ECO- AGRICULTURE EXTENDED LANDCARE PROGRAM

1. ECO- AGRICULTURE EXTENDED LANDCARE PROGRAM BACKGROUND POLICY FRAMEWORK STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES LANDCARE PROGRAMME ELEMENTS LANDCARE THEMES LANDCARE APPROACH PROGRAMME ROLL-OUT VISION FOR LANDCARE IN SA NEW APPROACHES/ STRATEGIES ENABLING ENVIRONMENT NATIONAL PROJECTS

2. BACKGROUND: POST 1994 CONT. • Awareness raising Landcare video; • Provincial workshop launches; • MinMEC and ITCA endorsement; • ITCA Standing Committee on Agriculture; and • Document ‘Implementation Framework for the Landcare Programme’.

3. BACKGROUND CONT • The Landcare program is on course towards attaining its goals, impl. prov through DORA • Increase in number of projects (469) and community participation • Several hectares of land has been rehabilitated • Temporal jobs created • Need to expand and create sustainable and quality jobs

4. POLICY FRAMEWORK • The program has to meet other sectoral policy directives such as: • The Microeconomic Reform Strategy (MERS) • The Expanded Public Works Program (EPWP) • The core elements of the agric sectoral plan • The program needs to meet international conventions that have been ratified by Parliament (i.e. MDG on FS, Poverty,WSSD) • Emphasis will be on skills development as articulated in the EPWP • The initiative will link policies and strategies of other spheres of government and numerous government departments involved in poverty alleviation.

5. NEW STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES FOR LANDCARE • To expand the secondary enterprise phase of the landcare program • Add value to farm operations and create sustainable and quality jobs • Will be achieved through development of agritourism , eco-technology and green lung strategies

6. LANDCARE PROGRAMME ELEMENTS • Major sub-programmes addressing resource conservation issues; • Capacity building of local communities and support staff; • Awareness programme; • Policy and legislation; and • Research and evaluation.

7. LANDCARE THEMES • Watercare – initially targeted Limpopo Province, on the management and restoration of irrigation schemes; • Veldcare – initially targeted Northwest Province,on the promotiion of sustainable grazing systems that improve production,has since spread ie Zamani project; • Soilcare – initially targeted KZN, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga,on the promotiion of sustainable production systems addressing depletion of soil fertility and soil acidity.

8. LANDCARE THEMES CONT. • Juniorcare – promotion of food security at homes and at schools, awareness of sustainable agriculture, formation of youth clubs and small projects, must join the mainstream project funding mechanism and; • (Small) Community Grants OUTSTANDING SUCCESS- improves the ability of resource-poor communities to manage land, water sources and vegetation in a sustainable and self-reliant manner.

9. LANDCARE APPROACHES • Community-based natural resource management; • Partnerships; • Local action; • Food security; • Integrated and innovative approaches; • Redress; • Training and skills development; and • Promoting livelihoods and economic opportunities.

10. AusAID SUPPORTED ISDA • Selection and documentation of 8 Landcare Good Practice Models; • New improved assessment criteria for Landcare projects; • Facilitated annual national Landcare strategic planning, plus Provinces and the Landcare Secretariat; • Supported development of M&E system and project cycle system with two toolkits; and • Helped develop a national Landcare research strategy.

11. AusAID SUPPORT CONT. • Design and production of 5 Landcare short courses; • SAQA accreditation of a national Landcare Facilitation qualification under the PAETA, development of course and Learnership; • Produced Landcare Skills Development Toolkit to guide access to courses, qualifications and Learnerships • Training of course accreditors and course providers.

12. AusAID SUPPORT CONT. • Produced capacity building strategies and plans, including post ISDA plan; • National staff had 2 750 days of capacity building courses, workshops & other training events; • Provincial staff had 29 000 days of same; • three interprovincial study tours, & four provincial tours;

13. PAST PROGRAMME ROLL-OUT • Poverty Relief and Infrastructural development Funding used for the programme. • 1998/1999 R25million • 1999/2000 R20million • 2000/2001 R25million • 2001/2002 R25million • 2003/2004 R40million • 2004/2005 R78 million (EPWP)

14. Future 5yr Funding for the LandCare Programme Year Total Ex-SPRA Labour Other 2004/5 R78 m R60 m R3 m R15m 2005/6 R67 m R64 m R3 m R0 2006/7 R71 m R68 m R3 m R0 2007/8 R75 m R72 m R3 m R0 2008/9 R79 m R76 m R3 m R0 Total: R355 m R340 m R15 m R x m

15. VISION FOR LANDCARE IN SA • Development and implementation of systems of land use and management that will sustain and benefit individuals and communities both presently and in future. • Establish a sense of community stewardship and ownership towards the sustainable use of the natural resources, especially for agricultural production.

16. VISION FOR LANDCARE IN SA CONT. • Further institutional development within provinces and ownership of Landcare from management down to grassroots level. • Promoting the concept of partnerships in funding involving the landcare group, and local,provincial and national government. • Continued roll-out of capacity building programme that will enhance the skills of all partners active in Landcare.

17. NEW APPROACHES/ STRATEGIES • Agri-Tourism Development – Project to assess apparent potential, making of recommendations to exploit potential, plus planning of pilot projects; • Development of appropriate Farmer Eco-technologies - Project to identify, adapt, demonstrate and spread such technologies; • Green Lungs / Urban Agriculture – Project will assess the potential, scope & feasibility of promoting the sustainable production of agricultural products in urban and peri-urban areas. • The Department of Agriculture together with the Provinces is implementing 111 projects of which some are continuing and the rest are new all funded with R70 million, in 2004/5.

18. AGRITOURISM • Rationale • Desire for urban population to experience rural environments • Creating sustainable job opportunities as part of the expanded public works program • Benefits • Educate public about the importance of agricultural ecosystem and its contribution to economy and quality of life. • Enhance the appeal and demand for local products Foster regional marketing efforts • Create value-added & direct marketing efforts to stimulate economic activities

19. AGRITOURISM CONTINUE • Component / approach consists of the following activities: • Co-coordinating and linking policies and programs • Establishing supportive organizational structures and processes • Promoting product quality and identification • Promoting local involvement and alliances • Facilitating local product development and marketing • Research • R20 Million is allocated to achieve these activities

20. ECO-TECHNOLOGY • Creating harmony between agricultural production and the environment through adoption of environmental focused technologies. • Conservation agriculture • Combating land degradation and improvement of land productivity • Mitigating against greenhouse gases and climate change, and the promotion of carbon sequestration • Reduction of soil contamination and water pollution • Promotion of rain water harvesting systems • R3 Million will be set aside to achieve this objective

21. GREEN LUNGS • Urban agriculture will make a meaningful contribution towards: • Household food security • Income generation • Nature conservation • Reversal of urban migration: Join LRAD & become commercial farmers in rural areas • Reclaiming, revitalizing and renewing urban environments. • R2 Million is allocated to this component.

22. PARTNERSHIPS • Government will foster partnerships between the private sector and farmers in order to identify market and product development opportunities. • Key players are: • Private individuals • Personal and company taxpayers • Private companies • The international community

23. ENABLING ENVIRONMENT • Integrating agriculture with tourism • Develop strategic partnerships • Role of Government • Capacity building • Local participation  

24. NATIONAL PROJECTS .

25. NATIONAL PROJECTS CONTINUE

26. L/C PROVINCIAL EXPENDITURE (APR-DEC 2004)

27. LANDCARE PROVINCIAL NON FINANCIAL OUPUTS FOR 2004/2005 (APRIL - DEC)

28. CASP PROVINCIAL EXPENDITURE (APR-DEC 2004)

29. CASP PROVINCIAL NON-FINANCIAL OUTPUTS FOR 2004/2005 (APRIL - DECEMBER

30. Landcare International • South Africa is participating in the African chapter initiative for Landcare International • SA hosted an International workshop session during the second National Landcare Conference

31. Thank you • Bonga Msomi • Department of Agriculture • Tel 012-319 7685 • Email smlusm@nda.agric.za