Multi-stakeholder LandCare process [South Africa]
- Creation:
- Update:
- Compiler: Hendrik Johannes Smith
- Editor: –
- Reviewer: Fabian Ottiger
Multi-stakeholder process, LandCare, Action research
approaches_2561 - South Africa
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Expand all Collapse all1. General information
1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach
SLM specialist:
Hofer Peter
Amt für Landwirtschaft und Natur des Kantons Bern LANAT
Ruetti, 3052 Zollikofen
Switzerland
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)
Amt für Landwirtschaft und Natur des Kantons Bern (LANAT) - Switzerland1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT
The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:
Yes
1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies
Conservation Agriculture [South Africa]
Conservation agriculture included aspects such as crop rotation, mulching and no-tillage.
- Compiler: Hester Gertruida Jansen van Rensburg
2. Description of the SLM Approach
2.1 Short description of the Approach
A multi-stakeholder approach using action research methodologies to implement conservation agriculture
2.2 Detailed description of the Approach
Detailed description of the Approach:
Aims / objectives: - To develop and diffuse conservation agriculture technologiy
- To develop capacity among stakeholders
- To improve soil health
- To reverse soil degradation
Methods: - Training of trainers, i.e. lead farmers and extension worker
- Awareness events, e.g. farmer days, field days
- On-farm experimentation
- Farmer-to-farmer extension
- Local institutionalization
- Partnerships Monitoring and Evaluation
Stages of implementation: 1. Stakeholder analysis
2. Diagnosis / Situation analysis
3. Planning and design
4. Implementing and management
5. Learning and adopting
6. Exit strategy
Role of stakeholders: Researchers: - facilitators, advisors, trainers, management of trials
Extension worker:- advisors, trainers
Lead farmers: Trainers for other farmers, awarenes builders, on-farm: leaders of farmer managed trials/experiments, facilitators for learning groups
Other important information: Other stakeholders, e.g. input suppliers are also important and need to be involved at various stages and events
2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied
Country:
South Africa
Region/ State/ Province:
South Africa / KwaZulu-Natal
Further specification of location:
Bergville / Emmaus Ward
2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach
Indicate year of initiation:
2000
Year of termination (if Approach is no longer applied):
2006
2.7 Type of Approach
- project/ programme based
2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach
The Approach focused on SLM only
Build capacity among key stakeholders Change traditional practices to conservation agriculture practices Build strong local institutions (learning groups) Improve experimental skills Improve soil health
The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: Soil erosion Soil fertility and -acidity Poverty / food security Lack of knowledge and skills Poor / weak local institutions
2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach
availability/ access to financial resources and services
- hindering
Lack of capital inputs
Treatment through the SLM Approach: Groups save money to buy inputs in bulk
institutional setting
- hindering
Poor local institutions, poor leadership
Treatment through the SLM Approach: Building capacity in learning groups to learn and adapt / develop leadership / facilitation skills
legal framework (land tenure, land and water use rights)
- enabling
The existing land ownership, land use rights / water rights moderately helped the approach implementation: Helped ot introduce grazing system that promotes rotational grazing, which is a major new approach for communal grazing.
3. Participation and roles of stakeholders involved
3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles
- local land users/ local communities
Different cultural roles and attitudes between men and women. Women were better performers in training others; women were easier trained than men
- NGO
- national government (planners, decision-makers)
- international organization
3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach
Involvement of local land users/ local communities | Specify who was involved and describe activities | |
---|---|---|
initiation/ motivation | none | Farmers were interviewed during the informal semi-structured survey |
planning | none | |
implementation | interactive | Lead farmers were part of implementing team; were responsible for farmer-to-farmer extension |
monitoring/ evaluation | interactive | Were fully involved in most monitoring and evaluation activities |
Research | interactive | Lead farmers were responsible for farmer mangaed trials |
3.3 Flow chart (if available)
Description:
Junior Landcare FreeState organogram
Author:
L Lindeque, Pretoria, South Africa (Free State)
3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies
Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:
- mainly land users, supported by SLM specialists
Explain:
Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by mainly by SLM specialists with consultation of land users
4. Technical support, capacity building, and knowledge management
4.1 Capacity building/ training
Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?
Yes
Specify who was trained:
- land users
Form of training:
- demonstration areas
- courses
Subjects covered:
Conservation agriculture principles, communication, visionry, training, value adding
4.2 Advisory service
Do land users have access to an advisory service?
Yes
Specify whether advisory service is provided:
- on land users' fields
Describe/ comments:
Name of method used for advisory service: Multi-stakeholder process using action research; Key elements: Monitoring and evaluation / experiments, Training of farmers, Farmer-to-farmer extension
Advisory service is quite adequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; Have been empowered quite successfully with project
4.4 Monitoring and evaluation
Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?
Yes
Comments:
bio-physical aspects were regular monitored through measurements; indicators: Soil health
technical aspects were regular monitored through measurements; indicators: Conservation agriculture principles adopted
socio-cultural aspects were regular monitored through observations; indicators: Changes in SKA
economic / production aspects were regular monitored through measurements; indicators: Yield & gross margin
area treated aspects were regular monitored through observations; indicators: Area
no. of land users involved aspects were regular monitored through measurements; indicators: Number of farmers trained
management of Approach aspects were None monitored through measurements; indicators: Number of farmers using tools for adaptive management
There were many changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation: Monitoring and evaluation was the main methodology used to induce change to focus, improve and integrate project management. Land users learned to use monitoring and evaluation tools to improve their learning in groups as well as their adaptive management capacity.
4.5 Research
Was research part of the Approach?
Yes
Give further details and indicate who did the research:
Action research through monitoring and evaluation; applied at different levels; used various tools and technologies to apply it. Action research was used to improve, focus and integrate project strategies
Research was carried out on-farm
5. Financing and external material support
5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach
If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:
- 10,000-100,000
Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):
Approach costs were met by the following donors: government (LandCare programme,90%, Research programme 10%): 100.0%
5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users
Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?
Yes
5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)
- equipment
Specify which inputs were subsidised | To which extent | Specify subsidies |
---|---|---|
machinery | fully financed | |
tools | fully financed | |
- agricultural
Specify which inputs were subsidised | To which extent | Specify subsidies |
---|---|---|
seeds | partly financed | |
fertilizers | partly financed | |
If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:
- voluntary
Comments:
Only labour on main trial was paid in cash, other was voluntary
5.4 Credit
Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?
No
6. Impact analysis and concluding statements
6.1 Impacts of the Approach
Did the Approach help land users to implement and maintain SLM Technologies?
- No
- Yes, little
- Yes, moderately
- Yes, greatly
Conservation agriculture pronciples: no-till, mulching, multiple cropping, using special implements
Did other land users / projects adopt the Approach?
- No
- Yes, little
- Yes, moderately
- Yes, greatly
Aim is to scale-out approach to other projects/ programmes.
Did the Approach help to alleviate poverty?
- No
- Yes, little
- Yes, moderately
- Yes, greatly
They achieved food security status; could sell some products and some of the value added products
6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities
Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?
- yes
6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view |
---|
Have higher level of knowledge and skills (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Through experimentation, communication forums, field days, training courses) |
Better contact with outside stakeholders - improved networks (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Frequent stakeholder forums) |
Higher status of lead farmers and their groups (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Continuous contact and use of lead farmers' experience and capacity) |
Improved food security through collective action (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Monitoring and evaluation of sustainable land management practices) |
Improved communication between land users (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Frequent local action forums) |
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view |
---|
Empower key stakeholders (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Frequent stakeholder forums / meetings / workshops) |
Help people 'learn how to learn' (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Provide them with learning tools (monitoring and evaluation) and skills) |
Promote a culture of adoptive management (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Build their capacity through monitoring and evaluation tools and processes) |
Develop a capacity to experiment among farmers (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Facilitate and promote experiments through agricultural research) |
Develop self-reliant local institutions and leadership (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Develop local capacity to lead and facilitate learning groups) |
7. References and links
7.1 Methods/ sources of information
- field visits, field surveys
- interviews with land users
7.2 References to available publications
Title, author, year, ISBN:
Amt für Landwirtschaft und Natur des Kantons Bern LANAT, Ruetti, 3052 Zollikofen. Kanton Bern fördert Ressourcen schonenden Ackerbau.AGRARForschung 14 (3): 128-133, 2007
Available from where? Costs?
http://www.vol.be.ch/site/lanat-3155-mbressourcen.pdf
Links and modules
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Conservation Agriculture [South Africa]
Conservation agriculture included aspects such as crop rotation, mulching and no-tillage.
- Compiler: Hester Gertruida Jansen van Rensburg
Modules
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