Milestone 7 Final Report | Mahlathini Development Foundation

RESILIM-O:

Resilience in the Limpopo Basin

Program–Olifants

MILESTONE 7: Final Report

Under the

Lower Olifants catchment

Agricultural Support Initiative

(AgriSI)

30/11/2017

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Acknowledgements

The USAID: RESILIM-O project is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development under

USAID/Southern Africa RESILIENCE IN THE LIMPOPO BASIN PROGRAM (RESILIM). The RESILIM-O project is

implemented by the Association for Water and Rural Development (AWARD), in collaboration with

partners. Cooperative Agreement nr AID-674-A-13-00008.

P O Box 1919

Hoedspruit 1380

Limpopo, South Africa

T 015-793 0503

W award.org.za

Company Reg. No. 98/03011/08

Non-profit org. Reg. No. 006 –821

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ABOUT USAID: RESILIM

USAID’s Resilience in the Limpopo River Basin (RESILIM) program addresses ongoing degradation in the

Limpopo River Basin in southern Africa, where people face water shortages, increased floods, and declines

in crop productivity as climate change further stresses an already water limited region.

There are two components to the program; one operating at a basin-scale (RESILIM-B, which is

implemented by USA-based Chemonics and addresses similar issues at the scale of the four SADC member

states that share the Limpopo Basin (South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique) and a

catchment-scale project (RESILIM-O) thatIt is being implemented by the Association for Water andRural

Development (AWARD). Both projects share the same overall objectives. You can find out more

information on the RESILIM projects on www.usaid.gov websiteand www.award.org.za.

The USAID’s RESILIM-O focusses on the Olifants catchment. The program aims to reduce the vulnerability

of people and ecosystems in the Olifants Catchment specifically, by improving how transboundary natural

resources are managed. By understanding the systemic causes of vulnerability, including climate

vulnerability, it is promoting new ways of thinking and acting to promote integrated water and

biodiversity management.

ABOUT AWARD

At AWARD, we recognize that the natural world’s resources are limited, and undergoing rapid depletion

and transformation. We know current practicesof use and management are inadequate to deal with the

changes and challenges we are facing. We design practical interventions to address the vulnerability of

people and ecosystems, and merge considerations from both environmental and social perspectives. Our

approach involves thinking across disciplines, boundaries and systems.

We are working with diverse people and institutions in the water and biodiversity sectors in the Olifants

River Catchment to understand the multiple vulnerabilities to change, including climate change. Along

with quality scientific contributions, our engagement in the socio-political context of the Olifants River

Catchment allows us begin to begin to institutionalize integrated, resilience-based practices, providing a

foundation for robust development policy and practice in the in this river catchment, and beyond.

The Olifants Catchment: An overview

The Olifants River Catchment falls within the Limpopo River Basin, which is part of an international

drainage basin that stretches across South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana. In fact, the

Olifants River contributes nearly 40% of the water that flows in the Limpopo River making it an important

catchment in the system as a whole.

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At the heart of this catchment isthe Olifants River, a vital artery that flows for 560 kilometres through

South Africa and into Mozambique, where it is known as the Rio dos Elefantes in Mozambique.

This mighty river originates in South Africa’s Mpumalanga Highveld, flowing northwards before curving in

an easterly direction through the Kruger National Park and into Mozambique, finally finding rest in the

salty water of the Indian Ocean near Xai Xai, just north of Maputo.

The main tributaries of the Olifants River are the Wilge, Elands, Ga-Selati, Klein Olifants, Steelpoort,

Blyde, Klaserie and Timbavati Rivers.

Along with its tributaries, it is one of the six major Lowveld river systems, occupying an area just short of

55 000 square kilometres. It traverses three provinces in South Africa; Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

About 3.5 million people live on the South African side of the catchment. In Mozambique, it flows through

Gaza Province, which is home to about 700 000 people.

A system under change

Our catchment is the foundation of our livelihoods and development. Yet the river and associated natural

resources in the Olifants Catchment are under threat...

Unchecked pollution, inappropriate land resource use, weak and poorly enforced policies and regulations

and poor protection of habitats and biodiversity are degrading the Olifants at an alarming rate. What’s

more, the area is however under threat from factors such as mining for heavy metals, inappropriate land

management, rural sprawl and unsustainable use of natural resources. This affects the level of goods and

services provided by the ecosystem.

The diverse population groups living in the Olifants Catchment all have one thing in common; they rely on

the river and the catchment’s natural biodiversity for their livelihoods. This reliancecan be direct or

indirect. Rural communities rely on it for things such as traditional medicine, grazing and browse, fuel,

food and housing materials. Some people in river-side communities harvest reeds, collect water from the

river for washing and drinking and use it for recreational and spiritual practices. Subsistence farmers in

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Mozambique rely heavily on the catchment’s flood plains. There are also large mines and associated

industries, large scale agriculture and the wildlife economy, which all rely on a healthy, functioning river

system. Often people forget that what they do upstream affects people down stream, sometimes with dire

consequences.

The catchment is our home and it is worth investing in its future. The work reported here is part of the

ongoing activities of the RESILIM- O project under the grant from USAID: Southern Africa.

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Project partners

Mahlatini Development Foundation (MDF) is a small public benefit non-profit organization consisting of

rural development practitioners who specialize in participatory learning and action processes, sustainable

natural resource management and low external input farming systems, including a focus on rain water

harvesting, conservation agriculture, intensive homestead food production, food security, micro finance

and enterprise development.

MDF designs and implements rural development programmes and training processes providing learning

processes for adults all the way from semi-literate farmers to post graduate university level. We work in

partnership with government and non-government organisations alike. We are sensitive to and mainstream

where possible gender, disability and people living with HIV/AIDs

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Contents
Table of Contents
Executive Summary .........................................................................................................9
1 Progress for the reporting period...................................................................................9
Project Objectives ..........................................................................................................9
1 Overview of RESILIM-O Project objectives.........................................................................9
2 Sub-grant Project Objectives ...................................................................................... 10
Milestone Description..................................................................................................... 10
1 Definition of milestone and purpose.............................................................................. 10
Approach/ Process/ Activities.......................................................................................... 12
1 Summary of activities ............................................................................................... 12
2 Progress and Results.................................................................................................12
2.1 Learning and mentoring....................................................................................... 12
2.2 Innovations and Experimentation........................................................................... 16
2.3 Collaborative work............................................................................................. 20
2.4 Networking ...................................................................................................... 23
3 Success and Challenges in meeting milestone. .................................................................23
4 MERL.................................................................................................................... 23
4.1 Indicators: Assessment November 2017.................................................................... 23
4.2 Project Life Change Questions:.............................................................................. 25
4.3 Work Plan for 2018............................................................................................. 26
5 Other activities....................................................................................................... 27
Overall Progress of Project.............................................................................................. 27
1 Integration of milestone status.................................................................................... 27
2 Project risk and mitigation summary............................................................................. 28
2.1 Implementation risks and mitigation....................................................................... 28
2.2 Financial risks and mitigation................................................................................ 29
Conclusion and Recommendations..................................................................................... 29
Appendices................................................................................................................. 30
1 Appendix 1: DICLAD Modules 2 & 3 with AgriSI stakeholders in the Lower Olifants 24th to 26th Oct 
......................................................................................................................... 30
Overallpurpose....................................................................................................... 30
Expected outcomes.................................................................................................. 30
1.1 Participants...................................................................................................... 30

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7.1.2 Recap of concepts covered in DICLAD Module 1.......................................................... 30

7.1.3 Outlining impacts............................................................................................... 32

7.1.4 Botshabelo CSA practices..................................................................................... 32

7.1.5 Lepelle, Oaks and Finale CSA practices.................................................................... 34

7.1.6 Sedawa CSA practices......................................................................................... 36

7.1.7 Learnings......................................................................................................... 38

7.1.8 Future CC actions.............................................................................................. 38

7.1.9 Planning for DICLAD-AgriSI Module 3 (2018)............................................................... 39

7.2 Appendix 2: Garden Monitoring narrative report; April-November 2017................................... 41

7.2.1 Botshabelo....................................................................................................... 42

7.2.2 Lepelle ........................................................................................................... 43

7.2.3 Oaks/Finale...................................................................................................... 44

7.2.4 Willows........................................................................................................... 45

7.2.5Sedawa ........................................................................................................... 46

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1Executive Summary

1.1Progress for the reporting period

During this quarter focus was given to:

•The distribution of 17 drip kits to participants with the 3 (1 x 5m) trench beds and mentoring in

installation of these

•Initiation of a new learning group in Sedawa-extension (Turkey); Baseline discussions, climate

change adaptation introduction.

•Initiation of 2 village savings and loan associations, upon request from participants (Botshabelo,

Sedawa)

•Re-introducing Conservation Agriculture to a larger group of participants, including cover crops –

sunflower, millet/sorghum and cowpeas.

•Natural pest and disease control workshops with all learning groups to consolidate and expand

knowledge and options.

DICLAD (Module 2-3) workshops have been held for exploration of Climate Change impacts and adaptation

for all 6 villages (3workshops). In addition, in collaboration with Lima RDF, the DICLAD process has been

introduced to a village in Sekororo, upon their request, to introduce the concepts of climate smart

agricultural practices into their food security programme.

Further learning workshops have been run for all 6 villages, to provide an overview of all thepractices

introduced thus far, setting up of more drip kits (17)and a re-introduction of Conservation Agriculture

trial process for the coming planting season including; intercropping; maize-beans and cowpeas, bird

resistant seed (sorghum, millet), cover crops (sunflower, sun hemp) and mulching options. An animal

drawn planter (Knapik) is to be loaned to some participants working in bigger fields to test.

Attention has been given to support the local facilitators in their processes of providing advice and

support to participants and in completion of the garden monitoring forms. A total of 101 have been

translated and analysed (April-Nov 2017).

Informal discussions have been held with learning groups toelucidate their continued intervention and

learning needs and broad action plans have been put in place, in anticipation of continuation of the

process into 2018. In this respect 2 Village Savings and Loan Associations have been initiated (Botshabelo,

Sedawa), fodder production options for livestock have been introduced and an initial exploration into

poultry production (both broilers and layers) has been undertaken (Botshabelo). Two new learning groups

have been set up in the Sedawa-Mametje villages upon request form participants.

PARTICIPANTS THIS PERIOD

SEEDS OF LIGHT: Trygive Nxumalo

MAHLATHINI: Erna Kruger, Sylvester Selala, Nozipho Zwane (Intern)

AWARD: Cryton Zazu, Bigboy Mkhabela,

2Project Objectives

2.1Overview of RESILIM-O Project objectives

RESILIM-O is large multi-faceted, multi-stakeholder, cross-boundary programmeto reduce vulnerability to

climate change through building improved transboundary water and biodiversity governance and

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management of the Olifants Basin through the adoption of science-based strategies that enhance the

resilience of its people and ecosystems through systemic and social learning approaches. The programme

has been running for four years and is being implemented byAWARD (The Association for Water and Rural

Development) with funding from USAID.

The Agricultural Support Initiative (AgriSI) was initiated as a sub-grant process within the larger

programmed towards the end of 2016. This initiative works specifically with climate change adaptation

processes with smallholder communities in the lower Olifants River basin. It is being implemented jointly

by Mahlathini Development Foundation and AWARD.

The Agricultural Support Initiative (AgriSI) addresses two of the RESILIM-O programme objectives directly:

i. To institutionalize systemic, collaborative planning and action for resilience of ecosystems and

associated livelihoods through enhancing the capacity of stakeholders to sustainably manage natural

resources of the Olifants River Basin under different scenarios

ii. To reduce vulnerability to climate change and other factors by supporting collective action, informed

adaptation strategies and practices and tenable institutional arrangements.

2.2Sub-grant Project Objectives

Sound agro-ecological practices for soil and water conservation (SWC) and the ability to self-organise and

act collectively are regarded as fundamental for building adaptive capacity and resilienceto climate

change. Not only do agro-ecological farming approaches require minimum external inputs – which may be

expensive and increase dependency if subsidised – but they foster farmers’ sensethat they can build

sustainable futures from local inputs and efforts. With knowledge about the potential impacts of climate

change included in the learning journey, farmers can make purposeful decisions around practices such as

seed and crop-type. This approach supports livelihood diversification –also fundamental for increased

resilience – through ‘value-added’ associated activities such as seedling production, tree nurseries and

bee-keeping.

The overall aim of the Agricultural Support Initiative is to enhance the resilience of the people and

ecosystems in selected villages (5-6) in the Lower Olifants River basin, using a systemic social learning

approach, exploring the question: What are you learning about the socio-economic and biophysical

characteristics of your environment and how these are changing and how are you able to respond to that?

The overarching objective of this work is to provide support for increased adaptive capacity and resilience

to the effects of climate change for households involved in agriculture in select communities of the

Olifants River Catchment through:

-Improved soil and water conservation and agro-ecological practices for increased food security

-Livelihood diversification and supplementation through alternative climate resistant production;

-Increased community empowerment as a result of self-organisation and collective action.

3Milestone Description

3.1Definition of milestone and purpose

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Each milestone and progress report indicate activities under the broad themes of learning and mentoring,

introduction to innovations and experimentation, collaborative work and networking undertaken during

the reporting period.

The table below summarises these activities against the milestone and indicate achievement of these

milestones.

Table 1: Summary of deliverable completion under Milestone 7: October-December 2017

Activities

planned

Completed?

Expected

outcomes

Completed?

Verification

documenta

tion

Completed?

Reference

Learning &

Mentoring:

In all 6

communitie

s each 2

days

Learning &

Mentoring:

Facilitator

mentoring of

new practices

Farmer ongoing

self-monitoring,

-assessment and

learning

Clusters self-

mentoring;

review and

planning

-LF’s provide training

and mentoring

alongside field team

-LF’s undertake garden

mentoring and

monitoring with

farmers (3-4 days

each), supported by

field team

-Learning groups;

learning sessions –

overview of practices-

incl Conservation

Agriculture, review and

planning for coming

season

Progress report on

outcomes

including the

following

documentation:

1. Photos & photo

diaries

2. Farmer work

plans

3. Garden

monitoring

4. Monthly

assessments

5. Cluster activity

records

6. Event

materials,

attendance

registers

1. Photos in

reports and–All

photos saved in

directories and

kept by Erna

2.Farmer work

plans are

recorded in the

garden monitoring

forms

3. 44 Garden

monitoring forms

across six villages

4. In this report

5.Appended to

this report

6.Appended to

this report

Intro to

innovations

and

experiment

ation: In all

communitie

s each 2

days

Mentoring by

trainers and LFs’

- Garden monitoring

including trainers and

LFs- all participants

visited at least once by

LFs and a garden

monitoring form

completed

Collaborativ

e work: In

all 6

communitie

s each 2

days

Site assessments

and community

contributions to

infrastructure

support; tunnels,

drip kits and

RWH storage

tanks

-Distribution and

construction of drip

kits (x17) for

participants with the

three 1x5m trench

beds.

Networking:

1. Local

facilitator

networking

2. Open

days, cross

visits

DICLAD

workshops,

(modules 2,3)

for all villages

- 3 DICLAD workshops

exploring CC

adaptation options,

practices and future

activities

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3. Review

and

planning

sessions

DILCAD

introduction for

Lima RDF in

Sekororo

-Cross visits and open

days

- Recap of learning,

introduction of topics

requested for coming

season

4Approach/ Process/ Activities

4.1Summary of activities

This section gives an indication of activities undertaken during the reporting period to achieve the

outcomes for this period, time spent and people involved.

Table 2: Summary of activities for the reporting period October- December 2017.

DATE

DESCRIPTIONOF ACTIVITY

Time

WHO WAS

INVOLVED

2017/10/02-04

Working with new intern Nozipho Zwane to set up

database for garden monitoring forms

2 days

Erna

2017/10/03-05

Write up of learning events for groups

2 days

Sylvester

2017/10/20

Preparation for DICLAD modules 2,3

1 day

Erna

2017/10/23-27

DICLAD workshops x 3, including team planning and

reflection

5 days

Erna, Sylvester

2017/10/30-

11/05

Delivery of drip kits –mentoring in construction, garden

monitoring progress, introduction of CA for farmer trials

in 3 villages (Willows, Botshabelo, Sedawa)

7days

Sylvester

2017/10/30

Meeting with INR to discuss social enterprise options,

Planning with Lima head office team for DICLAD

collaboration in Sekororo

1 day

Erna

2017/10/02-

11/30

Part-time work on garden monitoring database

days/month

Nozipho

2017/11/09-11

Write up of monthly activities and reports

3 days

Sylvester

2017/11/20-24

Compilation of final report, database analysis

5 days

Erna

2017/11/26-

12/02

Travel to Limpopo, Team preparation and conducting 2

DICLDA processes (2 days ea) for new groups; Sedawa

Ext and Sekororo. Introduction of savings groups, poultry

production

7 days

Erna, Sylvester,

Mazwi,

Temakholo,

Karabo

2017/12/04-08

Finalisation of CA trial set- up for participants

5 days

Sylvester

2017/12/11-15

Set up of quantitative measurement tools; weather

station, chameleon probes, run-off and taking of

gravimetric soil samples

6 days

Sylvester

Sylvester: 35 days, Erna: 20 days

4.2Progress and Results

4.2.1Learning and mentoring

As new participants join in every workshop, this latest round of training was meant to provide an overview

of practices introduced thus far. For this participants in the group spoke to what they have learnt and

gave descriptions of the practices.

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As an example, in Willows the following practices were discussed:The snapshot covered soil water

movement (use of line level in design of furrows, diversion ditches), soil testing (bottle test), conservation

agriculture (no till and intercropping), soil fertility (trench beds, eco-circles, shallow trenches, liquid

manure), crop management (mixed cropping, mulching, natural pest and disease control), water

management (RWH, use of grey water) and seeds (bird resistant sorghum, millet and other seeds). Due to

time constraints, after thediscussion of these practice participants chose to focus on water management

and natural pestand disease control.

Greywater management options are important in these villages as there are times that this is the only

water available to participants- albeit very little (ave 25l/day). Thus, tower gardens were introduced now

in all the villages. These are upright beds, with a high ash content in the soil mix to bind the soaps in the

greywater as well as a central column of small stones for filtration.

Above left and right: Sylvester demonstrates the planting of spinach seedlings into the sides of the tower garden in

Willows. And participants mix the soil, manure and ash for placing into the tower garden in Botshabelo

In other learning review workshops, such as Botshabelo, topics were covered that participants still do not

feel too confident in; in this case they chose; five finger principles, liquid manureand natural pest and

disease control. This was also covered again in some more detail in Sedawa.

Above left and right: Multipurpose plants that assist with pest and disease control were introduced; e.g. num-num,

aloes, lemon grass, rosemary, borage, chilies, parsley and coriander. And pest control brews using onions, chilli,

green bar sunlight soap and paraffin were demonstrated. Those few participants who have already been using these

remedies feel they work very well for the common pests they have.

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4.2.1.1Summary of Learning and mentoring and Future Activities

These have been summarised for the four villages where the learning review was conducted.

Table 3: Summary of planning for continued activitiesin four villages

WILLOWS

BOTSHABELO

FINALE

SEDAWA

Group expansion

LF's to go to new

individuals and

mentor them

through the

gardening practices

Mametje would like to be a

learning group by

themselves. There are many

participants

More training

sessions to be run

covering the whole

range of practices

Another expansion group is

to be started in Sedawa-

closer to the main road

(Turkey).

More in-depth

information on some

of the topics

Future activities

Cross visit to Sedawa

to see and learn

about the

underground RWH

tanks

Reintroduce line level and

way to make diversion

furrows as well as planting -

as it has worked well for

some. Most cannot

remember how

Mixed cropping works well

and will be expanded. Herbs

are resistant to pests and

diseases and are more heat

tolerant than the vegetable

crops - so are a good idea,

but use is limited

Incorporate cover

crops in field

cropping - for

livestock fodder

Reintroduce CA and include

cowpea, millet and sorghum

Marketing options for herbs

to be explored (coriander,

parsley, garlic chives,

rosemary, fennel).

Discussed herb stands in

town and local farmers

markets

Grow fodder and

store for winter; e.g.

Lucerne

Potential to start chicken

projects

CA re- introduction

and working on

bigger fields- animal

traction options-

introduce animal

drawn planter -

Knapik

With shallow and sandy soil

and use of salty water,

participants believe

techniques such as mulching

work to some extent

Saving for increased water

supply. They have

approached the chief to

make a small dam in the

stream bed. Participants are

saving towards this (R20-

R200/month for the pipes)

Making trench beds difficult

but worth it,

Setting up a savings group

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Based on the observations

made during the cross visit

to Sedawa, participants

believe tunnels might have a

good potential to improving

their vegetable production.

Planting cover crops in the

bigger fields outside the

homestead and also

exploring other fodder

production options

Requests/ issues

People lose a lot of

cattle during the

winter. They want to

know of options for

increasing water and

food supply for

livestock

Options for helping

participants to

remember

information: The

local facilitator could

try things with

individuals during

household visits

Mulch attracts the

homestead’s or the

neighbours’chickens to the

garden, and they destroy

their vegetables.

Assistance from MDF,

AWARD, to also work with

Municipality for increased

water supply and to find

ways to raise funds to do

this at community level.

Plant and seed

samples brought to

the workshops are

not enough for

everyone- is it

possible for MDF to

supply more

Participants could

have monthly

meetings where they

discuss some of the

innovations

introduced (how the

work for each

individual and why

they do not work for

others)

Participants’ willingness to

try a new innovation is

depended on how well that

innovation does. But how

well this does depends on

several factors which

include, success of the

demonstration and the

maintenance afterwards

Access to manure is a

challenge in Sedawa;

chicken projects now charge

for chicken litter and

demand is big where they

have access to the dip tanks

for example.

Can the LFs be

trained to run the

same workshops at

the same level as

MDF - At the moment

the information they

provide is a little

limited.

Having revision

workshops every once

in a while

Advice on where to find

markets for herbs. Many

grow well in these

conditions but participants

have limited use for them

Growing fodder species -

more livestock owners have

joined the group and

interest is considerable –

mainly in fields, with

supplementary irrigation

options

Sepedi notes

(farmers handouts)

Anything to do with digging

(trench beds, double

digging, eco circle,

diversions furrows) is almost

impossible in the

community, with the top

soil of about 10 to 15 cm in

depth (where the digging

has been done the

production is better)

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Suggestions

Putting storage

containers closer to

where kids discard

water after taking a

bath (this will help

them remember to

pour the greywater

into the container)

Participants requested that

we make a diagram with

pictures of all practices and

how they are linked

together. Some of the

information is only required

when one is faced with a

particular problem (e.g.

pest control), therefore it

would be useful for us to

have something to remind

ourselves.

Need pictures and notes to

be able to remember

practices- especially the

pest and disease control

remedies, liquid manures

and mixed cropping

In addition to the above-mentioned ideas MDF is keen to also explore the following options in future

activities with the groups:

•Seed saving

•Value adding and food preparation

•Seed varieties suitable for a changing climate (including planting calendars)

•Experimentation with decisions support tools for choice and combinations of CSA practices

•Livestock integration

•Erosion control strategies in and around villages to augment gardening activities

•Communities of Practice of all relevant stakeholders to explore increased access to water and

more efficient use of available water

•Fruit production options

4.2.2Innovations and Experimentation

Garden monitoring has continued in this quarter. Summaries have again been made of local innovations

and introduced innovations being practiced by participants

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Figure 1: Implementation of new innovations for the periods of April -July 2017 and Aug-Nov 2017

Thus far garden monitoring has been compiled for different individuals over time, rather than repeat

monitoring sessions for the same individuals. The above two figures thus represent an overview of

practices implemented and can show some trends of increase in uptake of certain practices.

RWH storage has increased substantially in this last quarter- but is to be expected as the rainy season has

commenced. Along with this, participants have now dug out contour ditches (furrows and ridges) for

cropping and worked with cut off drains and diversion ditches. These are also activities related to

implementation in the rainy season. More participants have been actively undertaking experimentation

Figure 2: Implementation for local good practice for the periods April-July 2017 and Aug-Nov 2017

55%

74%

79%

16%

74%

95%

82%

11%

39%

18%

58%

Cut off drains/diversion…

Contours, line levels

Stone bunds

Trench beds

Eco circles

Mixed cropping

Seed and seedlings

Mulching

Liquid manure

Nat P&D control

Bucket filters/ drip kits

Tunnel

RWH storage

Experimentation

% Implementation of new

innovations (n=38); April-

July 2017

Cut off drains/diversion…

Contours, line levels

Stone bunds

trench beds

Eco circles

Mixed cropping

Seed and seedlings

mulching

Liquid manure

Nat P&D control

Bucket filters/ drip kits

Tunnel

RWH storage

Experimentation

% Implementation of new

innovations (N=44); Aug-Nov

2017

No. of participants

Furrows and ridges

Multipurpose…

Legumes

RWH

Grey water use

Nursery

Seed saving

banana basins

Farming income

Implementation of local good

practice (N=44); Aug-Nov 2017

No. of participants

2,3

Furrows and ridges

Multipurpose…

Legumes

RWH

Grey water use

Nursery

Seed saving

Farming income

Food (x/wk)

Implementation of local good

practice (N=38); April- July 2017

AverageNo of participants

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 18

For the implementation of local good practices, the trends for the two seasons (quarters) have remained

reasonably constant. In this instance the reduction in implementation in the more recent periodof furrows

and ridges and RWH denote a greater uptake in the improved versions of these practices (asshown in the

two small graphs above these) rather than a reduction of implementation of the practices per se.

Overall, the following summaries of implementation of practices and innovations can be made for this

intervention

Figure 3: Overall implementation of adaptive practices in the Mametje area for April=November 2017

The graph above indicates the overall uptake of practices across the six villages in Mametje where these

were introduced through training, demonstrations and farmer experimentation. Uptake of practices to

improve soil fertility, water holding capacity and soil and water conservation have been well received and

more than 70% of participants have implemented these ideas over the two growing seasons of this process.

This is in fact an extremely high level of uptake and denotes a high level of motivation from participants.

A few practices did not “stick” despite our efforts of introduction and re-introduction of these ideas.

These include making and using of liquid manure and eco-circles, which uses a bottle drip system. The use

of natural pest and disease control and conservation agriculture for field crops can also still be improved.

For the latter two practices- review and farmer experimentation processes have been done very recently

(Nov-Dec 2017)

Appendix 2 (7.2) provides a narrative report for each of the six villages showing indications of their

assessment of implementation of practices using the traffic light idea of red, yellow and green.

A concerted effort to assist these participants financially and technically to improve upon their rainwater

harvesting processes and infrastructure is suggested. Considerable funding will be required for this, but

not major strides in increased production can be expected without such interventions.

Cut off drains/diversion ditches

Contours, line levels

Stone bunds

Trench beds

Eco circles

Mixed cropping

Seed and seedlings

Mulching

Liquid manure

Nat P&D control

Bucket filters/ drip kits

Tunnel

RWH storage

Experimentation

% Implementation of New ideas and innovations

April-Nov 2017 (N=100)

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 19

Figure 4: Summary of uptake of innovations for the learning group members.

The diagram above summarises the overall implementation of good practices, both introduced and

local/traditional good practice. Local good practices such as seed saving, furrows and ridges, multipurpose

plants, propagation and nurseries and use of grey water is used by around 40-60% of the participants.

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

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About 40% of participants are able to produce enough food from their gardens to eat from these 2x/week

on average and consuming an average of 2 different types of vegetablesper week. In addition, 46% of

participants are making supplementary incomes from their vegetable production. These incomes range

between R80-R2400/ month. The most common level of income is around R200/month. The average

income from vegetable production is R700/ month. This is indeed an impressive achievement given the

small plots under production and the numerous production constraints that these participants face.

4.2.2.1Individual experimentation

As farmer experimentation is the main learning avenue of this farmer innovation process, individual

experimentation has been promoted at all learning workshops as well as through the local facilitators.

Participants were initially a bit slow on the uptake of this, but they have now learnt that this is a great

way to find out things and make decisions for themselves.A total of 61% of participants have undertaken

experimentation in their gardens and fields.

Below is a summary of the practices that participants have experimented with. This information was

gleaned from garden monitoring forms compiled for July-November 2017. It can be seen that working with

trench beds, mulching and mixed cropping have been the most popular practices for experimentation.

Figure 5: Individual experimentation with different practices among learning group participants.

4.2.3Collaborative work

A number of learning group participants (17 in total) has made their 3 1x5m trench beds in anticipation of

receiving tunnels. Most of these participants only finalised their trench beds after the initial round of

48%

51%

34%

10%

3% 2%

3% 3%

Individual experiementation (N=61)

Trench beds

Mulching

Mixed cropping

Tunnel

Stonelines

Furrows and ridges

diversion ditches

manure

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 21

supply of tunnels, where 10 tunnels had been installed –in addition to the 2 tunnels constructed as group

efforts.

It was however not possible to supply tunnels to all the prospective participants and an agreement was

reached with the learning groups that these participants would be supplied with drip kits (2 ea), some of

which were offered by the initial tunnel recipients who had also received drip kits. This was seen as a

compromise solution for all and a more equitable distribution of the resources offered through this

project.

The list of recipients of drip kits is shown in the small table below

Table 4: List of recipients of drip kits

Finala

Sedawa

Sedawa Cont

Lepelle

Sophina Mashila

Lina Malepe

Sophia Molefe

Anna Seotlo

Norah Morapane

Koko Maphori

Thina Mashinye

Edina Molebela

Mpelesi Sekgobola

Rebecca Morema

Sarah Myathi

Lema Malepe

Winnie Mametja

Julia Monareng

Mareta Moloto

Meisie Mokwena

Norah Malepe

Above left and right: Participants in Sedawa who had prepared trench beds in anticipation of tunnels, have made

good use of them in the meantime, planting a selection of crops. They have now received drip kits to irrigate these

beds

The initial 2 tunnels constructed by the learning groups were used for joint experimentation by group

members for one growing season (3-6months). These two tunnels have now been taken over by individuals;

Christina Thobejane (in Sedawa) and Mr Lewelle (in The Oaks). In all cases tunnels have been planted to

an interesting selection of mixed crops; including maize, kale, cabbage, carrots, morogo, spinach,

tomatoes, marigolds, okra and peppers

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 22

Above Left to right: Christina Thobejane’s tunnel (Sedawa), now placed inside her yard; filled with a large variety of

crops (peppers, spinach, radish, marigolds, kale, maize and okra shown here) and Mariam Malepe’s tunnel

(Botshabelo) also planted to a range of crops. These tunnels were constructed by the participants themselves.

4.2.3.1Summary of Collaborative work

•12 tunnels (4x6m) have been constructed across 3 villages (the Oaks, Sedawa, Botshabelo)

•39 drip kits have been set up (20l bucket for 1x5m bed)

across 4 villages (Sedawa, Botshabelo, Finala and Lepelle)

•3 x 25 000l underground RWH tanks have been constructed

in Botshabelo and Sedawa

In all cases participants have been centrally involved in learning

and working together to construct these ‘structures”. There is a

high level of interest in the tunnels and RHH tanks and a good

indication for the tunnels that productivity and resilience is

increased quite dramatically. For the RWH tanks, participants are

already adapting the use of these tanks to also filling them with

water, pumped or carried form nearby sources to augment the

rainwater stored. All three tanks are now fully operational.

Right: A monitoring and maintenance visit to Mariam Malepe’s tank, where

the inlet pipe filter was cleaned and secured more firmly. The diversion

ditch carrying water into the tank is visible –a row of bananas flanks this

ditch.

4.2.3.2Future

•Given the high interest in tunnels, attempts will be made to secure funding and resources to

continue with the supply of these structures to learning group members

•Experimentation with cropping options in tunnels is to continue; this will be augmented by water

productivity measurements and different irrigation practices

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 23

•Village savings and loan associations have been initiated, to enable participants to save for these

structures (both tunnels and RWH tanks)

•Options for hand and or foot pumps for the underground RWH tanks are to be explored, as

participants are not too keen to take the water out using buckets.

•A big push for further support for underground RWH storage is very important in this region.

4.2.4 Networking

Networking has been undertaken at a number of levels.

At village and community level networking has been undertaken and some group participants as well as all

local facilitators have undertaken cross visits to other villages in the implementation cluster. The

intention here has been for participants to showcase their work to each other and learn from each other’s

implementation of practices. This has also led, among other things, to the initiation of a new learning

group in an extension of Sedawa, at a village called Turkey (Zone 2).

NGO’s active in the area; Seeds of Light and Lima RDF have been drawn in to ensure collaborative work

and coherent implementation on the ground. In the case of Lima RDF an arrangement has been reached

where the DICLAD process has been introduced in Sekororo with the groups they are working with there. It

was felt that an analysis of climate change impacts and an exploration of potential adaptive measure

could be very useful for the Lima programme in food security (supported by Wesbank and the Frist rand

Foundation). Lima facilitators also supported this process in the new village, Turkey, where joint

implementation is planned. Lima has also offered access to their revolving loan fund (Jobs Fund), for

individuals venturing into commercial production.

Government and municipal stakeholders have been engaged for the open days held to outline and

showcase the CC adaptation work undertaken by the learning groups. It would be important in the future

to bring these stakeholder on board and work much more closely with them.

4.3Success and Challenges in meeting milestone.

4.4 MERL.

4.4.1Indicators: Assessment November2017

Figures in the table reflect numbers for the period of reporting, in this case October-December 2017.

A combined team meeting to review this assessment sheet has not been conducted in the reporting

period. Figures have been summarised from field reports and discussions with the field team.

Table 5: Summary of indicators assessments for the duration of the AgriSi project

Indicator

Overall

target

Actual_

Nov

2016

Actual_ Jun

2017

Actual_ Sept

2017

Actual_ Dec

2017

No of participants in

learning groups

100

108

73 (Open day,

Soil fertility

and natural

P&D control

workshops)

46,43 (DICLAD

workshops), 55

–household

visits, garden

monitoring, 60

13,23,36 (DICLAD

workshops), 17

drip kits,

learning

workshops

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 24

(30,12,8,31) new

groups (28, )

No of learning groups

No of local facilitators

Percentage of

participants engaged

in CC adaptation

responses

1-2

(45%)

2-3

(25%)

>3 (10-

15%)

1-2 (10%)

1-2 (67%)

2-3 (15%) –for

this time period

OVERALL:

1-2 (60%)

2-3(15%)

1-2(75%)

2-3 (20%)

>3 (10%)

This time period

OVERALL

1-2 (65%)

2-3 (20%)

>3 (10%)

OVERALL

1-2 (74%)

2-3 (62%)

>3 (39%)

No of participants

experimenting with

new innovations

-local

-co-designed

No of participants

showing increased

knowledge

Percentage of

participants engaged

in collaborative

activities

45%

14%- individual

implementation

of tunnels and

drip kits- 10

Underground

RWH tanks - 4

12% individual

implementation

of tunnels and

drip kits- 10

Underground

RWH tanks - 3

28% - individual

implementation

of tunnels (10)

and drip kits (27)

Underground

RWH tanks - 3

Percentage of

participants with

improved livelihoods

-increased availability

of food

-increased income

-increased diversity of

activities and

livelihoods options

40%

(summarised

from garden

monitoring

-15%

(Summarised

from garden

monitoring)

-25%

-15%

(Summarised

from garden

monitoring)

- 40%

- 46% (small

incomes) ~R700/

Month

-16%

Qualitative

assessments;

-stakeholder

engagement

-Increased

understanding and

agency to act towards

increased resilience

- Adaptation and

innovations into local

context

-Potential for

increased resilience

-Social engagement

Stories,

case

studies,

photos,

cluster

activity

records,

group

session

minutes,

Stories:

-Open day

-Underground

storage tanks

implementation

- garden

monitoring

Stories: Local

facilitators-

progress

Building of RWH

storage tanks

Implementation

of construction

of individual

tunnels

Case studies:

WRC- AgriSI

project

implementation

Stories:

-DICLAD; impact

of practices

- Adaptations and

innovations into

local context….

Understanding: Examples of

people showing an increased

understanding of CCA

adaptation

-Through the DICLAD workshops many people have shown a

coherent understanding of the impacts of CC and the value of

their activities in SWC and gardening in dealing with these(80%).

There is however also a sense that this is not enough and that

peoples’ livelihood options are steadily deteriorating. There is a

general feeling that more people in the community need to

appreciate these problems better and that youth need to be

educated. There is a request for support for larger production

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 25

efforts (field based), for support in RWH storage infrastructure

and a call for support for saving the natural environment

(grazing, indigenous trees, water) -

Actions:

Examples of people showing

an increased agency towards

increasing their resilience

-There are many examples of individuals increasing and

diversifying their food production efforts and their soil and

water control practices across all six villages

-In two of the villages there is a definite move towards

broadening the reach of these activities by involving the local

and traditional authorities and the will to work towards

improved management systems for allocation and management

of water sources in the villages, management of natural and

riverine vegetation, management of cutting of firewood and also

for constructive engagement with the municipal structures

around access to water (Botshabelo, Sedawa).

Examples of increased

potential towards resilience

-There is a strong push towards diversification of livelihood

activities (from gardening to field cropping, fodder production

for livestock, small livestock enterprises, grazing management

and planting and supply of indigenous trees. Participants feel

that if they can engage in all of the above activities that they

will be a lot more resilient. There is a request in Lepelle to bring

more people onboard into commercial fruit production and to

increase the management efficiency of these practices

4.4.2Project Life Change Questions:

1. Do we have examples or stories of how we or others are in the process of adaptive management

related to CC? (adapt, reflect and respond to….) and examples of what this adaptive

management is?

oThis is evident in a number of small changes and improvements made by participants in

the gardening practices: including mulching in traditional furrows and ridges, making

trench beds, mixed cropping, collecting grass and leaves for mulching, use of greywater,

making diversion ditches to channel water and planting in and on these, seedling

production and diversification of crops in vegetable gardens.

oLearning inputs are being tailored by the facilitation team to also be more appropriate for

field cropping as participants are finding applying the principles from gardening into their

fields a difficult task. They requested assistance with this.

oParticipants are making small intensive gardens to accommodate for the lack of water.

oSome participants have attempted to manage their microclimates, by making windbreaks

with grass and feedbags around their small gardens.

oThe shade cloth tunnels introduced show a huge potential to increase production and all

participants with tunnels are using them actively. They are selling small quantities of

produce form these tunnels.

oA few individuals have volunteered to build their own underground RWH storage tanks to

have access to water.

oIn Mametje learning group participants have formed small subgroups in their localities who

meet regularly to discuss issues, exchange ideas and ensure that they know how to

implement the new practices.

2. Do we have stories that show innovation or lack of innovation towards positive change? What

insights have we gained into how innovation can lead to positive change?(INCREASED RESILIENCE)

About 65% of participants have tried out some of the new innovationsintroduced and are able to

clearly articulate the potential benefits of these practices. For many however the cost of water

does not justify the outcomes of their gardening activities. They feel that what they produce does

help with food, but does not help them with increasing their incomes and they still spend more on

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 26

production than they make. Many of the older female participants believe that having fresh food

available locally outweighs the cost issues and will continue to try and improve their gardening to

be able to make a small income from this. For the younger participants- their feeling is more that

they are not even prepared to try unless it looks like they will make reasonable amounts of

money.

3. Do we have stories that show evidence of, or an interest in self organisation towards collective

action? What insights have we gained into how self organisation can lead to collective action?

Local facilitators are already playing an important role in bringing people together and providing

for collective action, albeit on the level of working in the gardens. They are dealing with conflict

in the groups and supporting individuals in their implementation. They are coordinating some

collective action in the villages. New members have been joining in the last three months in most

of the villages and in a few groups are meeting by themselves to learn and implement together.

4. Do we have stories to show that learning together is happening or that there is an interest in

learning together? What insights have wegained about how to learn together?

The LFs who have grasped the concept to learning with the participants and working with

experimentation as an idea to promote implementation have been very successful –notable

Sedawa, Mametje and Botshabelo. Those who have worked within a model of being in charge of

the groups and ‘ensuring’ that they do the right thing have in fact seen their groups dwindle to

almost nothing- Willows, The Oaks and Lepelle.

Participants feel that learning in the groups vastly outweighs what they can learn on their own and

have set up ways in which they work together. They also feel however that the LFs may not know

enough about these new techniques and still value the input of the facilitation team higher than

that of the LFs.

5. Do we have stories of how we and or others are able to think systemically? What insights have we

gained?

The DICLAD workshops have pointed to a remarkable capacity in the community members to make

the linkages and realise the larger impacts of actions. It is however hard for them to translate this

into ideas about how collective action can change the systemic interactions- or more precisely

they do not feel that they can work together on these issues without assistance from the outside.

6. Do we have stories of how we and or others are able to be inclusive and democratic? What

insights have we gained about how this can be achieved? (STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT).

Some advances have been made in stakeholder interaction in working with other NGOs active in

the area towards working together and limited sharing of implementation budgets. Cementing the

process around climate change and adaptation has assisted stakeholders to more clearly

understand the needs for this cooperation. Lima RDF has agreed to share the learning and training

processes and to augment the process where they have specific strengths. They have agreed to be

party to the CC adaptation approach and to frame their interventions and discussions in this way

and also to support beneficiaries with small grants for provision of more tunnels and drip kits.

4.4.3Work Plan for 2018.

Continuation of activities depends largely on a renewal contract into 2018. Limited activity is possible

from a different grant within MDF under the auspices of the Water Research Commission:

1. Negotiation for continuation of the process through AWARD for the coming year

2. Negotiation of a partnership with the WRC project on community level adaptation to ensure

continuation and co-funding of the process going forward (2-3 years) –albeit on a much reduced

level of implementation

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 27

3. Collaboration with Lima RDFin combining activities across the two programmes-their food

security and small business initiative and AgriSI. Training of facilitators in climate sensitive

facilitation and implementation of best options for good practices will be undertaken.

4. Continuation of garden monitoring and support for Local Facilitatorsand learning groups

5. Introduction of new facets such a VSLAs (Village Savings and Loan Associations) and small

livestock production activities

6. Introduction of fodder production and management options for livestock.

7. Limited support for afocus on fruit tree production, notably in Lepelle and Willows where

participants have requested trees.

8. Monitoring processes are to be put in place for management of the tunnels constructed and also

the 3 underground RWH tanks, alongside continued garden monitoring processes. Quantitative

measurements are to be undertaken to assess water productivity of some of the CSA practices

9. Village level cross visits for all participants to explore and interrogate the options for tunnels

and RWH storage, as well as other innovations introduced.

10. Use of participatory video as a tool to build agency in the villagesfor CCA activities and

communicate successes and issues with relevant stakeholders

4.5Other activities

The second round of DICLDA workshops were conducted between 24-26 October 2017. The participants

groups were: Botshabelo (13), Oaks, Finalie, Lepelle (23) and Sedawa, Mametje, Willows (36)

A summary report for these activities is provided below in Appendix 1(7.1).

5Overall Progress of Project

5.1Integration of milestone status.

The table below indicates overall completion of activities according to milestones. Activitiesare all well on

track for completion in December 2017

Table 6: Milestone target completion October-December 2017.

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 28

5.2Project risk and mitigation summary.

5.2.1Implementation risks and mitigation

•Stability and continuity of learning groups: It is clear now that the local facilitators have had a

major impact on the learning groups; in some cases they have grown substantially and interest has

increased and in other they have dwindled quitedramatically. This was unforeseen as the

intention of the LFs was more to assist individual gardeners with their implementation and do

garden monitoring. A strategy has been put in place to manage the impact of the LFs on the

groups. In some villages another process of expansion of groups is required. This will be managed

MAHLATHINI

MILESTONE COMPLETION: target completion to date % (in black) vs actual (in red)

Key activities /

Milestones

MILESTONE

MILESTONE 4

MILESTONE 5

MILESTONE 6

MILESTONE 7

Inception report

100% /

100%

Setting the

scene

67% / 65%

100% / 80%

100% / 90%

100% / 100%

less

coverage,

villages

visioning +

final LFs

outstanding

Some

visioning + 2

LFs

outstanding

LF selection

and training

complete.

Additional

visioning in

Lepelle

Learning and

mentoring

10% / 15%

30%/ 40%

50%/65%

70%/85%

90%/95%

100%/100%

6 villages

not 4

6 villages

Some

garden mon

+ LF

outstanding

6 villages;

continuation

with learning

schedule;

LFs elected

in 3 villages

6 villages;

continuation

with learning

schedule; soil

fertility and

P&d control.

Mentoring and

garden

monitoring by

LFs

6 villages;

review

learning

sessions

including

tower

gardens P&D

control and

6 villages;

planning for

coming

season,

introduction

of specialist

topics

requested

Experimentation

& intro to

innovations

25%

25% / 50%

50%/75%

75%/85%

90%/90%

100%/100%

for all 6

villages

6 villages

not 4

6 villages

For all 6

villages

For all 6

villages

For all 6

villages

Collaborative

work

25%/40%

6 villages:

Introduction

to drip kits

and tunnels;

3 villages

RWH and

erosion

control

options

50%/65%

6 villages;

tunnels, drip

kits,

greywater

management,

RWH and

erosion

control

options

75%/100%

10 tunnels

with drip

kits

constructed,

underground

RWH tanks

(24m3)

constructed

100%/100%

Networking and

cross visits

25%/25%

cluster based

workshop in

good farming

practices

50%/50%

Open day:

cross visit of

all learning

groups. World

biodiversity

day workshop

75%/75%

LF visits to

other

villages, 2

DICLAD

workshops

100%/100%

3 DICLAD (2)

workshops,

introduction

of new

learning

group

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 29

through the facilitation team and minimising the influcne of the LFS. In the other cases, where

positive change has been noted, LFs will be supported to expand their work

•Extreme water shortages brought about by the continued dry and hot conditions and further

collapse of some of the municipal water provision schemes has put extreme pressure on

productive activities. In cases where participants now have to buy water, they have not been able

to afford buying of water for gardening, only household necessities. An increased focus on

greywater use and management will provide a small ambit of relief. In addition the focus on RWH

storage and also on water conservation has shown to be advantageousfor those individuals who

have some access to water. The larger issues of water supply in these villages through government

processes are however outside of the scope of this project

•High levels of poverty and food insecurity in the villages have made the introduction of self

motivated action a challenge. There is a huge cry for external support from community members.

Many lose interest the moment they realise that free inputs are not forthcoming. In this social

climate the response from the individuals in the learning groups has been remarkable and a

number of participants have taken on the challenge of improving their lives even under these

difficult circumstances. They are to be commended for their courage and hard work.

5.2.2Financial risks and mitigation

6Conclusion and Recommendations

In conclusion, the project is on track to fulfil all deliverable requirements and also to be able to continue

and expand into the future.

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

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7 Appendices

7.1Appendix 1: DICLAD Modules 2 & 3with AgriSI

stakeholders in the Lower Olifants 24th to 26th Oct 2017

OVERALLPURPOSE

To build climate change literacy among stakeholders with regards to climate change adaptation options

related to small scale agriculture.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

•Re-enforced understanding of climate change impactspertaining to small scale farming in the

Lower Olifants.

•Identification of tenable adaptation options to some of these impacts, particularly those that can

be further supported through the AgriSI project and other RESILIM-O projects.

7.1.1 Participants

Botshabelo (13)

Oaks, Finalie, Lepelle (23)

Sedawa, Mametje, Willows (36)

7.1.2Recap of concepts covered in DICLAD Module 1

Participants were walked through the concepts covered in the 1st Module

Climate change concepts were expressed using temperature and rainfall seasonality charts. Concepts can

be summarised as:

•Increased temperatures throughout the year- high certainty

•Overall similar amount of rainfall but over a shorter period of time and more variability (intense

rainfall events –storms, floods, droughts) –less certainty.

Participants also went through the five fingers concepts of themes for good agricultural practices and

examples of practices for each theme were elucidated. Examples given were:

Water management: diversion furrows, contour ditches, greywater management, small dams, drip

irrigation, stone lines, garden beds

Control soil movement: reducing run-off, furrows and ridges and planting on ridges (aloes, sweet potatoes)

Soil health/fertility management: trench beds, eco-circles

Crop management: mixed cropping, mulching, shade for crops, natural pest control, increased organic

matter, close spacing, tunnels

Indigenous plants: less burning, planting and propagation of indigenous trees, multipurpose plants

(windbreaks, fruit, medicine), careful cutting/ pruning for firewood, rather than chopping down whole

trees,

At Botshabelo, the workshop was held at the Local facilitator’s home (Meriam Makgoba) and thus we could

do a walk through the garden to review some the practices. This added to the examples participants were

giving.

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

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Above left to right: Tunnel with mixed cropping in beds for water soil health and crop management;

tower garden for greywater management, soil fertility and mixed cropping; Diversion furrow with sweet

potatoes, planted on ridges and bananas and paw-paws planted in the furrow for water management and

soil erosion control; and an eco-circle with mulching planted to herbs for water management, soil

fertility and pest control. Herbs include lemons balm, parsley, mint, rosemary and thyme.

Left: Inlet furrow, silt trap (where Ancois and Sylvester are standing) and

underground RWH tank –circular structure with roof.

One of the main points that came form discussing these CSA practices is

that most of them cover a number of the fiver fingers e.g.:

Underground RWH tanks; deal with water management and soil erosion

control

Tunnels: deal with water management by reducing evaporation and

temperatures as well as increasing soil water holding capacity, with erosion

control by having paths laid out on contour and deep organic beds, with soil

fertility through the trench beds and with crop management through

providing windbreaks, pest control.

Tower gardens:deal with water management, soil fertility and crop

management (mixed cropping, intensive planting, pest control)

Furrows and ridges with cross ties: Should also have mulching. Deals with

water management by increasing infiltration and reducing run-off, soil erosion control and soil fertility-

through incorporating organic matter in the ridges, and adding manure, leaves and mulch to both ridges

and furrows.

Participants were then divided into small groups to continue with strengthening their understanding of

impact of climate change and to begin to outline potential adaptations that could be implemented.

Activities in small groups:

•Outline impacts

•Choose goals (around 5) of priority changes or adaptation strategies

•Then look at actions/practices to achieve these goals and for those ones we have already tried

think about how well they have worked

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 32

7.1.3Outlining impacts

Here cards were used from the mind maps created in the first

workshop and the small groups briefly reconstructed a mind

map, discussing in detail the potential linkages and

importance of the issues

Right: A mind map of CC issues reconstructed by one of the

small groups from Okas, Finale and Lepelle.

Water is the over -riding constraint in all cases. Although all

participants save some rainwater,mostly in 210l drums or

large basins, they feel this is not nearly enough and it doesn’t

last long. In all three sessions the participants felt that

storage of large quantities of rainwater was about their only

option for having a reliable supply of water, especially if

rainfall decreases further. Municipal systems are unreliable

and intermittent at best and individual boreholes are too expensive for most and there are already cases

of boreholes drying out or salinizing. Greywater is used extensively, butnot all participants were aware of

options for ‘cleaning’ greywater prior to use.

Some mention was made also of community members working together and working more cooperatively

with Municipalities to increase the efficiency of water supply in their villages. Examples include:

SUGGESTIONS:

1. Discussions were held also about improving spring protection in the mountains, that people rely

on, as a matter of priority –making small dams with pipes for gravity fed systems, exclusion of

livestock and making proper livestock watering facilities.

2. A major priority is rainwater harvesting. Present options give too little water and are expensive

(basins, drums, Jojo’s..)

3. Using the underground RWH storage tanks, or Jo-Jo tanks, to store water provided by

municipalities, to allow for intermittent provision. Also storage of water collected by hand form

the river

4. Participants felt that they had no way to access water from the river. They did not seem aware

that they could in fact not be allowed to, but were talking more about pumps and pipes.

5. In Sedawa however , participants suggested committees need to be formed to work with

allocation of water from the river ( a smaller riverbed- dry for most of the year but with water

access in the sand y riverbed) and also the municipality.

6. Some groups discussed natural resource management in conjunction with the water management –

judicious cutting of trees, saving of riverine vegetation, preventing veld fires and communal

management of water infrastructure. They felt that the K2C facilitators could also assist in this

process along with traditional structures linked to the learning groups

7. Tunnels featured centrally as helping a lot, as did trench beds and mulching.

7.1.4Botshabelo CSA practices

ACTION

CONSTRAINTS

HAS IT WORKED

FUTURE; NEXT STEPS

GOAL: Improve water use efficiency and increase access to water

Grey water

White soap build

up on soil level,

crusting

Yes; works well with

trees, but not

tomatoes and ibece,

where the plants

-More grey water management

practices like loosening soil,

tower gardens

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 33

become more prone to

diseases

Experiment with different

kinds of soaps and their effect

on plants

-try out moringa seed to clean

water

Mulching

If it’s too dry

mulching doesn’t

work

Hard to find

enough material

Yes; retains soil

moisture and crops

look better

-Infiltration pits,

-Making compost

RWH :

Underground

tanks

Not done: lots of

labour

Expensive

Yes (for few

demonstrations). Now

it is possible to use

multiple sources of

water for the tank –

rain, river and

municipal)

-We should save towards these

tanks and maybe implement in

a step by step way over time to

make them more affordable

-On slopes can have gravity fed

systems that can also irrigate

by gravity

-Allows for planning for off

season when there is no rain

RWH: 201l

drums, basins

Yes; but the water is

little and does not last

long

Spring

protection

Yes, but only few

individuals and limited

attempts

-Need to store a bit of water at

the springs to feed the pipes

-Need water and social

management structures to deal

with pipes and taps and rules

Boreholes

Too expensive

Yes-some ‘richer’

individuals- but some

are drying up and

water yield is

sometimes too low to

justify costs

Not an individual homestead

solution

Farm smaller

areas

Yes; participants

adapt the size of land

they use to the

amount of water they

are likely to have

available.

GOAL: decrease dry, hot soil

Trench beds

Hard to find

enough organic

matter

Yes, many have tried

this. Provides for

excellent growth of

crops and very good

moisture retention,

-Planning to do more trenches

-Collect the materials when

they are available to pack the

trenches later

Tower gardens

Need shade cloth

and many

participants still

unaware of this

process

Yes; good growth,

good use of greywater

and easy to do

Buy a big roll of shade cloth

together to make it cheaper-

making the net available will

allow for participants to try

this out.

Tunnels/shade

cloth structures

Some participants

have dug the

trenches as

requested

(3x5x1m) but have

not received the

tunnel kits

Yes; work very well

for crop growth,

cooling of soil, water

retention,

windbreaks, and pest

control

-supply more kits as promised

-participants can save together

to buy the kits which are quite

cheap

-Train each other in how to

construct as there are small

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 34

teams in each village who know

how

-Perhaps set up a system where

participants contribute 50% of

finances and MDF or support

organisation contributes the

other 50%

Soil fertility

Yes; increase organic

matter, trenches,

tower gardens,

furrows and ridges,

using more manure

Continue with soil fertility

improvement

GOAL: Improve crop productivity

Growing trees

for shade

Yes; a few

participants

Plan for afternoon shade as

temperatures increase

Liquid manure

Most participants

are somehow

unaware of the

liquid manure.

Thought you could

not do it without

bananas

Drought

tolerant crops

Indigenous fruit

trees take too long

to fruit and are no

longer eaten on a

daily basis

Mangos are more

heat tolerant but

need to be well

fenced-

Yes; tried the bird

resistant sorghum and

millet in the CA plots-

worked well and

participants harvested

seed. Indigenous crops

and trees such as

Marula work well

Plant mangos in furrows to

ensure enough water supply as

it gets hotter

Want more seed of bird

resistant sorghum and millet

Pest control;

traditional

practices (apply

powder of dried

insects), natural

pest control

brews, pest

repellent plants

and mixed

cropping

Yes- traditional

practices work

adequately

Marigolds are pretty

and work against

nematodes and wilting

problems in

vegetables

With mixed cropping

see fewer pests and

fewer holes in spinach

plants for example

Continue with traditional

practices

Increased mixed cropping

Using natural pest control

brews in the tunnels –this is

enough do not need chemicals.

7.1.5Lepelle, Oaks and Finale CSA practices

ACTION

CONSTRAINTS

HAS IT WORKED

FUTURE; NEXT STEPS

GOAL: Improve water use efficiency and increase access to water

RWH : Jo-jo’s,

210ldrums,

basins

Building bigger

concrete tanks-

Not done: lots of

labour

Expensive

Yes; short time, too

little water

Find types of tanks that use

local labour for construction to

make it cheaper

Store more water

Find partners to assist

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 35

Mulching

Yes; doesn’t work

when it’s too hot –

still need water to

break down the mulch

Methods of incorporation of

organic matter into soil may

work better than mulch

Greywater; drip

kits, ash

Yes; but not on food

crops. Helps with

pests in the soil

Bucket filter clogs up

over time

-Methods for cleaning

greywater

Spring

protection

Not for access for

everyone- used for

religious purposes

N/A

Boreholes;

communal and

home

Too expensive

Irrigation water in

Finale is salty. In

Lepelle water quality

is good

This is an expensive option, but

is easy and reliable

Information about how to deal

with borehole water of bad

quality for irrigation

Minimum tillage

Plough smaller and

manageable areas

It works well, it saves

water, but might not

work without some

shading –plants still

wilt at some point

Timing, tunnels, decisions to

be made by observation

GOAL: soil management

Increase organic

matter;

incorporate

leaves, crops,

ash, manure

Trench beds

Yes, but will want to

see also how these

perform under optimal

conditions

Set up these with drip

irrigation

Erosion control;

contour bunds,

diversion

furrows

Yes; requires regular

maintenance-

sometimes they get

blocked

Combine this with some of the

water and crop management

techniques

GOAL: Livestock/ grazing management

Reduce

livestock

numbers and

plant fodder

We are going to

need water

Planting fodder works

well under irrigation -

good idea as it feeds

both animals and

people

Find ways to harvest the seed

of the fodder species so as to

plant again

The fodder radish is good for

people (morogo) and animals-

grows quickly can be a good

idea.

GOAL: Improve crop productivity

Mixed cropping-

vegetables and

herbs

Yes, fewer pests

where mixed cropping

was tried

Heat tolerant crops:

parsley, millet,

watermelon,

butternut, different

types of greens- e.g.

the kale introduced

Bird resistant sorghum

quite good.

Find better ways (and more) to

do mixed cropping

Do experiments with different

heat tolerant crops to check

Cross visits to other learning

groups to see what they have

planted and what is possible

Three plantings per year of

different greens to have

continuity in production

Pest control;

traditional

practices (apply

powder of dried

Do not have access

to the plants; chilli

and garlic

Yes- only a few people

tried, but for those it

worked well

Learn more pest control

remedies

Continue with traditional

practices

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 36

insects), natural

pest control

brews, pest

repellent plants

Increased mixed cropping

Using natural pest control

brews in the tunnels –this is

enough do not need chemicals.

This exercise was followed by doing an “Impact matrix “ where we asked the question “How do you

decide whether a practices is working, what criteria do you use? And then discussed the overall question

of how well did these practices work using those criteria.

Summary of criteria from the three workshops

Botshabelo

Oaks, Finale, Lepelle

Sedawa

Water efficient

Good water management

Increased soil fertility/

organic matter

Better soil fertility

Better growth/health of crops

Better growth

Increased yield

More food

Cheap

Easy/labour efficient

Easy to do

Knowledge

Oaks, Finale, Lepelle: Impact of CSA practices

SCALE: 1=low; 2 = medium, 3= high (agreement between participants)

CRITERIA

PRACTICES

Eas

y to

Mor

food

Better

growt

Good

water

man

Better

soil

fertilit

Scor

Rank

COMMENTS

trench beds

Very good for growth,

soil health and water

management.The best

practice- but difficult

to dig

mulching

Less irrigation

providing more food

furrows

more moisture, better

growth, carries some

fertility in the water

rock bunds

deep irrigation,

catches more fertile

soil

adding

organic

matter to

the soil

easier than trench beds

Crop

varieties

we do not have the

knowledge-but will be

easy once we know

Planting

times

would be nice to have

a calendar to

remember.

Participants commented on the scores and ranking and suggested that these could be used to decide what

practices to start with –such as mulching, adding organic matter to the soil as the quickest and easiest,

then moving on to rock bund, furrows and trench beds, and so on.

7.1.6Sedawa CSA practices

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 37

ACTION

CONSTRAINTS

HAS IT WORKED

FUTURE; NEXT STEPS

GOAL: Improve water use efficiency and increase access to water

RWH : Jo-jo’s,

210l drums,

basins, small

dams,

underground

tanks

Jojos are easy but

expensive –in

digging for dams

labour does not

cost so that could

help

Increases

mosquitos

Yes; Small dams have

been dug by few- if

not lined they lose a

lot of water.

Water in Jojo only

lasts about 1 month-

so it is not enough for

gardening

Plan to do roof structures and

gutters properly

If we do joint saving we can

work together to buy Jojos

There are some challenges

with savings groups, but we are

used to them from burial

societies etc

We can harvest water form the

road for the underground tanks

Keep riverine

vegetation

People are still

chopping down

trees next to the

river for firewood

There is knowledge

about pruning trees

rather than chopping

whole trees

Need to work with traditional

authority to ensure we keep

riverine vegetation

Prevent veld

fires

Can work with the traditional

authorities and spread the

word through our learning

groups

Infiltration

pits/areas/

reconstructing

wetlands

We can get some

reeds form other

wetlands to get the

process going

These are joint activities

through community meetings-

but there is now more cohesion

through the learning groups, so

it can be possible

Water

infrastructure

management

Would like to set up an

awareness campaign in the

area, so that all community

members take care of

infrastructure

Planting in

beds with

Mulching

Trench beds

Yes; reduces watering

form every day to

every 2-3 days.

Contributes also to

soil fertility, carrots

grow nice and straight

Provide shade for these beds –

potentially using maize stover

to keep them cool.

Greywater; drip

kits, ash

No- more a

supplementary

activity when there

is no other water

Yes; works at

household level in

gardens if you use ash

to clear the water.

The ash residue with

soap then goes into

the toilet to reduce

smells

-Impact not that great, but

worth doing.

Irrigation

methods

Timing- am or pm to

save water

This is a standard practice

GOAL: soil management

Increase organic

matter;

incorporate

leaves, crops,

ash, manure

Trench beds,

eco-circles

Yes, The new bed

types hold water for a

very long time if you

can start by saturating

them. Eco-circles are

easier than trench

beds and work just as

well

Plan for continuity in different

circumstances

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 38

Erosion control;

stone lines

contours,

diversion

furrows

No- not aware of

line levels and how

to measure

contours

Yes; plant just below

the stone lines or

furrows as there is

more water and

fertility there.

Diversion furrows are

good, but difficult to

dig.

-If you add infiltration pits

below the stone lines it works

very well –can plant in that.

-It is easier to make furrows

and ridges in the garden than

diversion ditches

-Continue with improved

furrows and ridges- on contour,

with mulching and planting

various crops.

GOAL: Crop management

Trees in the

garden

Yes –afternoon shade

is important

Close spacing –

linked to

minimum tillage

(CA)

No- not many

participants are

aware yet of this

option

Yes; close spacing in

field crops gives quick

canopy cover –cooler

and wetter, it also

helps with erosions

control and there is

still enough air

movement

Include bird resistant sorghum

and millet as good harvests can

be realised from these drought

resistant crops. Cowpeas can

be harvested twice in a seons.

7.1.7 Learnings

These are summarised in point form below:

-Planting trees for shading crops

-Some trees help with pest control

-We are realizing how most of the things MDF has covered fits into CCA-for example the tunnels

-Some of the practices such as mixed cropping are good; one can see the results you are working

towards

-There are good ideas in terms of practices for CC and extreme temperatures- but it is not enough

-We learnt about heat tolerant crops from each other, and also when to plant.

-We learnt about promoting pest predators- lizard hotel

-We learnt about the erosion control furrows and what to plant now

-We learnt about planning according to quick wins (from the matrix that was done)

-Water saving techniques –including tower gardens

-Harvesting water from the road using diversion ditches

-Garden refuse as mulch rather than burning it

7.1.8Future CC actions

-More focus on access to water (all three workshops)

-More CSA techniques and deepening the implementation of the present ones(in all three

workshops)

-Tunnels and trench beds have worked particularly well (All three workshops)

-Can grow the dryland crops in summer, but need water in winter for vegetable production

-Can try layers; but cost of feed is an issue and access to clean water. Sunflowers and sorghum can

be grown for the chickens. Indigenous chickens are no longer kept - as they are not very

productive and destroy crops

-For broilers there are already a number of projects in the area, but can still do this competitively

–can do chicken pieces as a value add.

-Need also to deal with livestock - the effects of CC on livestock production

-We shouldn’t end here. We tried these ideas under the worst situations (drought) –they may do a

lot better now in a better year

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 39

-One of the highlights has been the cost-benefit analysis in our learning sessions; where more

inputs could mean a much better yield- rather than low inputs and low yields.

-Savings can be introduced

-Planting calendars: CC based crop choice calendars(all three workshops)

--Make a committee to continue to explore options for spring protection and efficient management

of water from them.

-Need now to implement the improved erosion control measures that have been introduced.

-Once water is sorted there needs to be more focus on commercial production

-Bulk buying for Jojo tanks- MDF to find potential discount options

-Bring DRD representatives on board with the NGOs already working in these areas (Sedawa)to see

if more things can be brought.

-Also work with the municipality –improve the relationship with the councillors and then set up a

joint strategy with community and NGOs working together

-NGOs must make sure they keep their promises as community members cannot trust them

otherwise

-NGOs need to take more care to help support local produce when catering and also local caterers.

7.1.9Planning for DICLAD-AgriSI Module 3 (2018)

•The following themes were suggested for Module 3.

oPlanting calendars, and how climate change could change these (e.g. should we stop growing

maize or look at ways to assist the growth of maize?)

oIntroducing new varieties of crops that are more resilient to the expected impacts of climate

change

oConsider the option of livestock grazing –although this would require a long-term intervention

oConsider the option of poultry production

•We should include in the design of the process the farmers’ own knowledge, namely, changes that they

have observed that confirm the reports from the scientists. Information is needed from both sides.

•The following questions were raised which will determine the framing of the project within climate

change.

oWe need to consider the following two focus points to guide our activities for 2018.

How is climate change changing what we can do, i.e. what options / alternatives we have?

versus

How is climate change impacting what we are currentlydoing, i.e. vegetable gardening?

oSpecifically for DICLAD, we need to consider its role.

Is DICLAD used for integration? Then, how can we use it to integrate the science into what we

are doing?

Are we using DICLAD as a “planning tool”?

oOverall, we (DICLAD team, AgriSI project manager and Mahlathini) will have to engage in further

discussions to clarify the roles and responsibilities of each entity. For example, it was proposed

for Mahlathini to focus on implementation at the local level, for the DICLAD team to open up

conversations with climate change as the focus point, and for the AgriSI Manager to take on an

oversight role and link these two. This still requires further discussion.

•It was proposed to develop learning materials on climate change for farmers –something tangible we

can give them. DICLAD has an allocated budget for this. We can consider developing a process next year

to design such materials with inputs from the farming communities. The process should be fun and in

their preferred local language.

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 40

•There was some discussion questioning the usefulness of providing planting calendars to farmers, as

these often just re-affirm what they already know. Perhaps the real question is how climate change

could impact these planting seasons, and then the repercussion for planning. Also, we need to ask what

do farmers exactly mean when they ask for calendars. Would farmers still plant high value crops even

when conditions become too unsuitable? What approach should we follow when farmers for example

choose to grow irrigated GMO maize which has short-term benefits but in the long-term has challenges

with high heat and limited water resources?

•We also discussed the usefulness of sharing technical information on maps related toclimate change,

e.g. shifts in the geographical areas where maize can be planted. Seasonal forecasts can also be

considered, but these are more relevant for dry-land crops and not vegetable gardens (which always

require water).

•We must encourage and improve information sharing within the clusters. (Reference here was made to

the use of bird-resistant millet seed which Mahlathini introduced.)

•We can start by introducing drought-resistant crops. (Mahlathini hasused a round-robin process in

previous projects to introduce seeds for fruit, vegetables and medicinal plants.)

•We also need to create awareness of resource management at the landscape level, e.g. considering our

rivers and trees. This would require the involvement of local Indunas.

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 41

7.2Appendix 2: Garden Monitoring narrative report; April-

November 2017

A total of 101 garden monitoring forms were completed and analysed from across 6 villages in Mametja

(Botshabelo, Lepelle, Oaks, Finale, Willows, Sedawa/MabinsA) by the Local Facilitators since April-

November 2017.

An analysis of the garden monitoring forms was conducted according to the number of participants who

have implemented various practices; including local good practices, new interventions (new ideas around

gardening and S&WC introduced through learning sessions), new innovations (such as tunnels, drip kits and

underground RWH storage tanks) and those who have done farmer experiments. Furthermore, an analysis

was done according to the five finger principles that is inclusive of water management, soil management,

crop management, soil health and, indigenous plants. Each practice is rated according to the traffic lights;

green

, yellow

, and red

as to how the participants have gone about implementing the introduced

practices.

Figure 1 implementation of new ideas and innovation Figure 2 implementation of local good practices

The diagram above illustrates the percentages of participants who have implemented different practices

within their homestead gardens, as well as the percentage of local good practices being implemented.

Among the new ideas and innovative practices implemented between April and November, from the 100

participants, the majority (76%) of participants made trench beds, followed by mulching, planting from

seed and production of seedling at 72%. Individual experiments were undertaken by 61% of the

participants. However, some practices were not implemented by that many participants; eco circles (9%),

liquid manure (12%), tunnels (12%), bucket filter (13%), drip kit, and CA (16%) were the least (below 20%)

implemented practices.

Green traffic light indicates that the participant has engaged and implemented the practice and is doing well with it.

Yellow traffic light indicates that the participant has tried in implementing the practice but is still not doing well with

it.

Red traffic light indicates that the participant has not implemented the practice.

Cut off drains/diversion…

Contours, line levels

Stone bunds

Trench beds

Eco circles

Mixed cropping

Seed and seedlings

Mulching

Liquid manure

Nat P&D control

Bucket filters/ drip kits

Tunnel

RWH storage

Experimentation

% Implementation of New

ideas and innovations April-

Nov 2017 (N=100)

Furrows and ridges

Multipurpose…

Legumes

RWH

Grey water use

Nursery

Seed saving

Farming income (ave…

Food (x/wk)

% Implementation of local

good practices April-Nov

2017. N=100

Average Participants

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 42

Local good practices are being implemented by a somewhat smaller number of participants than the new

innovations introduced; Seed saving (68%), multipurpose plants (66%), greywater use (37%), planting of

legumes (39%) and small nurseries (37%). On average the participants would eat 2 types of vegetables

twice a week from their gardens and 46% of participants make a small income from their produce.

Below an analysis is provided of the specific practices within principles of good management (the five

fingers), for each village and learning group. Variations exist in the villages for implementation and

uptake of different practices.

Figure 3 percentage of participants in Botshabeloadopted practices, rated in traffic lights

7.2.1 Botshabelo

In Botshabelo 90% of the introduced practices were implemented by the participants. Reported as a green

traffic light, 90% (9 of 10) participants have good infiltration and less run-off with no crusting, and 50% of

the participants use organic matter. All participants harvest rain water and store in 210 litre drums, this is

a very popular and well adapted practice that has always been used in the village. However only 10% (1 of

10) participants have drip irrigation, this is because the drip irrigation is a now technology not so many

participants are familiar with it, they use buckets to irrigate their gardens. Indigenous plants and fruits

are very much popular in Botshabelo as majority of the participants have; they also serve as medicinal

plants. Nine of the participants (90%) have stone lines and 3 (30%) made contours/diversion ditches to

control soil and water movement during erosion. None (100% on red traffic light) of the participants

reported to have bee fodder as their pest and control disease species; however they make use of the

natural pest and control disease remedies such as crushed aloe, onion, black jack and sunlight bar in

water. See figure 1 above for more detailed information.

100

40 10

20 80

60 0

10 10 20

50 40

100

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

inflitration/run off/crusting

greywater

RWH storage

Mulching

Drip irrigation

Contours/Diversion ditches

stonelines

furrows

Bed design/trench beds

compost/improved manure

Mixed cropping

Crop rotation

seed saving

nursery/propagation

continuity seedling

Natural P&D control

Indigenous or medicinal plants

Indigenous fruit

windbreaks,hedges

Bee fodder, P&D control species

Water ManagementSoil MovementSoil

Health

Crop ManagementIndigenous Plants

Botshabelo (N=10)

% Red

%Yellow

% Green

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 43

Figure 4 percentage of participants in Lepelleadopted practices, rated in traffic lights

7.2.2 Lepelle

Implementation of practices in Lepelle are indicated to be much lower than in Botshabelo. In managing

their water, 88% of the participants have good infiltration as they’ve made use of stone lines (50%),

furrows (73%) and banana circles to control erosion. Around 58% of participants use organic matter, trench

beds (50%), legumes and plant residues to improve soil fertility (58%), and crop rotation (85%).

Due to the availability of water supply inthe Lepelle area majority of the participants do not make use of

grey water and do not see the importance of storing rain water. 85% of the participants use buckets and

pipes to irrigate because they are not so familiar with the new technology of using drip irrigation.

Participants often save seeds and buy others hence why 73% reported more yellow meaning they try to

save seed, 65% (17 of the 26 participants) reported red which means they are not engaged in seed saving

and seedling production.

12 27 42

38 50

50 58 42

19 27 15 31 42 31

50 31

50 23

42 35

46 58

23 27 15 12 27

48 8

15 8

50 65

12 12

100

120

inflitration/run off/crusting

greywater

RWH storage

Mulching

Drip irrigation

Contours/Diversion ditches

stonelines

furrows

Bed design/trench beds

compost/improved manure

Mixed cropping

Crop rotation

seed saving

nursery/propagation

continuity seedling

Natural P&D control

Indigenous or medicinal plants

Indigenous fruit

windbreaks,hedges

Bee fodder, P&D control species

Water ManagementSoil MovementSoil

Health

Crop ManagementIndigenous Plants

Lepelle (N=26)

% Red

%Yellow

% Green

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 44

Figure 5 percentage of participants in Oaks/Finaleadopted practices, rated in traffic lights

7.2.3 Oaks/Finale

In the Oaks and Finale village, only 5 of the 11 participants have adapted the practices introduced to

them, this is illustrated by the green on the above diagram. Due to the water shortage in the area 73% of

the participants practice rain water harvesting. The leading practices reported on the green are; the

management of indigenous plants (73%), trench beds (64%), crop rotation (64%), infiltration and furrows

(both reported at 55% on green) implemented by 55% of the participants. Mulching, improved manure,

seed saving, and indigenous/medicinal plants are all fairly implemented by 45% of the participants and

have been reported on green.

91% of participants here do not use OM and around 9% have made some attempts to include organic matter

in the soil. The use of stone lines and planting of species for bee fodder and natural pest and disease

control are also low.

Implementation of practices such as mulching, trench beds, furrows and crop rotation is reasonable at

around 50-60%

55 64

27 36 36 45

055

0 0

27 27

55 64

73 64 64

100

120

inflitration/run off/crusting

greywater

RWH storage

Mulching

Drip irrigation

Contours/Diversion ditches

stonelines

furrows

Bed design/trench beds

compost/improved manure

Mixed cropping

Crop rotation

seed saving

nursery/propagation

continuity seedling

Natural P&D control

Indigenous or medicinal plants

Indigenous fruit

windbreaks,hedges

Bee fodder, P&D control species

Water ManagementSoil

Movement

Soil

Health

Crop ManagementIndigenous Plants

Oaks/Finale (N=11)

% Red

%Yellow

% Green

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 45

Figure 6 percentage of participants in Willowsadopted practices, rated in traffic lights

7.2.4 Willows

The chart for Willows for the 22 participants where monitoring was conducted shows a large overall

percentage of practices tried by participants. All participants have valued their indigenous medicinal

plants as 100% of them have reported as green, followed by the indigenous fruits at 91%. The practices

that more than 80% of the participants reported on green and have been implemented successfully in

Willows include; infiltration/ less run-off/ no-crusting (86%), rain water harvest storage (82%), stone lines

(86%), and windbreaks (86%). Those practices that 50% - 79% of participants reported on green include;

greywater use (68%), contours and diversion ditches (59%), trench beds (50%), improved manure (68%),

crop rotation (64%), seed saving (77%), nursery/ propagation (73%), and continuity seedling (77%).

When compared to the practices reported as red (73%) the bee fodder, P& D control species participants

are still new to the practice and have not implemented any bee fodders. As well the natural P&D control

were 59% of the participants reported as red, possibility because they do not have much pests and

diseases in their fields.

68 82

36 50

64 77 73 77

100 91 86

995

14 14 14

059

18 27

590

45 32

23 914 9

05 5

100

120

inflitration/run off/crusting

greywater

RWH storage

Mulching

Drip irrigation

Contours/Diversion ditches

stonelines

furrows

Bed design/trench beds

compost/improved manure

Mixed cropping

Crop rotation

seed saving

nursery/propagation

continuity seedling

Natural P&D control

Indigenous or medicinal plants

Indigenous fruit

windbreaks,hedges

Bee fodder, P&D control species

Water ManagementSoil

Movement

Soil

Health

Crop ManagementIndigenous Plants

Willows (N=22)

% Red

%Yellow

% Green

MILESTONE 7: FINAL REPORT

| 46

7.2.5 Sedawa

In Sedawa participation and engagement with the practices is much higher than all villages with 32

participants. Those practices that more than 50% of participants reported as green include; rain water

harvest storage (72%), mulching (50%), trench beds (53%), improved manure (69%), and indigenous fruits

(50%).

Those practices which a smaller percentage of participants have implemented 3-19% were reported on

yellow as an indication that they have tried, include; greywater (3%), furrows (6%), improved manure (9%),

drip irrigation (16%), indigenous/medicinal plants(16%), mulching (16%). Stone lines (19%),

nursery/propagation (19%), continuity seedling (19%), and bee fodder P&D control species (9%).

These charts provide an idea for each village of how participants see or judge their implementation of

practices. It is thus a qualitative indication of how well they think they are doing, rather than an

indication of overall implementation.

The value of these assessments lies in being able to pin point areas where further work and mentoring

could be required and where further support from the local facilitators may be useful.

41 41

41 53

41 38 38 44 31 34 25

34 28

25 22 28 19

19 13

25 31

66 53

25 22 34 41 34 38 50 53 59

28 38

100

120

inflitration/run off/crusting

greywater

RWH storage

Mulching

Drip irrigation

Contours/Diversion ditches

stonelines

furrows

Bed design/trench beds

compost/improved manure

Mixed cropping

Crop rotation

seed saving

nursery/propagation

continuity seedling

Natural P&D control

Indigenous or medicinal plants

Indigenous fruit

windbreaks,hedges

Bee fodder, P&D control species

Water ManagementSoil

Movement

Soil

Health

Crop ManagementIndigenous Plants

Sedawa/MabinsA(N=32)

% Red

%Yellow

% Green