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Vol.4,No.2 |
NECOFA South Africa is established as Non Profit Making Organization to promote networking and organic farming in South Africa.
The following are the institutions that participated in the establishment of NECOFA-SA.
The institutions, mentioned on the right, participated in the developing policies, programs and elected relevant people for the successful planning, implementation, management and evaluation of NECOFA development programs in South Africa, starting from April 2002.
In accordance to the princeples and objectives of NECOFA, will promote following activities:
INSTITUTIONS |
PROVINCE |
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Thsepanang Ma-Africa Community Development projects |
Gauteng |
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Phadima Community Project |
Limpopo |
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Bophelo ke Semphekgo Trust |
Limpopo |
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Mogopa Village |
Northwest |
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Ukuthula Advise Center |
Mpumalanga |
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Mpumalanga Mental Health Society |
Mpumalanga |
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Broiles Farming Chicken Farm |
Limpopo |
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IPSA |
Western Cape |
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Ecohope |
Gauteng |
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Lindros |
Gauteng |
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Kopanang Ma-Africa Development Association |
Gauteng |
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Kanang & tswelopele enviroment group |
Gauteng |
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Youth environmental project (Y.E.P) |
Gauteng |
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OAASA |
Gauteng |
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Kei Rural Development Trust |
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Mulima Organic Farming Groups |
Limpopo |
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National Development Agric |
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Eco-Friends |
Gauteng |
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Environmental Justice Networking Forum (EJNF) |
Gauteng |
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TADIC |
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The valley trust |
Kwazulu Natal |
The NECOFA-SA principles will aid in securing sustainability in
The benefits of the above are that:
Biodiversity, why, which seeds, exchange, non-hybrid seeds
Why training?
To get understanding of the principles of organic farming:
To develop skills:
development skills/project management
social skills (soft skills)
hard skills:
Local: Identification of trainers:
Identification of trainees and their needs:
International:
Create a database of
Keep record of
How:
NECOFA-SA work with the existing NGO's and CBO's working on organic farming or food security in a built up processes leading to the WSSD.
NECOFA-AS participate in the following WSSD process:
SAFS Caucus
NECOFA SA should lobby relevant Government Departments
Example:
Key areas:
Michael went back to Germany on the 08-April, after spending three months voluntary work on NECOFA-SA development programs. He is still a student at the University of Kassel, studying ecological agriculture. He was a valuable resource personnel and assisted more at administration,
field-work, facilitation of workshops and attending meetings and seminars for strengthening the network in South Africa. Currently Michael is back at the university and is working on the process of setting up NECOFA-SA support program in Germany.
The conference report was drafted and sent to the Management Council. The financial report on the funding secured for the first NECOFA-SA assembly is also completed and is currently awaiting approval by the Management Council.
The amount of 3000-00 EURO was donated by the DSE (German foundation of international development). Peter Komane singned a contract with them on the 6th of March 2002 at Wilgespruit Fellowship Centre. This was done during the visit to South Africa by the International Co-ordinator of NECOFA.
The NECOFA-SA first Management Council Meeting was held on the 19th of April 2002 at 54 commissioner street. All the members of the Council were present and the following key issues were discussed:
The resource personnel participating in the council are willing to assist as much as they can to speed up the process of establishing the network within South Africa.
The national Coordinator consulted with the South African NGO Coalition (SANGOCO), the Environmental Justice Networking Forum (EJNF) and the Group for Environmental Monitoring (GEM) to develop common understanding and approach to the food security campaign. These organizations have developed their position papers on food security and the building up process for the world summit. They see NECOFA-SA as a key role player in facilitating organic farming workshops, starting from June. NECOFA-SA was requested to draft a proposal for the envisaged organic farming workshops and also participate in the land and food security task team formed by the following organizations.
The National Coordinator made a joint presentation to the National Land Care of the Department of Agriculture with representatives from Ecohope and OAASA. The Department is interested in participating working with NECOFA-SA to promote organic farming with the nine provinces of South Africa.
NECOFA-SA need to submit its development programmes to the Department of Agriculture (National Land Care) for them to look at the possibilities of involving NECOFA-SA in the National Land Care programme.
The Deputy Director (Directorate Plant Health and Quality), Mr. Alex Serumula Presented NECOFA-SA to the National Department of Agriculture. This Directorate is currently working on finalizing regulations on Organic Farming and NECOFA-SA is actively participating the process.
Launch NECOFA-SA in Mulima
The members of the communities within Mulima in the Far North Region of the Limpopo Province organized themselves through the help of Joseph Phuluwa. The members identified their organic farming sides and elected the management Committee. The management Committee is formed by the representatives from the following rural communities:
The members invited the NECOFA-SA National Coordinator to make presentation during the launching of their structure on the 02-May-2002. The members are supporting the idea of the network and will be working with the other local and provincial Institutions to promote organic farming in their communities.
Currently CIDA offered office space for the successful running of NECOFA-SA development programmes. The office is located at 54 Commissioner Street in Johannesburg. NECOFA-SA pays for the use of telephone, fax, Internet from the telephone line extended for CIDA reception.
We will like to thank Mr. Mlongo for His willingness to assist with the office space so that we can speed up NECOFA-SA establishment process. We have now moved into the office and the environment is very conducive for operating.
Currently there is no funding for NECOFA-SA and it is very difficult to sustain the programmes. Fundraising will be the key activity from now so that we can have the running budget (communication, travels, administration and personnel).
After a protracted struggle, finally NECOFA Zambia got officially launched between 5th and 8th March at Kasama in the Northern Province of Zambia. The Provincial Minister Honourable Filamba and his Assistant Secretary graced the launch. It was a significant occasion both for him and us as NECOFA as it was his first high profile official function following his appointment as Minister, after the tripartite general election. His speech did emphasise the need for sustainable agriculture., through low cost inputs which in turn will mitigate our annual bill on chemical inputs.
As Country representative, I wish to thank NECOFA - International Coordinator for the financial help that enabled us to do the launching, through the German Embassy in Lusaka. A total of 4,000 Deuchmarks (DM) was made available. How ever supplementary funding had to be sought to make the launch possible. An extra 1500 DM or K2, 500, 000 had to be found. Instead of 30 - 40 expected participants the actual participation shot to 69. Due to financial inadequacy invited participation from Lusaka (Headquarters) and other Provinces was not possible due to travel costs. Infact we had to outrun the budget, due to increase in fares and fuel prices.
Where possible participants had to "pool " transportation arrangement to reduce costs.
The attendance had good representation of experts from a variety of back ground e.g., Regional Research Centre, Ministry of Education of both Provinces, Luapula (Mansa) and Northern (Kasama) others came from, as expected Agricultural Extension, Forestry and Natural Resources, Small Scale and Commercial Farmers, farmer training experts and above all and equally important from seven (7) Non-Governmental Organisations as the attendance list indicates:
These were:
Generally the participants were drawn from a total of nineteen (19) Districts of both Luapula and Northern Provinces. The two (2) Provinces are important in the issues of sustainable agriculture as they are classified to having problematic acidic soils and food security problem ranks high on Government Agenda. It therefore signifies our potential positive future interaction with the Political Leadership. The two (2) Provinces also account for over 35% of the Zambia surface area. However the general membership is country far as Livingstone, which is about 1,700 kilometres to the current NECOFA centre - Kasama
The programme had two (2) facets. The first session on 6th March composed of the highlights from the Research Centre in areas of soil management technologies soil fertility initiatives - multipurpose trees, Bio-fertilizer (inoculums), Green manures and cover crops, and generally legumes and vegetative soil erosion control. In the second part of one the session had all reports from the Districts and NGOs on their activities and future action plans.
Before the above, the Country representative had, given three presentations:
The second day was devoted to field visits starting at the Regional Research Centre then visits to two (2) farmers. And finally ended up at the Kasama Training Institute at which participants had the opportunity to see and discuss the practices in place. The emphasis being on low cost input for optimal production.
At the end of it all an interim executive committee was elected in conformity with the existing constitution Posts of the following were filled:
It was also officially resolved to form District NECOFA committees for effective administration and implementation. By the time of writing this report Five (5) Districts have these committees in place, namely Mbala, Nakonde, Mansa, Mporokoso and Mpika. Finally the issue of registration as NECOFA was discussed and the funds raised to register with Government, whose outcome is awaited. All members were given two (2) months to effect their yearly subscriptions.
Lastly I would clarify the delay in holding this launch. At the time of receipt of the funds it was in the middle of the rain season and normally it is inappropriate for such events. And after the launch I as Country Representative had a six (6) weeks study leave out of my work place and only returned two (2) weeks ago.
In summary this is how the launch went, held for two (2) full days and two (2) arrival and departure days. The response is overwhelming and hopefully the spirit will be maintained. It was a huge succes.
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