Solidarity practices during climate crises: Collaboratively
exploring opportunities with women agroecologists.
By Temakholo Mathebula
A CaseStudyoftheNatalMidlands
CLIMATE CHANGE
WHAT IS
CLIMATE
CHANGE?
CLIMATE CHANGE
•Shifting of the overall weather patterns due to
atmospheric changes brought on primarily by
human activity globally.
•For KZN interior these changes include
•Increased rainfall variability (later onset
of seasonal summer rains, increased incidence of
storms and hail, increased incidence of droughts
and dry spells)
•Increased temperature (average 2 °C increase in
minimum and maximumtemperatures, increase in
number of un-seasonally hot days, reduction in
winter snows and rainfall)
CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS
•Climate change is already impacting human health. Changes in
weather and climate patterns can put lives at risk. Heat is one of
the most deadly weather phenomena.
•As ocean temperatures rise, hurricanes are getting stronger and
wetter, which can cause direct and indirect deaths.
•Dry conditions lead to more wildfires, which bring manyhealth risks.
•Higher incidences of flooding canlead to the spread of waterborne
diseases, injuries, and chemical hazards.
•As geographic ranges of mosquitoes and ticksexpand, they can carry
diseases to new locations.
PollutionofwatersourcesLandslides
CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS: INCREASE IN
PESTS AND DISEASES
CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS KZN
CORNFIELDS
GOBIZEMBE
CLIMATE
CHANGE
EFFECTS
IN SOUTH
AFRICA
F4CJ: PROBLEM STATEMENT
•The COVID-19 Pandemic has exposed how fragile food systems
are (FAO, 2020). This crisis coupled with the growing climate
emergency has highlighted how people rely on community
networks in order to survive in uncertain times.
•Eco-feminists argue that the disproportionate distribution of
resources and the preferential treatment given to men and
industrial agriculture are intersectional concerns that often
leave women and regenerative forms of agriculture at
disadvantage (Shiva, V, 2016).
ResearchQuestion
How cansolidarity networks undergird agro ecology
to enhance resilience of women in the face of
climate change?
•Sub-question 1: What existing networks already support agroe-cology
practices of women? What inhibits and enables these solidarity
networks?
•Sub -question 2: How does an understanding of solidarity networks
contribute to the concept of social innovation and the practice of
agroecology?
Methodology
qA PARApproachwasusedinthis
research
qLimitation of research: research
acknowledges that timeframe shorter
than what is required for PAR, since
PARisalreadypartofMDFthen
research will be seen in broader
reflection of MDF’s work
qResearchwasconductedinaseries
of interviews; individual interviews,
focus group discussions, cross learning
workshops
qOutputs
(animations/videos/handbook)
Context of Study-KZN
qArea: Swayimaneand Ozwathini areas are situated between 50
and 90 km from Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
qHigh rainfall areas, with a lot of mist in Ozwathini in summer.
Deep well drained soils that are mostly reddish brown in colour.
qThis study focused on smallholder farmers, majority of whom are
women from Ozwathini, Gobizembe and Mayizekanye between
the ages of 40 and 80 years old.
qBetween 5-10% of participants are men between the ages of 40
and 75 years old.
Understanding Solidarity Networks and their
Link to Farming
•Solidarity networks can be described as groups (both formal and informal)
of mutual interests and cooperation that are formed, often in response
harsh realities such climate change and COVID 19.
•According to Smith (2009), solidarity networks focus on and explore
alternatives to the challenges of marginalization, underdevelopment, and
poverty in communities.
•Another source describes them as a form of mutual insurance, especially
amongst agrarian communities (Fafchamps, 1992).
Findings: Solidarity Networks in
Midlands
A focusgroupwasheldinSwaymaneon the 17thof February
where farmers were asked to identify existing solidarity
networks. Below were the main findings with regard to solidarity
networks:
qMahlathini Learning Groups (Conservation Agriculture)
qStokvels(meat, blanket, money, funeral)
qSavings and Loan Associations
qGroups that assist orphans
qDARD Farmers’Association
qLivestock groups ( broilers, layers, goats, calves, rabbits)
qMushroom Production Groups
qChurch Groups
Solidarity networks tend
to play a pivotal role in
how farmers make
decisions around farming
Benefits and Challenges of Solidarity
Networks
BENEFITS OF SOLIDARITY NETWORKS
qKnowledgeaccessandsharing
qConservation of soil and water
qSaving money for various needs
qPreservationofculture(the
principles of Ubuntu (humanity)
and ubumbano(solidarity)
qMitigating the effects of climate
change
CHALLENGES
qJealousy amongst group members
qPoorattendanceofmeetings
qLack of cooperation amongst group
members
qGossiping
qCliques
qLack of confidentiality
qPoorrecordkeeping
WHAT ENABLES
AND INHIBITS
NETWORKS?
What enables networks to
function well?
What inhibits networks from
performing well?
Working together with a common goal
Gaining of knew knowledge and skills on
good agricultural practice
Love for farming
Able to grow food for our families
Physical exercise
Helping the needy
Eat food from our own garden/field
Assist each other with market
Bulk buying
Lack of sufficient training on usage of
chemicals
Poor coordination
Differing views
Not attending meetings/demos and expecting
to piggy back on others
Gossiping
Lack of trust
Poor record keeping
What are the opportunities for
growth?
What could threaten the future of
local networks?
Build stronger relationships
Plant new types of crops and due to CC
To grow more food due to increase in
demand for local produce
Buying produce from one another
Unpredictable weather patterns
Old age
Rise in input costs
Competition with commercial farmers
High mortality due to COVID and other
diseases
Findings on the Role
of each Network
GOBIZEMBE
CA
learning
group
DARD
Farmers
Association
Sewing
Group
Money
Stokvel
Grocery
Stokvel
Harvestin
g Group
Access to Knowledge
222 1 22
Soil and water conservation
220 0 01
Saving money
222 2 21
Increased resilience to climate
change
200 0 01
Preservation of culture
222 1 22
Solidarity
212 2 02
TOTAL 12 98 6 69
qMatrix ranking for the three areas revealed that
Regenerative Agriculturerankedthehighestinall5
of the benefits listed by farmers which were used as
criteria to do the matrix ranking.
qFrom these findings it became clear that RA
contributes not only to knowledge creation and soil
and water conservation but also has a positive
impact on strengthening community relations.
qStokvels, burial schemes, savings groups and church
groups played a more significant role in saving
money, preservation of cultural values and solidarity.
qThere was an indirect link between local savings
groups/stokvelsand farming activites.
MAYIZEKANYE
CA
learning
group
DARD
Farmers
Associatio
n
Savings
Group
Burial
scheme Stokvel
Harvesting
Group
Access to Knowledge
222222
Soil and water conservation
220011
Saving money
222221
Increased resilience to climate
change
222001
Preservation of culture
222122
Solidarity
222222
Mayizekanye
12 12 107 9 9
OZWATHINI
CA learning
group
DARD
Farmers
Association
Calf
Group
Savings
Group
Burial
Scheme
Harvestin
g Group
Access to Knowledge
22222 2
Soil and water conservation
21200 0
Saving money
22222 1
Increased resilience to climate
change
21200 0
Preservation of culture
22202 2
Solidarity
22222 2
121012 68 7
Context of Study-Mpumalanga
•Women,intheareathatZUfocuseson,
live below the recognised UN poverty line
of $1.90 a day.
•A core concern of ZU was to address this
and assist women out of poverty. There
wasanurgencytoensurethatwomenhad
some form of food security while looking
forwaysofincreasingtheir abilitytomake
money.
•ZU turned to permaculture as a
philosophical and practical action to
address food insecurity.
•In 2019, Permaculture Explorers, a programme of ZU launched the
“Above the Lines” project in Acornhoek, for 20 women headed
households.
•In 2021 a second and third class graduated from the RDP village and
RooiboklaagteB Village. A total of 53 women have received education
in Permaculture and small enterprise development.
•As ZU reflected on the initiative, they also introduced education
around mentality control, making wise choices and creating action
plans (ZingelaUlwazi, 2022).
ZU: Background
The following networks were dominant across all three groups.
•Society groups (community burial associations)
•Stokvels
•Old age care centres
•Farmingcooperation
•Social clubs (help with groceries, food)
•Soap making project
•Day care centres
•Poultryandeggsprojects
•Sewing projects
•Anti – GBV groups (Sekwaneleself-defensegroup)
Findings from Research: ZU Solidarity
Networks
Links between farming and networks:
•It helps to access market
•Toaccessfunds
•Learning from each other
How can networks strengthen agro-ecology?
•by explaining the benefits of organic farming
•explaining the difference between agro – ecology and agriculture and the
health benefits thereof.
•Advocating for organic food to help with chronic illness.
Findings from Research: ZU Solidarity
Networks
Thank You!