The following four excerpts are from Biowatch South Africa‘s December bulletin.
Farmers Recognized for Agroecology Achievements
Our work on agroecology has been growing and certificates of achievement were handed out to 26 farmers from Biowatch-supported projects in Tshaneni, Pongola, Mtubatuba, KwaNgwanase and Ingwavuma. They were awarded agroecology certificates at a ceremony in August, acknowledging that they:
- do not use synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, insecticides or herbicides;
- do not use GMOs;
- make and use their own “living” compost;
- prepare and plant fertility beds;
- collect and use grey water from their homes;
- use dry grass and plant material as mulching; and
- save the seeds of at least 14 traditional varieties.
Next year, Amanxusa (“seed ambassadors”) will take forward the strengthening and deepening of seed work at farmer level. We are also looking forward to starting work on participatory plant breeding in 2016.
Nurturing an alternative vision for agroecology research & training
The Seed and Knowledge Initiative (SKI) held the second in a series of seminars. It was a research seminar with a difference – vibrant discussions and then planning for the future. The group, numbering close to 50, included a large contingent of academics, government officials, practitioners and NGO representatives from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Italy and the UK.
Here’s just a taste of what they discussed:
- questioning the current research agenda, which is heavily skewed towards propping up an unsustainable industrial system of agriculture;
- emphasising the important role of women in agriculture, the holistic nature of their traditional knowledge systems, so often undermined by the dominant male-led “scientific” research agenda;
- enthused by the recent wave of student protests across South Africa, asking if the notion of “disruption” could be equally effectively applied to the current dominant agricultural discourse?;
- formulating a seed policy that recognised farmer-led seed systems;
- calling for the myths around genetically modified crops to be dispelled; and
- comparing the so-called “informal” and “formal” seed systems, emphasising that farmer-led seed systems need to be respected and not undermined by the formal system.
Agroecology Showcase
Siphiwe Ntshangase (top) and Sophiwe Dlamini (bottom) talk to 1 KZN TV about agroecology.
Biowatch and farmers from the Impisethunjini Project celebrated World Food Day in Pongola on 16 October with guests, including local NGOs and representatives from the Department of Agriculture.
After a lively discussion about the negative impacts of GMOs and how GMOs are “killing” traditional seed, guests enjoyed a tour of local food gardens and sampled vegetables and traditional crops grown in harmony with nature.
Farmers were able to network with local media, and were interviewed on 1 KZN TV and Radio Maputaland.
From the Director
“Climate Smart Agriculture … and why we say NO! Our new Fact Sheet (available on our website) on this hot and controversial topic was taken to the World Committee on Food Security in Rome in October, where Climate Smart Agriculture was punted as a solution to cope with the climate change crisis and to ensure food security. Similarly being pushed at COP21 in Paris, and at national level in many countries, this false solution is challenged by many – with the climate change crisis, there is no room for playing games.
“…it is with relief that some rains have come – the unrelenting drought has delayed planting and devastated livestock. There is something terribly wrong with our government’s priorities which allow unsustainable industrial/commercial agriculture to use 62% of South Africa’s water.”
Forward to agroecology! Forward to sane agriculture and food security!