An#overview#of#SKZN#and#Matatiele#
OUR#FOCUS#AREAS
•We#work#with#smallholder#farmers#in#SKZN#and#Matatiele#on#
community-based#climate#change#adaptation,#conservation#
agriculture,#natural#and#water#resource#management,#intensive#
homestead#food#production,#microfinance#support#(village#saving#
and#loan#associations-VSLA),#enterprise#development,#and#local#
markets.
!"##$%&'()*+,-.)/0&#+'-)/1+%2-)+.+3'+'&"%)
•In#these#areas#we#aim#in#
sustainable#agriculture#and#
integrated#resource#
management.
•Participants#work#in#village#
based#CRA#learning#groups#
to#implement#CbCCA#
practices.#
•Emphasis#on#CRA#practices#
is#at#a#household#level,#
aiming#to#improve#aspects#of#
crop#production,#livestock,#
natural#resource#
management,#soil#and#water#
management.
Southern#KwaZulu#Natal#(SKZN)#areas
•The#SKZN#area#covers#the#following#villages:
ØMariathal
ØNgongonini
ØCentocow
ØMahhehle#
•Majority#of#the#participants#are#females#between#the#ages#of#30#and#75#years.#
•Most#of#these#females#are#household#heads#depending#on#social#grants,#
remittances,#pensions#and#disability#grants.
•The#participants#are#smallholder#farmers#who#mainly#farm#for#household#
consumption#and#sell#their#surplus#locally.#
•Farming#practices#in#these#areas#include#crops#(beans,#maize,#amadumbe,#
sweet#potatoes,#potatoes,#vegetables)#and#livestock#(poultry,#goats,#pigs).
4%'-%,&5-)1"#-,'-+.)36".$/'&"%
•Intensive(homestead(
production(includes(
vegetable,(fruit(and(
livestock(production.
•Agroecological(practices(
include;(composting,(deep(
ad(shallow(trench(beds,(
mixed(cropping,(
mulching,(crop(
diversification,(natural(
pest(and(disease(control,(
grey(water(management.
•Microclimate(
management;(shade(cloth(
tunnels.
•Irrigation(practices;(
bucket(drip(irrigation.
Small%stock%production
•Learning(workshops(and(
experimentation:(breeds,(housing,(
feeding,(nutrition,(disease(
prevention(and(health.
•Poultry(management(workshops(and(
implementation.
!"%,-65+'&"%)726&/$0'$6-)
•Minimal'soil'disturbance'
•Diversified'cropping'
###-intercropping
###-mixed#cropping
###-crop#rotation
•Keeping'living'roots'in'the'
''''soil
###-late#season#cover#crops
•Organic'soil'cover'
###-cover#crops
###-crop#residues#and#mulching
•Integrate'livestock
8&/6"9:&%+%/-),$33"6');<=>7?
•Village#savings#and#loan#associations#
(VSLA)#aim#to#provide#farmers#with#
cash#flows#to#contribute#to#their#way#
of#living,#pay#off#loans,#assist#in#
establishing#small#businesses#and#
farming.
•The#VSLA’s#groups#are#established#to#
create#a#pool#of#money#locally#which#
participants#can#borrow#and#repay#at#
a#10%#interest#rate.
•Money#is#contributed#and#managed#
by#the#participants.
•The#groups#meet#once#a#month#to#
save#and#borrow,#share-out#is#done#
once#a#year#at#the#finish#of#their#
saving#cycle.
Village'savings'and'loan'associations'(VSLA)'GROUPS'IN'SKZN'
NO.
AREA
NAME OF
GROUP
N0. OF PEOPLE
START DATE
1.
Ngongonini
Masakhane
22
February 20**
2.
Ngongonini
Ikusasalethu
26
June 20**
3.
Ngongonini
Umnothowethu
30
February 2023
4.
Centocow
Sizaneno
13
May 2023
5.
Centocow
Sizakahle
13
May 2023
6.
Mahhehle
Qedindlala
26
February 2023
>"/+0)#+6@-',)
•Local&markets&are&aimed&at&strengthening&
the&local&economy&
•The&farmers&consume&food&first&at&home,&
and&sell&their&surplus.
•Marketing&options&include:&
•Farmgate&(selling&within&the&village);&small&
local&potential&with&low&income
•Local&market&stalls(selling&combines&the&
whole&village);&set&up&monthly&at&pension&
points,&or&near&taxi&ranks&to&sell&vegetables,&
fruit,&meat,&eggs,&craft&and&value-&added&
products.&There&is&a&much&larger&range&of&
products&and&a&high&income&potential.
•Bakkie&traders&(individuals&and&groups&in&
the&village)&selling&maize,&beans,&cabbages,&
potatoes&at&larger&quantities&
A%'-636&,-).-5-0"3#-%')
•CASE%STUDY%OF%SIMON%DLAMINI%:%
CENTOCOW%
•Unemployed.(Looking(after(his(wife,(
children(and(grandchild's
•1(ha,(mostly(under(maize,(beans,(potatoes,(
cabbages,(spinach,(mustard(spinach(and(
kale.
•Simon(is(past(growing(food(for(household(
consumption(and(is(now(concerned(with(
satisfying(his(market(with(his(local(villagers.
•He(supplies(the(St(Apollinaris(hospital(staff(
and(school(feeding(schemes.
•He(has(bakkie(traders,(local(street(vendors(
who(buy(cabbages,(potatoes,(spinach,(and(
maize(in(large(quantities.(Monthly(income(
R2000/month,
•He(has(5(boschvelder(hens(that(produce(30(
eggs(a(week(for(house(consumption(or(
selling(locally.(each(tray(of(30(eggs(is(sold(at(
R50.(
8+'+'&-0-)+6-+
•The(Matatiele(area(covers(the(following(villages:
ØNed
ØNchodu
ØRhashule
ØNkau
ØMzongwana
•80%(of(the(participants(are(females(between(the(ages(of(40(–(70.
•most(if(these(females(are(breadwinners(in(their(homesteads.
•Over&90%&have&no&formal&employment&and&depend&on&social&grants,&remittances,&
pensions&and&disability&grants.
•The&participants&are&smallholder&farmers&who&mainly&farm&for&household&consumption&
and&sell&their&surplus&locally.&
•Farming&practices&in&these&areas&include&crops&(beans,&maize,&potatoes,&turnip,&
pumpkins,&butternut,&&vegetables),fruit&(apricot,&peaches,&apples,&prickly&pear&cactus),&
and&livestock&(cattle,&poultry,&goats,&sheep,&pigs,&horses).
4%'-%,&5-)1"#-,'-+.)36".$/'&"%))
•Agroecology#practices#for#
long#term#food#security#:#
composting,#deep#trenches,#
mixed#cropping,#mulching,#
crop#diversification,#natural#
pest#and#disease#control.
•Microclimate#management;#
shade#cloth#tunnels.
•Grey#water#management:#
bucket#drip#kits,#tower#
gardens,#keyhole#beds.
=#+00),'"/@)36".$/'&"%
•Learning#workshops#and#
experimentation#on#small#stock#
and#livestock#production:#
supplementation,#nutrition,#
housing,#hygiene.
•Poultry#management#workshops#
and#implementation.#
>"/+0)#+6@-',)
•The&Ned&community&had&a&market&day&in&
January,&making&R584&on&the&day.&
•Matatiele&town&had&a&lot&of&competition&and&
time&of&arrival&to&the&stall&is&important&as&
cooking&mamas&and&fresh&produce&markets&
source&vegetables&early&in&the&morning.&
•Farmgate&(selling&within&the&village);&small&
local&potential&with&low&income
•Local&market&stalls(selling&combines&the&
whole&village);&set&up&monthly&at&pension&
points,&or&near&taxi&ranks&to&sell&vegetables,&
fruit,&meat,&eggs,&craft&and&value-&added&
products.&There&is&a&much&larger&range&of&
products&and&a&high&income&potential.
A%'-636&,-).-5-0"3#-%')
•CASE'STUDY'OF'MMAPHAFUDI'
JONAS:'NCHODU
•On#a#30m#x#20m#plot,#Mrs#Jonas#
plants#potatoes#and#sells#them#in#the#
village.#10kg#is#R85,#5kg#is#R45.#
•She#plants#and#sells#spinach#at#R15#a#
bunch#and#cabbage#at#R20#–R25#a#
head.#
•She#also#grows#broiler#chickens#and#
at#6#weeks#she#sells#them#at#R150#in#
the#village#and#to#cooking#mamas#in#
town.#Mrs#Jonas#makes#+/-#R7200#a#
month#from#the#broilers.#
•On#1ha#of#land#she#plants#soyabeans#
and#maize#for#her#cattle#and#sheep.