South Africa convenes Scenarios Workshop

12 November 2018

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 of the GCRF funded Agricultural and Food Systems Resilience Programme (GCRF-AFRICAP) convened the Scenarios Workshop on the 12th of November 2018 at Burgers Park Hotel in Pretoria, South Africa.

The workshop was attended by over 50 participants representing relevant government departments, non-government organizations, farmer organizations, universities, researchers, civil society organizations among others.  The scenarios follow the in-country launch of the GCRF-AFRICAP Programme that took place on the 12th July 2018 at the Corporate Boutique Hotel in Bloemfontein, Free State.

The main objective of the workshop was to  project the future of the South Africa agricultural sector on the basis of the prevailing conditions. The FANRPAN Chief Executive Officer (CEO),Mr Munhamo Chisvo in his opening remarks highlighted that the scenarios serve a great purpose in the programme as stakeholders gather together to unpack factors that are likely to affect the future of the agricultural sector.

The AFRICAP Co-Director Professor Tim Benton from the University of Leeds, in his opening remarks emphasized the need to ensure that the Programme provides South Africa with the solutions it needs. He explained that challenges posed by climate change require a multi-sectoral approach as no one discipline can address them all. He employed stakeholders present to bring forth ideas that can be included to ensure that the vison if the project succeed and benefits all stakeholders involved.

The workshop was officiated by the Honorable Deputy Minister of the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), Mr Sifiso Buthelezi. Through his speech, he indicated that the government welcomed the implementation of the programme. He further indicated that GCRF-AFRICAP comes at a very opportune time as South Africa  is grappling with how to address challenges posed by climate change which will inherently impact negatively on the sustainability of the agriculture sector and the country`s ability to provide food and employment opportunities. He pledged DAFF’s continued support during the course of the implementation of the programme.

The scenarios were meant to establish consensus on the prospects for developing sustainable, productive, climate smart agricultural systems in South Africa and also to explore critical trends and uncertainties surrounding these prospect. The scenarios workshop was a success and stakeholders contributed positively to the discussions. Land reform, Climate change, Trade and markets , Political & economic stability, jobs and Technology innovations came up tops on the discussions determining drivers that’s will affect food systems.

 

View workshop video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7DU_oRkCLo

 

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