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.

14 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

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

16 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

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

18 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

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

20 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

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

22 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

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