14-15 February 2019
The National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) in partnership with the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN), the University of Leeds, Chatham House and the UK Met Office under the auspices of the GCRF funded Agricultural and Food Systems Resilience Programme (GCRF-AFRICAP convened an in-country stakeholder engagement workshop from the 14th -15 February 2019 at Southern Sun Hotel in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
The workshop was attended by 35 key stakeholders representing, the University of Free State, the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, FANRPAN, NAMC, University of Leeds and the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. The workshop followed the scenarios meeting that took place on the 12th November 2018 at Burgers park Hotel in Pretoria, Gauteng.
The main objective of the workshop was to plan for the key activities that will be taking place in the country under the AFRICAP programme. The GCRF-AFRICAP Regional Officer, Ms Sithembile Mwamakamba provided an overview of the project and the objectivities that it intends to achieve. She called on the stakeholders to focus on not just what the project aims to achieve, but how the project can respond to the Free State province’s priorities.
Dr Marcelin Tonye Mahop presented a summary of the conclusions of the Scenarios workshop that took place on the 12th November 2018 at Burgers park in Pretoria. The potential policy implications identified indicated that the land reform process will affect South Africa’s ability to feed its population by 2050 and there is need to use the agri-food sector as a powerful tool for rural economic development and poverty alleviation. The Acceleration of the Agri-parks programme is needed alongside the land reform process as a complementary government supported rural development plan.
Mr Talentus Mthunzi, from FANRPAN presented on the programme work plan. He highlighted that the Household Survey (HS) is anticipated to take place in the second quarter this year. The aim of the HS is to evaluate the vulnerability of households to climate-change through agriculture production systems, food and nutrition security. The other key programme activities will include the Theatre for Policy advocacy (TPA) a form of participatory theatre that encourages creativity and allows for local people’s participation in developing solutions to their problems.
The in-country stakeholder meeting was meant for stakeholders and implementing partners to get together and cultivate relationships that will ensure that the programme is successful in South Africa. The in-country workshop was a success and stakeholders contributed positively to the discussions.
Mr SW van der Merwe from the Free State department of agriculture and rural development presented Climate Change Work in the Province. He indicated that the department is promoting several conservation agriculture methods which includes the Infield Water Harvesting and the use of drought resistant cultivars such as WEMA (Water efficient maize for Africa). In his conclusion he mentioned that farmers need to adopt new technologies such as Climate Smart Agriculture as it is an approach that can be used to adapt to Climate Change.
The stakeholders came to an agreement that the sites of the project will be Lejweleputswa, Xhariep and Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality. The main activities that will be taking place in Bloemfontein will be concluding on the exact villages where the household survey will be conducted and also the appointment and training of enumerators prior to data collection.
For more information on AFRICAP project activities in South Africa contact:
Visit www.africap.info
NAMC– Mr Bonani Nyhodo (bonani@namc.co.za)
University of Leeds – Prof Bill Kunin (W.E.Kunin@leeds.ac.uk)
Visit www.africap.info