,overgrazing,bushencroachment,alienplantinfestationsandsoilnutritionaldeficienciesasameanstoensuringhealthylandforfoodproduction.
Governmentfeedbackontheseprogrammeshaslistedmanydeliverychallenges.Theseincludealackofdetailedplansonthedurationofprojectsupport,properexitstrategiesanddifficultiesregardingprocurementprocedures.29
AnotherprogrammeworthmentioningandthatneedsCSOcritiqueisMAFISA.Thisisagovernment-supportedfinancialschemethatprovidesfinancialservicestosmall-scalefarmers,growersandfishers.PeopleaccessMAFISAthroughanetworkofintermediaries,whichincludespublicandprivateinstitutions.Eachintermediaryhasbeenallocatedfundsdependingonthecapacityofthatintermediary.Government-ownedentities’fundingiscappedatR100millionandprivatelyownedentities’fundingiscappedatR50million.Intermediariesmustregisterwiththenationalcreditregulatortoparticipateandcharge8%perannumforinterest,keeping7%aspaymentfortheirservices.30
AbigproblemwithMAFISAisthatlandtenureisrequiredforaccesstotheseloansandthisdoesnotservethosemostinneed.Atleastoneintermediaryhasthreatenedtowithdrawsofarduetoinabilitytocollectpayment.
Recommendations Thereisanincredibleamountofsupportinpolicydocumentsforsmall-scalefarmersindicatingthatgovernment,atleastonatheoreticallevel,understandstheplightofsmallproducersandthattheyneeddifferentkindsofsupporttolarge-scaleproducers.Itisalsoobviousthatgovernmentrecognisestheweaknessesinourcurrentagriculturalsystemandrelatedfoodchains.Thereisthestartofadiscoursearoundagroecology,buttheconcepthasnotbeengraspedwellandisoftenconflatedwith“conservationagriculture”.Therearealsobudgetsallocatedtorealisethesepolicyaspirations;however,theimplementationandimpactdoesnotmaterialiseontheground.
Thisdocumenthasnotreallytouchedtheissueoflandreform,thecomplexitiesofwhichwerebeyondthescopeofthispolicyscan.ObviouslyweneedtoaddressthisissuewithintheFoodSovereigntyMovementandmanyorganisationshavebeenworkingtirelesslyonitforthelast20years.Withoutlandreformandsecurelandtenuresmallscalefarmerswillnotbeabletoinvestininfrastructureorgain
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thenecessaryfinancialsupporttodoso.Alotofworkhasalsobeendonewithregardstomunicipalandcommunalland,issuesrelatedtofarmdwellersandinmanyinstancespeopleareoccupyinglandandproducingfoodandareatgreatriskfromauthorities.
Thecomplexityofdeliveringonthepolicytomillionsofsmall-scalefarmershasledtogovernmentspendingthebudgetsonbiggercommerciallyviableprojectsandleavingthemajorityoffarminghouseholdswithnosupportwhatsoever.Thereisalsoalackofexpertisewithinrelevantgovernmentstructuresaroundsmall-scaleproducers,theirsystemsandneeds,particularlythoseusingalternativeproductiontechniques.Governmentsupporttendstodestroyagroecologicalinitiativesinthisregardwhenimposingtheirtop-downanduninformedsolutions.Inaddition,theagroecologymovementishighlyfragmented–thisproblemrestsinourhands.
FormingaFoodSovereigntyMovementwouldenableusto:• Supportoneanotherinthemanystruggles
relatedtofoodsovereignty,betheyforbetterlivingconditionsforfarmworkers,aroundallocationoffishingrights,thestrugglesforlandandfinanceorthefightagainstthespreadofnewmininginitiatives.
• Shareexperiences–undoubtedlymanyorganisationshavehadexperiencewiththeprogrammesmentionedinthisdocument.Itwouldbeextremelyusefultoshareexperiencesofsuccessandtocritiqueandlobbygovernmentformuchbetterdelivery.
• Strategicallyprioritisejointactionstowardstherealisationofagroecologyandfoodsecurityinthelongterm.
• Assistgovernmentinthattheagroecologymovementhasgreatreachintodeepruralareasandhasdeepknowledgeandexperienceinareaswheregovernmentlackscapacity.AunifiedmovementwouldbeinabetterpositiontodesignsolutionstocontributetoFoodSovereigntyinSouthAfrica.
Agroecology in South Africa: policy and practice 19
Annex 1: Agroecology on the ground in South AfricaThereisdeepskill,knowledgeandexpertiseinSouthAfricaonagroecologicalproductionmethods;somearementionedbelow.Thetaskofinstitutionalisingagroecologyandfulfillingthecomplexcriteriadepictedintheopeninggraphicremainslargelyanaspirationforusatthispoint–thesecurityoftenure,widespreadextensionsupport,appropriatebreedingprogrammesandproductdevelopment,appropriatemarkets,andsoon,whichwouldensurethatsmall-scalefarmerscouldhavequalitylivelihoodsandautonomywhileoperatinginanequitablefoodsystemthatproducesnutritiousfood,whichisavailabletothepoor.
Itwouldseemthatallthebuildingblocksarethere–includinglongreachintocommunitiesandcontinuedtrainingandsupport,workonseedsavingandrevivalofindigenousknowledge,research,documentationandadvocacy,on-farmprocessing,curriculumdevelopment,publicawarenessandmore.TheseactivitiesarehappeninginNGOprojectsandacademia,smallcommercialventuresand
the“foodiemovement”,amongothers.Thefollowingsuccessfulprojectsandinitiativesactasexamplesoftheseactivities.
Abalimi Bezekhaya and Harvest of Hope
AbalimiBezekhayasupportsabout3650micro-farmersacrosstheCapeFlats,CapeTown,wheretheclimateandenvironmentarenotoriouslyharshforvegetableproduction.Theorganisationprovidestraining,permanentmentorship,subsidised/freeinputsthroughitsgardencentres,andguaranteedmarketsforthosethatareabletosellsurplus.GardenerscanpurchasesubsidisedinputsandgainadviceandpeerinteractionatitsgardencentresinKhayelitshaandNyanga.Some3500clientswereservicedbythesetwocentresin2012.
Theorganisationtakesadifferentiatedapproachtothefarmersthattheyservenotingthatsomefarmersoperateonasubsistencelevel,whileothersengageinsuccessfulcommercialproduction.Thisrecognitionthatfarmersalongthespectrumneeddifferentkindofsupportiskeytothesuccessoftheproject(seefigure2below).Theotherskeystosuccessareguaranteeingmarketsatfairprices,shorteningthevaluechainandbuildingentrepreneurialskillsattherighttimeineachfarmer’sdevelopmentalcycle.
Figure 2: The sustainable development continuum for organic micro-farming projects
Source:RobSmall,AbalimiBezekhaya
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Thefirsttwoinvolvecreatingdemandthroughtheweeklysaleofpre-orderedandpaidfororganicveggieboxes.AvisittotheHarvestofHopepackaginghousethatpackagestheproducefrom51gardensrevealsthemind-bogglingplanningandco-ordinationinvolved.
Thisapproachhashelpedtobuildmoresustainablefarmingbusinesses,makingthemlessvulnerabletocollapseshouldthesupportoftheNGOdisappear.However,founderRobSmallisadamantthatallfarmersneedatleastaR100subsidypermonthforsuccess,notingthatcommercialfarmersaresubsidisedthroughspecialwaterandelectricityrates.Thegraphicbelowillustratesthefourstagesofthecontinuumusedtoassessthekindofsupportneededatanygiventime:survival,subsistence,livelihoodandcommercial.AbalimiBezekhayaboughtproduceworthR501220fromparticipatingmicro-farmersin2012.
Theorganisationchoosestoselltoaguaranteedmarketthatprovidespremiumpricesinordertobringthemostmoneypossibleintothelocaleconomy,asopposedtosellingtheorganicproducetothelocalcommunity,whichcouldincreaseitsnutritionalsecurity.Somemightarguethatthisisatoddswiththefoodsovereigntyprinciplewheretheworkingclassproducesfoodbyandforitself.Thisisoneofthemanydebatesstilltobehadinouremergingfoodsovereigntymovement
regardingtheunderlyingvaluesandprinciplesandthepossiblesolutionsthatcouldsuiteachfarmerorcollectiveintheiruniquesituations.
AbalimiBezekhayaservedastheinspirationfortheSiyavunaprojectinKwaZulu-Natal,describedfurtherbelow.
Siyavuna Abalimi Development Centre
Siyavuna,operatingintheUgudistrictofKwaZulu-Natal,trainsandmentorsemergingorganicfarmerswiththeaimofbolsteringfoodsecurity,helpingtodeveloplivelihoodsandenhancinglocaleconomies.Itworkswithfarmersfrom10ruralcommunitiesandsupportsmicro-enterprisesthroughfarmers’associationsandcooperativesthatmarketunderabrandcalledKumnandi.Itsorganicproduceiscertifiedthroughaparticipatoryguaranteesystem.
Participatingfarmersdelivertheirgoodseachweektoacooperative-establishedcollectionpointthatiswithinwalkingdistanceofthefarms.Farmersarepaidcashfortheirproduce.
Localfarmersfromeachcommunityareelectedtoactasfieldworkersbythecooperativestoassistatcollectionpointsandsitontheboardsofthecooperatives.
Siyavunarecognisesthatfarmersfacetwinchallenges:developingtheirproduction
Image 1: Food production in the Cape Flats
Source:www.abalimi.org.za
Agroecology in South Africa: policy and practice 21
systemstocreateasurplusandtheneedforentrepreneurialandbusinessmanagementskills.Itprovidestrainingandmentorshiponsustainableproductionmethodsaswellasentrepreneurialskillsanditlinksfarmerstoguaranteedmarketswheretheycancuttheirteeth.AsatAbalimiBezekhaya,theorganisationtailorsassistancetothefarmer’slevelofdevelopment.Of320participatingfarmers,ithasselected31farmersasadvancedfarmerswhohaveexpressedtheirdesiretoproduceonalargerscale.Theywillreceiveadditionaltrainingandsupport.
Biowatch South Africa
Biowatchengagesinresearchandadvocacywork,aswellasrunningprogrammeswithsmall-scalefarmersinfiveprojectsitesinKwaZulu-Natal.Itservicessome25projectsinthefollowingareas:• Tshaneni• Pongola• Mtubatuba• KwaNgwanase• Ingwavuma.
Biowatchdefinesagroecologyasthesustainablealternativetoindustrialmonoculturefarmingsystemsandasasystemthatadaptstolocalconditions,useslowlevelsofinputsandisinexpensive,andworksinharmonywithnature.Thismethodoffarmingpreservesbiodiversity,andoftenenhancesit.Itresultsinhealthy,nutritiousandGM-freefood.Itcanbepracticedonbothsmallandlarge
farms.Itbuildsontraditionalknowledgeandpractices,andvaluespeopleandtheirculture.Importantly,itismorethanaproductionmethod.Itisalsoathrivingsocialmovementthatensuresthatfarmersareincontrolofmostaspectsoftheirfoodproductionwithjusticeforpeopleandplanetatitsheart.
Biowatchspearheadsworkonseedsavinginthecountrywithgreatsuccessinthecommunitieswithinwhichtheyoperate.Theirdefinitionofaseedbankasa“dynamicsystemofexchangeratherthanastructure”hasshapedthewaytheyworkwithfarmersathouseholdandcommunitylevels,withafocusonincreasingdiversityofseedathouseholdlevelandexchangeanddistributionatcommunitylevel.Itsets“diversitytargets”forhouseholdsasmembershipcriteriaencouraginghouseholdsthatwanttojointoplantadiversityofcrops.
TheSeedKnowledgeInitiative(SKI)isapartnershipbetweenBiowatchSouthAfrica,TheMupoFoundationandtheNationalResearchFoundationBio-economyResearchChairandEnvironmentalEvaluationUnitattheUniversityofCapeTown.SKIresearches,documentsandcreatesplatformsforexperientiallearningbetweenfarmerstocreate“localandregionalcommunitiesofpracticearoundagro-ecologyandseedsavingandexchangeandtoshiftpolicyaswellasscientificdiscourseonagriculture.”31
Image 2: Siyavuna cooperatives
Source:www.siyavuna.org.za
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Ithemba Projects
“Sometimes success is not about the garden, but a range of other things, like making genuine caring relationships.”32
KaraboRajuili,ex-ProjectManageratIthembaProjectsgaveaveryimpassionedinterviewabouttheiractivities.IthembaProjectsservicesthecommunityofSweetwatersinnorthernKwaZulu-Natal,focusingparticularlyonthewellbeingofthechildren,lifeskillsandeducation.Manychildrenaremalnourishedintheregion,withalarminglevelsofstunting.Ithembaiskeenlyawarehowthisaffectschildren’sbehaviour,developmentandeducationalachievement.Additionally,therehadbeenlittleeducationinthearearelatedtotheenvironmentalcare,evidencedbythewidespreadenvironmentaldegradation.
Inresponse,Ithembabeganagardeningproject,basedonpermacultureprinciples,inninecrèchesandfiveprimaryschools.Itchosepermacultureasaproductionsystembecauseitreliesonlocalresources,hastheleastnegativeimpactontheenvironmentandisasustainablemodelforschoolsettings.Importantly,diversecroppingandanecosystem
approachprovidevegetables,herbsandfruittrees,producingawidearrayofvitaminsandnutrients.Thekeygoalwastoimprovenutrition.“Alotofworkwentintohowtoreachthatgoal.”33Thequalityoffruitandvegetablesintheareaisgenerallypoorbecausemostproduceisimported,ifavailableatall.
Anotherkeygoalfortheprojectwastoensurelongevityandownershipwithintheschoolsandthecommunitysothatthegardenswouldcontinuewhentheprojectwascompleted.Thecommunityhadagreatdealofscepticismtowardsthesetypesofprojectsduetothehistoricexperienceofshort-livedprojectsinitiatedbyoutsiderswhosubsequentlyleft.Theorganisationprovidedpermaculturetraining;infrastructure,suchasfencing;apersontoworkinthegarden;andimportantlysoughtoutateacherwithpassiontoworkwith;“therightperson”.Ithembaconsultedwiththeschoolsaboutalloftheseaspects.AmentorfromthecommunitywastrainedtosupporttheschoolandcrèchegardensonaweeklybasisandthismentorremainedasakindofextensionworkeraftertheIthembaprojectconcluded.Thementorwas“from[the]community,notanoutsiderandsomeoneteacherscouldrelateto.Sometimes
Image 3: Biowatch: fresh, healthy produce at local markets
Source:www.biowatch.org.za
Agroecology in South Africa: policy and practice 23
successisnotaboutthegarden,butarangeofotherthings,likemakinggenuinecaringrelationships.”
Theproductionvariesfromschooltoschool,buttherehavebeensomeexcitinginnovations.Forexample,NomvandoPrimarySchool,whichcatersforabout700children,decidedtoselltheirproducetothelocalfeedingschemethusgeneratinganincome.Theycontributedatleast30%ofthefoodfortheschemeandprovidedfreshdiversefoodforthechildren.Inthecrèches,theyfoundtheywereproducingmorethanenoughvegetablesfortheschoolandsoldthesurplusforincome.
Thecrèchesledthisinnovationandhavebecomeviableandsustainableinitiatives.Theschoolalsorunsaseed-savingprogrammewithdifferinglevelsofsuccessacrosstheschools.
Communitymembers,includingchildren,rankedtheirincreasedknowledgeofnutritionhighlyasoneofthebenefitsoftheproject.Ithembadiscoveredthatchildrenweretakingtheirnewknowledgebackhomeandmanyweretendinghomegardensandteachingtheirfamiliesaboutnutrition.Inaddition,thegardensareusedtoteachlifeskillsandraiseawarenessaboutenvironmentalsustainability.
Ithembaisallaboutnurturingthenextgeneration.
Governmentprogrammeshindertheireffortsbecauseitsvariousagriculturalprogrammestargetedatschoolshaveadifferentapproachmakingitimportantthatprincipalsareeducatedaroundagroecologysothattheycanapproveordeclineeachprogramme–forexample,anofferoffreemaizeseed.Theorganisationwasalsounsuccessfulinaccessinggovernmentfundsas“governmentresourcessupportsuccessful(commerciallyviable)projects.”
IthembaalsotriedtolinkupwithCEDARACollegefortechnicalsupport,butthecollege’sapproachwithchemicalscreatedconfusionwithintheprojects.
Enaleni Farm
EnaleniFarmisaprivateagroecologicalfarmwithapassionatefocusonindigenouscropsandlivestock.OwnerRichardHaighisaninternationalSlowFood“Presidium”,atitlebestowedonthosewhoarerevivingandstewardingendangeredindigenousfood-relatedresources.Heexplainedtheworkingsofthefarm,hispassionsandchallengesinaninterview.
Image 4: Ithemba is all about the children
Source:IthembaProjectsfacebook
24 A F R I C A N C E N T R E F O R B I O S A F E T Y
HisspecialityistheendangeredZulusheep,whichare“areremarkableinthattheyhaveahightolerancetotick-bornediseasesandparasites.Theyhaveco-evolvedwithinahot,pest-riddenlandscapewithinconsistentweatherpatternsandtemperatures,andinsomecoastalareaswithhighhumidity”.However,theyhavebeen“overlookedanddisplacedbycorporateagriculture”.Enaleniisdedicatedtokeepingthemfromextinction,whilepromotingtheselow-inputagriculturalresourcesandcreatingawarenessandconsumerappreciation.
WhileEnaleniisaworkingfarm,italsoservesasamodelforintegratedindigenousagricultureandisoneofthemostestablishedandadvancedsuchmodelsinthecountry.Itisopentopublicvisitsandoffersasmallamountoftraining.Itisonlybeginningtoturnamodestprofitnowafteradecadeofoperationsandthishastakenamassiveamountoftechnicalexpertise,innovation,passionandincrediblyhardwork.Oneofthereasonsithastakensolongisbecausethelandfirstneededtobeclearedofalienvegetationandthenslowlybuiltupusinganagroecologicalapproach,whichrequireshighlevelsoffinancialandknowledgeresources,alongwiththeneedtoemployamultitudeofstrategies.
Enalenifocusesprimarilyonlivestock–theZulusheepalreadymentioned,traditionalNgunicattle,Colsbrookpigsandarangeofpoultry,includingturkeysandVendachickens.
Cropping,withanemphasisonindigenousandfarmervarieties,ismostlyforhouseholdconsumptionandforfeedfortheanimals.
Afairamountofon-farmprocessingtakesplace,suchasfetacheeseproductionfromthesheepandgrainthreshingandmilling.Surplusissoldatalocalmarket.Inaddition,Enaleniproducesorchidsforsale,runsaguesthouseandholdsevents,suchasrestaurantdays.
Thismyriadofactivitiesenablesalivelihood.
Thefarmalsoworkswith60primaryandsecondaryteacherslinkinghealth,environmentandeatinghabits.Theprogrammelooksatproductionsystemsandeducatesonhowtomakebetterfoodchoices,butitalsofocusesonaromaandtextureoffood,i.e.thejoyoffood.
Richard’spassionisforhisanimals.Compassioniscentraltothewayheraisesandslaughterstheanimals.Henotesthat,forexample,breedershavenevertamperedwiththepigsandthattheyhaveaccumulatedhighlevelsoffatandarefecund.
WhileaccordingtoRichardmostbreedsare‘prophetsinsomeoneelse’sland’,theindigenoussheephavealongAfricanhistory.Richardnotesthattheyarehardyandcommerciallyviableonalocallevel.
HisbeautifulNgunicattleareregisteredatasteepcost.Thelivestocksectorisgenerallynotinfavourofsmall-scaleproduction,promoting
Image 5 Entrance to Enaleni
Source:HaideeSwanby
Image 6 Award-winning heritage beans
Source:HaideeSwanby
Agroecology in South Africa: policy and practice 25
rathereconomiesofscale.Forexample,inRichard’sexperience,pigabattoirsdictatetermstosmallfarmers,favouring,ofcourse,businessforlarge-scaleproducerswhooftenkeepanimalsininhumaneconditions.Inaddition,animalskeptonlarge-scalefarmshavetobetransportedlongdistancestotheabattoirs,whicharecentralisedandcansufferhavingnofoodfordays.Hepreferstoskiptheabattoirsandslaughteronfarm,packageandselldirectlytocustomerswhoputinordersforporkatmarketdaysoronline.Majorcostsforthefarmincludeelectricity,whichismoreexpensivethantownrates,andwater,whichhasalmostdoubledincostoverthepastyear,alongwithanimalfeed,grain,dieselandlabour.Thismakesitveryexpensivetofeed,waterandcarefor100sheep,25cows,50pigs,anassortmentofpoultryandadonkey.
Richardnotesthatinthecurrentparadigmtherearenoincentivestocareforthelandoruseitappropriately.Infactdoingthisputsthefarmeratadisadvantagebecauseofthelackofsupport.Governmenthasbeenunabletogivehimtechnicalsupportasthereisnocapacitytodealwithafarmsuchashis–infact,hehasbeenaskedtogiveextensionworkerstrainingondealingwithNgunicattle.Hehadhopedforassistancewithmakingsilageforhisanimals,buthasnotfoundthisexpertisewithingovernmentstructures.However,hehasfounditusefultojoinagriculturalassociations,suchasthePoultryAssociation,whichhasprovedtobeasourceoflearningandsharing.What
governmenthasassistedwithtodatehasbeentheuseoftheir“treepopper”underaDAFFinitiativetoremovealienvegetation.
Enalenihadtocreatetheirentirefarmingsystemandlivelihoodessentiallyfromscratch–fromsourcingqualityindigenousanimalsandseed,creatinganecologicalproductionsystem,doingon-farmprocessinganddevelopingandmaintainingamarketandclientele.Allthisinanenvironmentwhereeconomiesofscaleareencouragedandtechnicalsupportislacking.Howwillresource-poorfarmersmanagethisfeatalone?
John Nzira – Ukuvuna Farm
UkuvunaFarm,basedinMidrandGauteng,providesagroecologicaltraininginruralandurbancommunities,schoolsandclinics,aswellassellingfarmproductsandinstallingsolarenergysystems.Avisittohisfarmisaninspiringoccasionandhetooktimetoexplaintheiractivities.TheyprovideGM-freemaizeseedstosmallfarmersandhomegardenersinGautengandmaintainheritageseedsforimprovingnutritionandprotectingtheerosionofopen-pollinatedandpure-bredcropvarieties.Protectingandacknowledgingindigenousknowledgesystemsisforthemthekeyforfuturefoodsovereignty.
JohnNzirarunsUkuvunaFarmingononehectareinMidrand,wherediversity,notonlyinhisagriculturalsystem,butalsointerms
Image 7: Indigenous Zulu sheep: rare and hardy
Source:www.enalenifarm.co.za
26 A F R I C A N C E N T R E F O R B I O S A F E T Y
oflivelihoodcreation,isvitalforsuccess.LikeRichardHaigh,Johnisamasterfarmerandisdoingwhatheloves.Thelevelofknowledgeandexperiencethesetwomenhaveistestamenttotheknowledge-intensivecharacterofagroecology.Theentirehectareisdesignedasonesystem,intruepermaculturefashion,witheachsub-systemfeedingintoandsupportinganother.Forexample,everydropofmunicipalwaterthatcomesontothepropertystaysthere–withgreywaterfromwashingfeedingintothegardenandevenblacksewerageistreatedthroughnaturalfilterstonourishtheorchard.Atanygiventime
ofyearthereissomethingcomingoutofthefarmtosell,fromearthwormsandcompost,tohoney,freshproduce,heritageseedandmore.Productionisfirstforhomeconsumptionandnutritionwiththesurplusforsale.
UkuvunaworkswiththeMupoFoundationinLimpopoandcloselywithBiowatchintheSKIproject,aswellasintheregion.WithintheSKIproject,theycollaboratewiththeUniversityofZambiaandtheKasisiAgriculturalCentretodocumenttraditionalseed.InLimpopo,Johntrainedcommunitiestodeveloptreenurseriesbycollectingseedfromtheforest,propagating
Source:HaideeSwanby
Image 8: Diverse cropping and economic strategies in an integrated permaculture design at Ukuvuna
Agroecology in South Africa: policy and practice 27
andselling.ThecommunityearnedR25000fromthisendeavourinFebruary2014.Thisraisesawarenessofthevalueoflocalresourcesandincentivisescommunitiestocareforthem–duringtheprogramme,communitiesalsoplantedtreestorehabilitatewetlandsanddegradedenvironments,whichareatriskfromextensivetimberplantationsandotherindustrialactivities.About30peopleinthecommunityweretrainedtosavetraditionalseedandtheyfindgreatvalueintheincreasedyieldanddiversitytheseseedsbring.
AccordingtoJohn,“governmenthasfundsbutdoesn’tknowhowtousethem.”Hefeelsthattheycouldplayagreaterroleinsupportingresponsibleandsociallyjustproductionandthatprovidingassistancearoundidentifyingnichecropsandagro-processingactivitiesandassistingwithmarketdevelopmentwouldbeparticularlyuseful.
The “foodie movement” and the youth
Therehasbeenamarkedriseofgourmetmarketsandinterestinartisanalfoods,evenforaging.TheOranjezichtmarketinCapeTownisanexampleoffarmers’marketsmovingintothecitiesandthereareanumberof
restaurantsnowservingfoodsforagedfromthelocalsurrounds,withcolourfulnameslikeSardinesandToastandFoliage.Withoutadoubt,the“foodie/gourmet”movementisopeningupmarketspaceandcreatinganewdiscoursethatisappreciativeofsmallproducersandartisanalproducers,wholesomeandnaturalfoodandheritagerecipes.
TheSlowfoodYouthNetworkinSouthAfricastraddlesthesegourmettrendswithprojectworkintheWesternCape.Itinteractswithaglobalmovementonfoodandfoodrightsissues,networkswithprojectsdedicatedtosustainableandethicalfoodproductionandhostseventsaimedattheyouth.OneoftheSlowfoodYouthcommunityprojectsTyisaNabanyeaimsto“constantlyinvolvemoreandmoreyouthinfarmingactivities,usingmusicandartasanalternativemethodofdrawingthemtothefields.Foundedin2013,theprojecthasactuallybroughttogetherabout70youngpeoplewhomanagedtofindspacefortheartisticprojectinthedischargedOranjezichtmilitarybase(CapeTown),whichwasmadeavailablethankstothelocaladministration.Thegroupisveryactive:theyorganizeperiodicmarketsandworkshopswithvolunteers,createcrowdfundingcampaignsandpublishphotos
Image 9: Markets at Tyisa Nabanye
Source:Facebook
28 A F R I C A N C E N T R E F O R B I O S A F E T Y
andarticlesontheirFacebookpage.”34Theorganisationnotesthatmanychildreninthecitydonothaveaccesstohealthyinexpensivefood.
The“kidsinthevegetablegardengrownumerousproducts:fromspinachandcelery,tocorianderandthyme,alongwithmanyothertypesoflocalSouthAfricanproduce,evenalemontree!”Italsospreadsawarenessconcerningthethemesofdietandfarmingeducationandoffersspacesandtrainingtolaunchcultivation,evenonroofsandbalconiesinCapeTown.
TheSlowfoodYouthnetworkprovidesanopportunitytonetworkwithyoutharoundtheworldthatsharethissamepassionandintroducesthemtotheglobalpoliticsoffoodandactivism.Italsoplanseventsincollaborationwithnetworkmemberstospreadawarenessandaction.
Transitioning to agroecology
Inanagriculturallandscapedominatedbylarge-scaleindustrialagricultureandahighlyconcentratedfoodsystem,successstoriesfromsmallproducersareimpressiveregardlessoftheirproductionsystem.Althoughultimatelythegoalistotransformourproductionmethodstoonesthatdonotpolluteanderodeecologicalsystemsandourhealth,itisworthwhilenoticingandcommendingsmall-scaleproducersthataremanagingtomakeitinthishostileenvironment.Manyoftheirproblemsassmallplayersechothoseofagroecologicalproducers.SmallscalefarmersinthePhillipiAreahavesuccessfullysuppliedCapeTownwithfreshproduceformanyyears,mostlyusingagrichemicals.Activistsfarmingintheareahavebeenengagedinanongoingstruggletoretaintheirlandforagricultureaspressuretorezoneitforhousinghasmounted.
Phillipi Horticultural Area (PHA)
ThePHAhasafascinating,longandrichhistoryasagriculturallandthatdatesbacktothemid-1800s.Theland,designatedasrural,islocatedintheurbansettingoftheCapeFlatsandsurroundedbypoorcommunities.Thelandandculturehaveweatheredmanypressuresandchanges,butinrecenttimestherehasbeen
extremepressuretorezonetheagriculturallandfordevelopmentpurposesinaprovincewithanestimatedhousingbacklogofabout400000houses35AbitterbattlehasensuedbetweentheCityofCapeTownandfarmerstokeepthisprimeurbanagriculturallandforfoodproduction.
AccordingtotheCityofCapeTown’sSpatialPlanningCommittee,thePhilippiHorticulturalAreaisacriticalresourceinCapeTownduetoitsexceptionalhorticulturalproduction,whichislinkedtouniquelocalclimaticandwateravailabilityconditionsand….itsroleincontributingtosecuringaffordablefood,whichisbecomingincreasinglyimportant,aswellasholdingpotentialforlong-termwatersupplyinCapeTown.Thelabour-intensivehorticulturalsectoriscurrentlyamajoremployerofespeciallylower-skilledworkers.Currently2350–3760peopleareemployed(varyingseasonably),andthishasthepotentialtogrowasmorehorticulturallandbecomesavailableafterminingoperationsarecompleted.Theimpactofclimatechangeonfoodproduction,andfuelsecurityontheaffordabilityoffood,heightensthevalueofthePHAtotheCity’sfoodsecurity”.36
Inaddition,thePHAboastsasophisticatedvaluechainwith“seedlingsuppliers,inputsupplierssuchasfertiliser,infrastructuresuppliersandsupplierssuchascompostproducers;foodchaininterventionssuchasbeneficiation,wholesalersandpackhouses.”37
Theareaproduceswellover50differenthorticulturalcrops,withmanyfarmersalsoactiveinlivestockproduction.Itisestimatedthatjustunder100000tonnesoffreshproduceisgrowninthePHAannually–thisincludesanestimatedfigureofover2000tonnesofproducethatisgivenfreetofarmworkerseachyear.38
However,initialrezoningplansdidnotlookatthePHAthroughafoodlens,andpaintedtheareaasrundown,withfarmerslookingtosellassoonasdecentpricesbecomeavailable.Foranumberofyears,itlookedasifthis“foodbasketofCapeTown”wouldbelosttoprivatehousingdevelopments,haditnotbeenforafiercefightbytheSavethePHACampaign.TheCityturneddownanapplicationinJanuary
Agroecology in South Africa: policy and practice 29
2014byMSPDevelopmentsforaproposaltorezonetheandearmarkitforurbandevelopment.39Althoughthisisasignificantvictory,activistsnoteseveralotherthreatsonthehorizonandthattheareawillcontinuetobeunderpressureasdevelopersseektoexploititseconomicpotential.
Itisshockingthatarablelandthatisbeingproductivelyusedandcreatingemploymentshouldbeunderthreatinacitywhere80%ofpoorerhouseholdsarefoodinsecureiii.Insteadofrezoningtheareaduetoaperceivedlack
ofsuccessbyfarmers,“theDepartmentsofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentneedtobeengagedandcalledontheirlackofsupportforthefarmerswithinthearea”.40WhileproductioninthePHAisbasedprimarilyonchemicalsandexternalinputs,therearenewgroupsoffarmersthatareexcitedtoimplementenvironmentallysoundpractices.FarmerstrainedthroughAbalimiBezekhaya,forexample,arekeentogainlandinthePHAandbenefitfromthemarketsandmanyservicesavailableinthearea.
iii. ForexampleaccordingtotheHouseholdFoodInsecurityAccessScale(HFIAS)89%ofhouseholdsinKhayelitshaarecategorisedasfoodinsecure.Battersby,J.2011.TheStateofUrbanFoodInsecurityinCapeTown.AFSUN.http://www.afsun.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/AFSUN_11.pdf
30 A F R I C A N C E N T R E F O R B I O S A F E T Y
References
1. AfricanCentreforBiosafety2014.NationalRighttoFoodDialoguereport.Unpublished.Availableonrequest.www.acbio.org.za
2. Ibid.3. Ibid.4. Hall,R.&Aliber,M.2010.The Case for Re-
Strategising Spending Priorities to Support Small Scale Farmers in South Africa.Plaas.WorkingPaper17.http://dspace.africaportal.org/jspui/bitstream/123456789/33529/1/WP17.pdf?1.
5. InternationalAssessmentofAgriculturalKnowledge,ScienceandTechnologyforDevelopment.2009.Synthesis, Global and Regional Reports.IslandPress,Washington,DC.http://www.unep.org/dewa/agassessment/reports/IAASTD/EN/Agriculture%20at%20a%20Crossroads_Synthesis%20Report%20%28English%29.pdf
6. DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestryandFisheries(2011)South African Agricultural Production Strategy 2011 – 2025.http://www.daff.gov.za/doaDev/doc/IGDP/AGRIC_PRODUCTION_STRATEGY_FRAMWK.pdf
7. Hall,R.&Aliber,M.2010.The Case for Re-Strategising Spending Priorities to Support Small Scale Farmers in South Africa.Plaas.WorkingPaper17.http://dspace.africaportal.org/jspui/bitstream/123456789/33529/1/WP17.pdf?1.
8. DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestryandFisheries2014.Agriculture Budget Vote Speech 2014.http://www.daff.gov.za/docs/speeches/2014%20-%20%20MINISTER%20BUDGET%20VOTE%20FINAL%2016%20July%202014.pdf
9. DeSatge,R.2013.Overberg smallholder agriculture.APhuhlisaniscanfortheDepartmentofAgriculture,ForestryandFisheries.https://prezi.com/kaxbpmlg9anb/overberg-smallholder-agriculture/?auth_key=7dc39df1839915269ee3d6c6e180bfc34d110de6
10. DeSatge,R.2013.Overberg smallholder agriculture.APhuhlisaniscanfortheDepartmentofAgriculture,ForestryandFisheries.https://prezi.com/kaxbpmlg9anb/overberg-smallholder-agriculture/?auth_key=7dc39df1839915269ee3d6c6e180bfc34d110de6
11. CivilSocietyStatementontheDraftNationalAgroecologyStrategy.SurplusPeople’sProject.https://www.google.co.za/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C1LENN_enZA573ZA573&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=civil%20society%20statement%20agroecology
12. Personalcorrespondence,MrPeterjeKgomo.July2014,Pretoria
13. DAFF.April2014.NationalStrategyforIndigenousFoodCrops.DiscussionDocument.Draft6.
14. Personalcommunication,MolokoMojapelo.August2015,CapeTown
15. Aliber,M&Hall,R.Support for smallholder farmers in South Africa: Challenges of scale and strategy.http://www.hsrc.ac.za/uploads/pageContent/2950/DSAspecialissueALIBER.pdf
16. Hall,R.&Aliber,M.2010.The Case for Re-Strategising Spending Priorities to Support Small Scale Farmers in South Africa.Plaas.WorkingPaper17.http://dspace.africaportal.org/jspui/bitstream/123456789/33529/1/WP17.pdf?1.
17. Personalcorrespondence,ESAFFSouthAfrica.18. NationalExtensionPolicyWebsitehttp://www.
extensionpolicy.za.net/19. SAOSOhttp://www.saoso.org/Organic-Standards.
php(thedraftpolicyisalsoavailablehere)20. Forexample,seeACB’s“Industryemploysbullying
tacticstoscupperGMlabelling”.http://www.acbio.org.za/index.php/media/64-media-releases/464-industry-employing-bullying-tactics-to-scupper-gm-food-labelling-in-south-africa
21. DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestryandFisheries(2011)South African Agricultural Production Strategy 2011 – 2025.http://www.daff.gov.za/doaDev/doc/IGDP/AGRIC_PRODUCTION_STRATEGY_FRAMWK.pdf
22. NDA(NationalDepartmentofAgriculture)(2007a)ComprehensiveAgriculturalSupportProgramme(CASP):BackgroundonCASP.PresentedattheNationalReviewMeeting,Pretoria,20February2007.Pretoria:NDA.
23. Hall,R.&Aliber,M.2010.The Case for Re-Strategising Spending Priorities to Support Small Scale Farmers in South Africa.Plaas.WorkingPaper17.http://dspace.africaportal.org/jspui/bitstream/123456789/33529/1/WP17.pdf?1.
24. DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestryandFisheries(2011)South African Agricultural Production Strategy 2011 – 2025.http://www.daff.gov.za/doaDev/doc/IGDP/AGRIC_PRODUCTION_STRATEGY_FRAMWK.pdf
25. Hall,R.&Aliber,M.2010.The Case for Re-Strategising Spending Priorities to Support Small Scale Farmers in South Africa.Plaas.WorkingPaper17.http://dspace.africaportal.org/jspui/bitstream/123456789/33529/1/WP17.pdf?1.
26. ibid27. ibid28. ibid29. ComprehensiveAgriculturalSupportProgramme,
MAFISA,Ilima-Letsema,Landcare&newprogrammes:DepartmentofAgriculturebriefings.https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/14636/
30. Theportfoliocommitteeonagriculture,forestryandfisheries07august2012.https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/14636/
31. Biowatchsouthafrica32. KaraboRajuili.ExprojectmanagerIthemba
Agroecology in South Africa: policy and practice 31
33. KaraboRajuili34. SlowfoodFoundationJanuary2015.A local
revolution.http://www.slowfoodfoundation.com/pagine/eng/news/dettaglio_news.lasso?-idn=347#.VNmuqfmUf77
35. Battersby-Lennard,J&Haysom,G.2012.PhilippiHorticulturalAreaACityassetorpotentialdevelopmentnode?http://www.sustainabilityinstitute.net/newsdocs/document-downloads/doc_download/569-philippi-horticultural-area-final-report.
36. CityofCapeTownReporttoeconomic,environment&spatialplanningcommitteeEESP13031012theroleofthephillipihorticulturalareainsecuringthefutureofthecity.13.10.12
37. Battersby-Lennard,J&Haysom,G.2012.PhilippiHorticulturalAreaACityassetorpotentialdevelopmentnode?http://www.sustainabilityinstitute.net/newsdocs/document-downloads/doc_download/569-philippi-horticultural-area-final-report.
38. Ibid.39. UrbanAfricaNet.14.02.14.http://www.urbanafrica.
net/urban-voices/fight-philippi/40.Battersby-Lennard,J&Haysom,G.2012.
PhilippiHorticulturalAreaACityassetorpotentialdevelopmentnode?http://www.sustainabilityinstitute.net/newsdocs/document-downloads/doc_download/569-philippi-horticultural-area-final-report.
w w w . a c b i o . o r g . z a
Agroecology in South Africa: policy and practice
A discussion document
PO Box 29170, Melville 2109, South Africawww.acbio.org.za