The
Department of Agriculture and Land Reform is concluding its 4-day Public
Awareness Land Care Summit tomorrow at van der Kloof, oozing with confidence over the implementation of 13
community driven Land Care projects worth R2 million in this financial year. Land Care is aimed at optimizing production
and use of natural resources leading to increased agricultural production, food
security, job creation and a better quality of life for all.
The workshop that is being attended by
representatives of the National and Provincial Departments of Agriculture and
Land Care beneficiaries who discussed amongst others common understanding of
different roles and responsibilities in Land Care, possible interventions to
deal with existing challenges and Land Care as an important pillar of
sustainable resource management.
The MEC of the Department Tina Joemat-Pettersson announced last month in her budget speech
that R 2 million would be allocated for 13 Land Care projects for the control
and prevention of land degradation and the eradication of poverty through job
creation in this financial year. The planks that she highlighted for the
implementation of Land Care are water care, veld care,
soil care, and eco-agriculture.
In his address to the
The Department has thus far implemented 34
Land Care projects with 1 500 beneficiaries benefiting from an allocation of R6
million since the inception of Land Care projects in 1998. One of the
province’s Land Care projects Suid-Bokkeveld earned
the Department unending kudos by scooping the coveted and majestic Gold honour in the Premier’s Excellence Awards of 2005 and was
also voted one of the world’s best Land Care projects at the International Land
Care Conference held in
Enquiries: Thabo Mothibi
083 255 8840 tmothibi@grand.ncape.gov.za
Source: Department of Agriculture and Land Reform
Editors
Notes: (group photo at one of the project sides is available)
Land Care is a community based and Government supported approach to the
sustainable management and use of agricultural natural resources. The Land Care
programme underpins the millennium goals of halving the number of the hungry by
2015. Since 1998, Land Care has taken the lead in promoting sustainable land
management practices and reversing degradation in rural areas. Land Care has
contributed significantly towards rural development through infrastructure
development, projects, job creation, as well as community empowerment and
support. Investment in economic support, social infrastructure, human resource
development and natural resources management are some of the motives for
success.
1.
OBJECTIVES OF THE
1.1
TO CREATE AWARENESS ON LAND CARE RESPONSIBILITIES BASED UPON
TWO MAIN CATEGORIES: INTERNAL AWARENESS
EXTERNAL AWARENESS
Internal Awareness involves
the understanding of all Land Care role players’ responsibilities and
accountability in the following manner:
a)
National Department of Agriculture
Provides support
to Provinces in terms of:
i)
Capacity building
ii)
Land Care Awareness materials
iii)
Funding for projects
b)
Provincial Department of Agriculture
Provides,
support to communities in terms of:
i)
Capacity building
ii)
Management of projects
c)
Communities (major role players and Custodians)
By virtue of
being custodians, communities bear greater responsibility in Land Care and they
are actually accountable for all Land Care endeavours.
1.2
APPRECIATIONS AND CELEBRATION OF ACHIEVEMENTS
-
Government efforts with the Land Care Projects
-
Communities – efforts and achievements in their Land Care
Projects
-
Awards based on Land Care Principles – best projects under 7
Categories
1.3 SHARING OF EXPERIENCES AND LESSONS LEARNT
-
Government - National
Provincial
Regional / District
Communities / Projects
THEME QUESTION:
DOES LAND CARE RECEIVE THE
RECOGNITION AND ATTENTION IT DESERVES IN THIS PROVINCE?