Milestone 4 Annexure 2 Cluster Activity Record - Principles for Good Farming Practices Workshop Notes

AWARD_Milestone4 Annexure 2_

Cluster Activity record: Principles for

good farming practices workshop:

Notes; 20170315-16

NOTE: These workshop notes need to be read in conjunction with the power point

presentation for the workshop as well as the 5 fingers handouts and the photographic visual

aids of potential problems for each of the five fingers used in the group discussions.

Present:

Community: Oaks, Willows, Sedawe, Botshabelo, Lepelle, Finale (1) –25 people

Team: Award, MDF, Ukuvuna: BB, Oona, Sylvester, Trygive, Richard, Kingsley, Derrick,

Ancoise, Percy, Dineo, William, Taryn

Preparation and Agenda

Overall purpose: The objectives of this workshop are to explore the principles and practices

associated with soil and water conservation in small-scale farming in the Mametja area.

Whilst climate change will not be introduced in this workshop it will provide the foundation for

further activities regarding CC impacts and adaptation.

Expected Outcomes

̶An initial collaborative vision for addressing ‘the problem’ that we can then work with;

̶A broad understanding of the concept of principles;

̶Collaborative exploration of practices associated with each principle as the basis for

practice and self-assessment; and

̶An agreed commitment to working with these practices

Facilitators agenda

Time

Item

Who

Purpose

Process

Logistics

Day 1

15th Mar 2017

915

1015

1. Introduction

and objectives

Projector

a. RESILIM

SP/EK

Reminder of bigger

project

Reminder of AgSI as a

soil and water

conservation approach

Some slides

Erna to summarise

major “problems” –

should be area-specific

(need this for Session 2)

Highlight

those related

to Soil and

Water

Conservation

b. Where we are

in the process (AgSI)

Where does todays

workshop fit in?

SP to work out with Erna

and BB

Richard and BB to bring

14th Mar

c. What we are

going to do and why

Describe what we are

going to do and what

we hope to achieve

Focus on idea of

collaborative, self-

assessments

d. Objectives for

the 2 days (30m)

Ensure participants are

clear on what we are

going to do

Talk in 3’s and give

feedback

1015

1100

2. Defining a

vision for our plots 45

Get a BROAD idea from

participants what they

hope to improve in

their plots (note a

broader visioning

process will be carried

out later)

The constitution of

South Africa:

Use ‘problems’ from

session 1

Richard & Sylv to rank

and spatialise

-Run The Bus

exercise

-Participants

draw pictures

in response to

issues from

Session 1

-Collate these

on a wall

Problems

from session

1 clearly

articulated /

available

Photos-

printed

Ring those

related to

soil and

water

conservation

specifically

DDT and BB

to pin cards

1130

Tea

1130

1215

3. The concept of

principles 45m

THIS IS THE HEART

OF THE WORKSHOP

To understand

a)Principles

contribute to

a vision

b)that principles

should be

robust enough

to apply

across broad

areas but

c)practices may

vary and

hence

d)we are here

today to

collaborativel

y identify

practices

against

principles for

SWC

e)think about

these under

CC in the

future

In plenary: either

Theprinciples at home:

-Name an

important

principle e.g.

everyone has

the right to

education

-What do you

think need to

be DONE

(practices) to

achieve that

principle

Talk to your

neighbourabout an

important principle you

have for your children

Translators

to spend

time looking

alternative

words in

Sotho

beforehand

1215

1300

4. Introduction to

5 principles 60 m

Emphasise we are

working on principles

for soil and water

conservation

1.Water: Improved

Water management:

METSI

2. Soil movement:

Control soil movement

and soil erosion

3. Crops: Practice good

crop management

4. Soil health: Ensure

we maintain and

enhance soil health

Introduce the hand as a

way to remember the

five principles

Discuss on 9th March

Use

photographs to

show poor

practices- BB

one for each

principle

William / Kin to

send to SP

and print 50

Translators

need to have

prepared

sotho words

for each

Print copies

for all

Make sure

BLOCKS are

EMPTY

5. Indigenous plants:

Look after indigenous

plants as part of the

farming system

1300

1345

Lunch

Choose groups and

check numbers

Assign facilitators and

translators and

rapporteurs

1345

1430

5. In plenary –

example of a good

practice related to a

principle 15m

To demonstrate how

practices can be

identified under a

principle

Facilitator chooses TWO

principles

Ask “ what farming

activity, (practice) in

your area do you think

will make sure we

achieve this principle?”

What names

have been

used in the

process so

far? Check

with Erna

and her

reports

1430

1630

6. Break into

groups: Discuss and

define practices for

each principle 120

min

Define good practices

for each principle. May

not be able to do all 5

in 2 hours.

Grouped according to

areas sit together

Choose TWO or THREE

practices

What

practices has

Erna done

already-

below

Use Hand

with empty

blocks to get

discussions

going

Day 2

915

930

1. Welcome and

reminder of

yesterdays process

930

1100

2. Report backs

(facilitated)- 60-90 m

1100

1130

Tea

Climate change

1130

1215

3. Wrap-up: next

steps and close

Me the farmer

Practices that have already been explored through Mahlathini intervention

1.Good water management and control movement

1.1. Mulching

1.2. Grey water system

1.3. Drip irrigation system

1.4. Water flows; diversion ditches, contours,

1.5. Stone bunds

1.6. Trenches

1.7. Tower gardens for grey water

2.Control of soil movement

2.1. Minimum tillage – Conservation agriculture

2.2. Hand hoe

2.3. Mulching

2.4. Water flows

2.5. Stone bunds

2.6. Furrows/ trenches

3.Improved crop management

3.1. Crop diversity- some introduction

3.2. Tunnels

3.3. RWH options

3.4. Tower gardens for grey water

4.Improve and maintain soil health

4.1. Mulch

4.2. Manure

4.3. Tower gardens for grey water

4.4. Important aspects of what fertilizers are

5.Looking after indigenous plants

5.1. …..

Small group discussions in each of the above mentioned topics/”fingers” will be done in a

way that each group focuses on three topics and reports back on one, to be able to make

the most of the time and people’s availability. The table below outlines the facilitators,

rapporteurs and topics

Introduction

Introduction to AWARD; Non profit. Mainly work with issues of water and water resource

management, natural resource management and livelihoods. Partnership with Mahlathini for

community based work. All part of the same team.

2014-RESILIM-O (Resilience in the Limpopo Basin). Looking at livelihoods under the

present challenges including climate change. To help people become more resilient. – A way

to become strong even when things are difficult and changing.

Help farmers get stronger in their farming practices into the future; manage soil and water

better and practice agro-ecology. We have worked before in BBR and Venda and MDF in

KZN and EC. Also John Nzira is working with 200farmers in Sekukune – mainly easier to

plan millet and sorghum there…

Introduced a map of RESLIM B and RESILIM O. Erna will help you do maps of your

household maps

Group

Facilitat

Rapporteur

Translations

Principle addressed

Water

Mng

Soil

movement

Soil

health

Crops

Indig

plants

Ancois

Derick

Erna

Percy

Sharon

William

Sylvester

Kinsley*

Richard

Taryn

Dineo

Where does the Olifants River start? – in Witbank – lots of pollution and mining (5th largest

global coal producer– 90% of that from Witbank – around 680 mines in the Lepelle

catchment -many illegal. A lot of irrigation around Groblersdal area– big commercial farms.

Urban areas- sewage works – about 120 waste water treatment works and around 80 are

giving us problems in the river. There are a lot of people suffering from water insecurity and

have very little access. Other natural issues- death of crocodiles, around 2010 (Kruger,

Mozambique..). Fish started developing problems- due to bad water quality due to the

floods.

Then flows through Sekhukhune, comes to the mountains here at Blyde and flows into the

Lowveld into Kruger National Park and then on to Mozambique. – caused some floods there

recently and before – last time was 2010.But now there is drought (last two years) and now

the whole environment is denuded.. Lepelle River”.

How do we build people’s resilience to deal with these extreme events?

Workshop Agenda

DAY 1

-Defining a vision for homestead plots

-Concepts around principles

- Introduction to 5 fingers

DAY 2

-Plenary report backs and

-Practices

MDF AGRISI: Process so far. Land use practices – past, present future in a changing

environment. Looking at good practice locally, leaning more about soil and water and

introducing some new ideas/innovations e.g. Conservation Agriculture, tunnels, greywater

management, diversion ditches, trench beds and so on.

Issues; As summarised from community level discussions to date

FARMING: No longer doing dryland farming, limited land available, problems with sand

mining for example, pollution and littering, drying out of wetlands, lack of fencing, not a lot of

planning on the plots, pest problems, wild life (baboons and monkeys, birds on field crops –

millet and sorghum). People use tractors- ploughing. It is considered expensive and causes

compaction. Labour also is expensive and difficult to organise.

RAIN: less rain, not much water management, not a lot of storage of water, boreholes too

expensive, over watering of plants when water is available. Ways of cleaning water for

use/consumption. Some people are using water putting pipes in the river for irrigation.

POOR HARVESTS: Sometimes we put manure but the yields are still bad…..Problems with

soil fertility, lack of techniques for improving soil fertility. Soil is hard and compacted, manure

is not easy to come by, can’t afford fertilizer.

EROSION: A lot of problems with soil erosion and erosion control, in all the areas.

SEED: People would like to know more about different seed and crop types. People

harvested okra recently and gave it away. – Some people do still eat it but nowadays the

taste for traditional foods is dwindling…..

What are the problems and how are we solving them?

Exercise on visioning for each individual’s plot…what we dream of and or plan to do…..So

far Mahlathini has been showing you a few things so that you can start imagining a different

future.

Bus exercise

Descriptions; Driver needs

to know where to go, people

going to similar places

should be on the same bus

or the bus should have a

route

Right: The community

participants analyse the bus

exercise in terms of

community level visioning

and planning

Analysis:

Farmers should plan together and work with their bus drivers or leaders

Leader should know where people want to go

People from different places should visit each other to learn and find out new ideas

Introduce seeds of crops for which there is a market

But also lots of different seeds with different purposes

Need help to apply for funding from government and know about their programmes

But Government tends to be really slow so we think it is better to get help from the

NGOs – we have issues with heavy machinery on the farms- causing problems with

the soil and also theft of equipment -such as transformers

Also, some ideas can Mahlathini help with other water sources such as making of

boreholes?

Some people are next to streams and with help we can work together to build small

dams next to the streams that we can use for irrigation.

Further, if there is no plan then any destination is as good as any other- so any yields will be

better than none. With a plan we can get a better idea. Also voices together are much

stronger than individual voices

Visioning

Imagine in 3 years time what you would like your plot to look like and what would you like to

get from it? And we want to change things…some ideas..

Looked at some pictures of what has been tried: Planning – drawing water flows, line levels

for contours and ditches, liquid manure, pest control (sunlight and cooking oil –50 teaspoon

of sunlight, and 25 teaspoon oil in 5 litres of water ) – Blue death is not healthy for us and it

can cause diseases in people.

There is a worm that eats the growth point of the tree and then also eats all the leaves.

Then also looked at types of soil and organic matter in the soil… also suitability of soil for

planting, And then conservation agriculture (using lime and bone meal). Making the basins in

a zig zag to save space and harvest water. Also use your leg for spacing.

Then also did a trench bed- put some old tins in the bottom– then dried and green plant

materials, manure, ash. Tins add iron and also help to hold the water in the bottom of the

trench. Also, can add stuff such as cardboard- green stuff provides nitrogen. To save water,

Creates compost under the ground to provide fertility for the soil. Can use it as a seedling

bed andthen transplant…Takes time for it to decay and soil will stay fertile for a long time.

Then building diversion ditches and cut off drains to direct water into the garden, and to slow

down water across a slope. And then added the trench gar den.

Then crop diversity for including traditional greens and traditional fruit trees – Mabilo, and

then mixed field crops – sweet potatoes and maize, and then spinach and intercropping…

Problem trees

Issues at the base: water, planning

and crops, pests, erosion, fencing, soil

health, using little land for example

Then practices will be the vision.

Right: A slide that was put up as a

summary of issues mentioned by

farmers to date, that was ratified and

further discussed in the workshop

setting.

Report backs on visioning

Lepelle: Mangoes – as business for atjar and fruit for eating and selling.

Sedawe: Indigenous trees and crops such has jugo beans, mabele, millet – has good

nutritional value, better nutrition for us

Botshabelo: Tomatoes, spinach, beans, for eating and want a large variety of things

including sweet potatoes to be able to sell. Lots of different kinds of crops

Willows: Proper place with fencing, stop thieves and livestock and dogs. And within that can

have chickens – layers to sell to the community and provide to orphans within that village.

Oaks and Finale: We want to have as many trench beds as possible as we have less rain

and water- to store the water in the beds ot plant enough vegetables to provide food and

support those in need.

Principles and practices

People battled to come up with a definition for practices; they came up with exercise, ways

of learning, practicals.

Principles are those things that underlie practices. The reason for the practices… Principles

are what guide us in our lives- there are for example rules/principles for how to behave in

your household, for example the need for mutual respect.

What are the things that people need to do (practices) in your family to show that they are

showing respect? Examples: When we grew up we learn that our neighbours are our

uncles, sisters, brothers. You could go to them and they will help you. Elders also have to

have respect so that children can learn this. Teach elders to write down letter to inform

others of who came to visit. When women give food to the husbands, they have to kneel.

A principle such as show respect will have different practices associated with it in different

places. So, principles may stay the same, but practices may change between the villages.

Principles in farming – 5 fingers

We have spoken about this in some of the villages. They talk about the principles, is a guide

to do good farming,

Makes remembering the practices a lot easier:

Good water management: e.g stone bunds, using greywater. It relates also to how

you abstract, use, store water, thus including irrigation drip irrigation, water filter….

Soil movement: e.g. Mulching

Crops: good crop management; diversity, pest and disease control, mulching…

Soil health: organic matter

Indigenous plants: When cut down a tree, I have to replant another one, Furrows,

windbreaks - plant a row of trees and cover soil with mulch. Could use pigeon pea…

Could also include livestock management – which has a lot to do with balancing the need for

resources. Also about sharing and working together- which could be the palm or the whole

hand…

Best practices in village groupings for the 5 principles

The workshop participants then divided into the village groups and discussed potential best

practices for 3 principles. Each group was to report back on one of the principles.

Below are summaries of the report backs.

SEDAWA: Crops, soil health,

indigenous plants

Percy, Trygive, Derick, Percy, Oona, Erna

Magdalena Malepe. Lawrence Mstshali

Elssina Malephi, Christina Tobejane, Alex

Moropa,

Right: the Sedawa small group look a

pictures or visual aids as discussion points

for their best practice topics.

CROPPING:

Trench beds:

Seeds: Different types according to

season.

oSpray seeds with ashes

before you plant

oSeed banking-seed saving

for re-planting

oMaize seed: dust this

chemical on seed to kill any soil borne pests

oDip seeds in paraffin and sunlight liquid…

oSoak maize and beans overnight before planting.

oSeed choice:

In the shop- we just buy what is available

E,g Bambara nuts- eat bigger ones- keep smaller ones for seed.

Pest control: Common pests- red spider, moths, caterpillars, cutworms, locusts,

borers.

oFish oil and sunlight, paraffin and sunlight

oSome of the weeds attract insects and these can become pests- must remove

the weeds.

oBury weeds in holes and water that as a way of composting

oBury ash in small holes around the seed to control cutworm

oTraditional: take the insect causing problem. Fry, dry, crush and thenspray it

onto the plants…

oCompanion plantings to repel insects; such as onions, rosemary, marigold,

garlic

Nutrient deficiencies; leaves turn purple and yellow

Weeds;

oPulling out – weed 2-3 times per season. And more if it is raining heavily

oOnly irrigate the planting basins – to control weeds in between

oIf the weeds are big slash them to make a groundcover and make sure they

do not make seed. Can then later, make small holes and plant seed in there.

This also increases the soil fertility

oPeople weed early morning, and late afternoon when its not too hot

Micro climates: Protection from birds, too much heavy rain, heat, sun....

oBananas planted in lines next to beds provide shade in the afternoon when

it’s hot

oFencing

oNetting – greenhouse/tunnel,

oWindbreaks and hedges

oRidges for planting

oNatural fencing; num-num, strichnos, - or placing thorny branches around the

fence.

Mulching to control weeds and retain moisture

o Dry grass

oLeaves, from mangoes and other trees

oCanopy cover

Planting practices:

oTrench bed (1mx1mx1m) – retain a lot of water

oDepth of planting of seed : Maize 5-10cm. if it’ s too deep the seed will not

germinate. The bigger the seed, the deeper, the smaller the more shallow.

(10x diameter of the seed)

oPlant in the afternoon

oSeasonal calendars, crop choices

oCrop rotation

To control pests and weeds

To avoid depletion of the soil nutrients

Plant vegetables in winter and maize in summer..

Should not plant cabbage successively as it will deplete the soil

Rotate with beetroot and carrots. Also plant legumes to provide some

more nitrogen.

oIntercropping/companion planting

Three sisters; maize, bean, pumpkin

New idea will try out (rule: mix tall with short, big with small,

oDiversification; inclusion of fruit, multipurpose species, fodder, medicinal

plants.

Strawberries, green pepper, garlic,

Multipurpose plants; herbs, medicinal species,

Propagation

oCorms, root division, cuttings, grafting, slips,

oE.g banana, cassava, sugarcane.

SOIL HEALTH

Keep the soil covered; avoid erosion, saves water, shade to keep it cool,

Soil nutrients; manure, compost, lime, dry leaves, grass, ash, tins for iron, bones,

Minimum tillage

Till when the soil is wet…

Day 2:

Report backs; discussions

Short input on seedbanks and CCA

Next steps

Report back: Group Oaks & Finale: Principle: Soil health

Right; The Oaks and Finala small group discuss their

practices around soil health for reporting back to plenary.

Understanding of soil types; percentages of clay,

silt and sand (should be equal- then it’s fertile–

MDF to give input on this

Bed design; e.g. trench beds – that hold water

and have a lot of organic matter, control soil

temperature. Trying to build up a ‘house’ for the

earthworms

Mulching; also serves as food for the worms,

Shade for the soil; mulching and CA

Good infiltration and good water holding capacity

through water management, reducing run-off,

infiltration ditches/diversion furrows, increased

organic matter, promotion of presence of

earthworms

Small dams

Conservation Agriculture

Manure, compost; Find ways to increase decomposition

Crop diversification; different types of crops together

Most of our fields are steep – must store water in the soil . Furrows to diver water into

small ponds/ infiltration pits, to store the water there.

Add rock walls to the edges of fields.

Use indigenous plants as buffer strips for S&WC.

Report back: Group Willows: Principle: Protection of indigenous plants

Problems of soil erosion,

In times of hunger and drought people will depend on indigenous plants for food and

other resources.

Plant indigenous trees- close to households to protect them.and use water

conservation and harvesting to help the trees grow- similar methods to what we

have used in our fields. Thus, look after the trees.

In the fields there are buffer zones of around 3m to leave grass and bushes to assist

in the natural balance- works as a water conservation strip.

Want the indigenous plants so that they are conserved for future generations…

Some trees are useful; for traditional beer and even selling. Some trees’ function is

calling rain, but now people are cutting those trees – Mhlumi –“Waterberry”.

Expose and educate the youth to protect our history/culture, tradition and values.

Marula tree (fruit, juice, nuts, beer), sawa milk, Magaba for high blood pressure,

aloes (ash of leaves for storage of seeds), herbs,

Barakitchaune – helps maize????

Moringa: nutrition, protection from lightening and medicinal uses.

Report back: Group Sedawe; Principle: Crop management

Seeds: traditional seed treatment, seed choices, seed selection, soaking before

planting, seed saving MDF to give input on this

Pest control: natural/ organic sprays, remove weeds that attract insects; plant garlic

on the sides of the beds, ash for cutworms, rosemary,

Weed management; Pull weeds out, but use as mulch. Or cut and provide mulching.

Planting practices: Bed design – such as trench beds, depth of planting of seed,

planting times and calendars, _ MDF to give input on this

Physical protection: nets, green house, wind breaks, fences, natural fences (num-

num- pigeon pea,…)

Diversification: fruit, multipurpose plants..

Crop rotation, intercropping- MDF to give input on this

Plant propagation; cutting, slips, root division, corms.

Report back: Group Botshabelo; Principle: water management

Must store water during rainy season as much as possible. MDF to give input on

thisWater infiltration: look at slope, dig furrows and ditches

Mulching to keep moisture in the soil

 Greywater system and management; wood ash in containers, remainders in

containers can go into toilet to help it sink down. We use soap in the water- which will

not make people sick… –MDF to provide input on Moringa seeds and Sand

filters and health concerns

Manage water flow: diverted to fruit trees and store water in the soil

Report back: Group Lepelle; Principle: soil movement

Group felt there was not much of a problem with erosion, soil health, water management

(want to abstract from the river)

Seeds (GMO), seed saving, water flow and management

Seeds are expensive to buy: used to go to commercial farmers and buy seed form

them.

Learnt that they come from overseas- give seeds to our government who then gives

them to communities. Once you planted seed you cannot save it, have opt buy every

year. We were informed that they provide bigger fruit, drought resistant- will provide

food whether it rains or not. Bees that do pollination can move the pollen and then

those characteristics can change and it changes the characteristics… MDF to give

input on this

Tsepo from Ukuvuna provided a short input on: Seed banking: heirloom seeds.

Discussion

Processes of change can be uncomfortable. We need to look at what we’re doing and

accept that maybe things need to change. This is a very important step in learning.

Uncomfortable is different not necessarily bad…. Let’s undertake to trust each other and

walk together.

The five fingers is a way for remembering the important things to do in terms of farming. It’s

like a book.

How do we decide if we are successful? Use the practices as criteria, to assess whether you

are doing well or not. There are some things that will be difficult to deal with alone, as they

are part of the group/village. These include from plenary discussion:

- Land pollution – rubbish and pollutants

- Theft;

- People who assist farmers take a long time to come and visit them. Lima for

example- has not come for 2 years….

- Household is not fenced as animals destroy crops; even with fencing chickens and

pigs can be a problem.

- Unemployment

- Water shortages

- There is water, but abstraction of water from the river is not happening.

- With cutting trees, people burn trees instead.

- Birds; eat crops, fruit and seed

- Heat; high levels

- Not having land to farm- or may have land but no capital to farm

- Young people not that interested in farming –

- Most of these issues are within our control but there are bigger issues – want to be

helped to dam water so that we can have access. Individuals will need to have a

water use licence if you want to dam the river….

We must take ourselves seriously as farmers. Keep records and remember in terms of

experiments which worked and which did not and why. Get organised.- better to work in

groups to deal with the village level issues. Work with leaders.

Comments: You talk about coming together as farmers. Some farmers have pumps, some

wait for rain, some get water from the mountains. This makes it difficult for them to work

together as a group as they are doing different things. We must be clear as to what support

you will be providing. People are pulling away now as it is not clear. Can you assist us with

RWH tanks for example.

We want help also with being referred to organisations that will help us.

Obed (Willows): Some people here do have the answers- if someone does not have land

they can go to the tribal council. There are other issues raised – once you have started

farming. Where do you start- I can’t call myself a farmer without a tractor- we have gone

through workshops, but we go in circles as you cannot help us do this. You talked about

RWH to be able to assist in certain capacities- what is the easiest way to channel and

harvest water. It there is training without something tangible then we will not stay interested.

We are not interested in just meetings and workshops.

George (Lepelle): Some sort of assistance is better than no assistance at all. By ourselves

on our own our voices are not loud enough for others to hear us… Maybe others will see and

be able to help us… Back in the days just pumping seeds and tractors to people did not

really help. Hope we are going through some of the steps to do this better. Farmers can

become more profitable to be able to improve to hire labour and stay stagnant.

Fanuel (The Oaks): Clear now what support you are providing- doesn’t provide the

impression that you are helping some people and marginalising others…

Demonstration; of breaking sticks and then adding them together- they are stronger and

harder to break…

Team Reflection on Mametje

workshop_ 20170316

AGENDA:

1.Reflection on cc w/shop

a.-dealing with 5 fingers

b.-other implications– for AgriIS

2.Baseline homestead assessments; completion, translation

3.Sensitive topics: water abstraction, NPK, GMO, municipality relationship

4.INR meshing

REFLECTION ON 5 FINGERS workshop

What went well:

Participation from farmers was great. E.G Miriam from Botshabelo - see some

farmers are internalising the training and the tools are good.

Local participation good. Translation helpful. Enough trust to raise their issues

towards the end

Programme was well planned for timing

Farmers have a wealth of stuff going on that we can enrich it, but they really got it…

Think farmers really understood the concepts

Principles vs practice was nice

Feeling that there is a partnership going on

Good venue

Loved the photos

Within the groups, they showed there was a lot done before and that they can

remember and relate to all the activities

People showed they understood things- now can try more on the ground.

Working together to create a good picture

Love the way farmers talking to others and teaching each other. Their attention was

very good. Happy to hear them talking about mulching, companion planting,

Worked well at this point in the process – this ended up being a good consolidating

day. People have learnt quite a lot. The repetition and re-enforcement was not too

much. Really helped that they have actually done some of the practices

Not so good

Good practices within the management practices ?

Lepelle; based on the group’s discussion and what Erna and Sylvester shared there

was a mismatch…

Same people talk in the groups

Not enough time for feedback from the groups – as people could help each other

learn and do more sharing

Would have been better if they could have covered all the 5 fingers

How to stop people from dominating…….

Thought we were just capturing their own practices; and or sharing how we do the

practices.

Should have focussed a little more on good practices towards improvement and also’

de-focus’ somewhat a little on the training form Mahlathini to surface local practices

that are good.

How are we handling the community based expectations around inputs and

equipment

How does this mesh with the AgriSI and implications for going forward. Is needs to

be further linked to a learning process. What are we going to do with the visioning.

How will it become a group vision? These workshops are largely an opportunity to

put people in a discomfort zone,

Need to make clear at the beginning of the workshop what people can gain from it.

Managing group conversations to stay on track.

Farmers have expectations, still testing the waters of what they can be getting.

Worrying that they are doing ‘wait and see”.

There is a dynamic in Lepelle – whether we go ahead –but there are issues there…

Do not like the idea that we went and said there is a problem after they said there

isn’t one. But perhaps it’s okto cause discomfort… we need to watch what is going

on there…

Managing expectation is central; but we do say it.. but maybe need to say it

more…but can’t just put it aside. As those are potentially also real needs. Need to

engage some of that discourse…

Six villages with amount of resources is quite ambitious – possibly can allow

ourselves to change…

Implications for AgriSi

The fact that they said they want to meet is a good thing and also that the

expectations are now on the table.

The implication I to engage with the energy that people are prepared to meet and we

should take it further. How to work together, should we work together.

We need more time on understanding before we start on the activities

We ran parallel process of setting up the talking and doing at the same time. It

means that the process side of things has felt a bit haphazard.

The visioning process can’t be left too long. Wider visioning about the future is

potentially interesting. Not just specifically around what they plan to do in the

gardening.

Link to INR – maybe do the farming together with the INR

Be realistic about what is possible in the time frame of a year.

If they take on an experimental process they will learn new things every year…

Let’s situate the visioning within change and climate change and how can we best

adapt to this.

Self assessments:

-Each farmer now has practices… from which the garden monitoring can be done.

Dearick:What is your baseline? - simplify it. The individual homestead based

assessments are way too complicated for this process – even though they could

provide information related to some of the indicators against which reporting needs to

happen. Work rather within an internal contextual profile – first level of assessment:

that is the baseline context. Then do the evidence building.

Derick: What you choose as your baseline it is your own cross that you will bear. If

you do a forensic baseline process, then you will have that complexity throughout.

Sharon: This is not a tenable approach…which is why they do it themselves, the

groups decide. They assess and gather evidence –cluster based evidence…

DericK: A baseline is a pretty standard requirement. There should not be a problem

here

Choose the key practices under each principle and use that. Group based

assessments with the five fingers and traffic lights.

Farmers can do their own assessments. Farmer make their own judgement calls

about how they are doing. That is not as arduous a task.

Some verifiables that are causing problems in the milestone deliverables: Farmer work

plans, individual experimentation plans, garden monitoring and training manual. These will

be sorted out and provided before the end of March.

Timeline of activities; in the progress report- and documentation- mention every one of the

documents.

Erna misunderstood documentation as ways to verify… not as verifiable indicators…this

difference in understanding was somehow missed in the whole contracting process.