45 GENERAL SECTION 45 August 2005

52 8 participatory learning and action FARM-Africa’s project locations project FARM-Africa’s Source:Tourism,Africa,Affairs and South Department of Environmental 2004. Figure 1:Figure showing Map of the Province

The government white to black is transferring land from holding, land rights, and forms of ownership, focusing in particular on the former homelands; displaced as a consequence of discriminatory land legisla- tion; and labour tenants, farm workers, and emerging farmers poor, their liveli- uses, to improve and productive for residential hoods. ownership, albeit at a slow pace, but the Department of Agri- methodology for supporting land (DoA) has no culture of developing and implement- in the process groups reform this, FARM-Africa address ing land management plans. To developed a participatory land use planning methodology which it piloted over a two-year period in the Northern Cape Shortly after coming to power in 1994, the African National an ambitious land (ANC) in launched Congress poverty but It aimed not only to reduce programme. reform that, over many discriminatory legislation also to remove This their land. decades, had alienated black people from elements: has three programme land reform – to develop new systems of land reform land tenure • land to those people who were • – to restore land restitution land to the landless – to redistribute land redistribution • Introduction by ALASTAIR BRADSTOCK BRADSTOCK by ALASTAIR

in South Africa Land reform and participationreform and Land 8 46 GENERAL SECTION lsarBradstock Alastair Province ofSouthAfrica. farming. reform groups, manyofwhichhadlittleexperience ences ofimplementingthisnewapproach with theland Warrenton (seeFigure 1).Thispaperdescribestheexperi- San, Marydale,,,Strydenberg,and Pofadder,nity Property Associations)–Witbank, Khomani reform beneficiarygroups (alsoknownasCPAs –Commu- 2 1 1985). alienated themfrom theirlandandforced themtoworkinthemines(Bundy, discriminatory landlegislationenactedin the earlytwentiethcenturywhich The reason blackpeople(mostlymen)losttheir farming skillswasbecauseof intimate understandingofagriculture (EllisandMdoe,2003;Bradstock,2005). beneficiaries tomanagetheirnaturalresources. CORDAID. Thepurposeoftheproject wastostrengthen theabilityoflandreform Management’, fundedbyDFID,EU,Comic Relief,andaDutchNGOcalled atcptr erigadaction and learning participatory Such asituationisuniqueinAfricawhere themajorityofruralpeoplehavean The project wascalled‘CapacityBuildinginCommunityNaturalResource iue2 ThePLUPprocess Figure 2: 2 managers mentors Farm Farm 5.1 Livestockdevelopment 1 52 The project workedwitheightland August 2005 plan .MANAGEMENT PLAN APPROVED BY THE MANAGEMENT 6. .PLANNINGSUB-COMMITTEE TRAINED TO PRODUCE A 5. THE RESEARCHRESULTS WITH THE COMMUNITY .PARTICIPATORY8. MONITORING &EVALUATION (Studies presentedtotheManagementCommittee. Agreement reachedwithManagementCommittee .MANAGEMENT COMMMITTEESHARES 4. .MANAGEMENT PLANIMPLEMENTED 7. .IDENTIFYPROJECTSTAKEHOLDERS 1. .UNDERSTANDINGSITUATION THE 2. COMMITTEE and THE COMMUNITY a amsuis b Livelihoodstudies) Farm studiesb. (a. 3. SHARING THE INFORMATION SHARINGTHE 3. Gvrmn,NGOs&others) (Government, on theplanningprocess) 5.2 Crop development DEVELOPMENT PLAN plan support themin developingtheirfarms.Thisis inefficient and Few landreform groups knowwhichorganisationscan identifyproject stakeholders Step one: ment itjointly. should bediscussedwiththem andapproval soughttoimple- sub-committees. Before engaginginthePLUP, theprocess constitution andhasthepowertodelegatespecifictasks their farm.Itmanagesthegroup’s landaccording toits cratically electedbythemembershippriortotransferof through amanagementcommittee.Thiscommittee isdemo- in developingaplan. multi-dimensional process, andemphasisesthekeyelements (PLUP). Thefigure isasimplificationofmuchmore complex Figure 2showstheparticipatorylanduseplanning process Developing aparticipatorylanduseplan The mainentrypointintomostlandreform groups is 5.3 Otherenterprises development plan Functioning CPA administration credit fund Revolving Land reform and participation in South Africa 8 EEA SECTION GENERAL Box 1: Generating an organisational map with the Dirisanang group, Warrenton The Process exercise a learning process. in the land reform process, but it did not • The management committee selected five of • Five participants is deal. Larger groups tended appear as a key organisation on the map. its members to participate in the exercise. to split with a resulting loss of focus. • The group started by drawing a circle in the Impact middle of an A1 sheet of paper that Findings • Considering the low levels of understanding represented their group. It then added • The exercise emphasised the poor that management committee members had of additional circles that represented other understanding that the group had of the local key stakeholders, the most tangible benefit organisations that had either a direct or an economy, and of organisations that could was to start to build this knowledge. indirect influence over them. The distance provide support to them. The omission of the • By the end of the exercise, the group had between the organisations and the Dirisanang Department of Land Affairs (responsible for developed a resource list of organisations that group circle indicated the strength of the the land reform programme) was surprising, could be approached and drawn upon for relationship: the closer the two organisations, as was the failure to include the local technical and managerial support. One the stronger the relationship. The size of the municipality and the agricultural cooperative. important outcome was the group’s decision circle indicated the potential influence that • Another surprising result was the position and to engage with the Department of Water the organisation had or might have over the size of the Department of Agriculture’s Affairs and Forestry, to negotiate the way in which the group managed its farm. extension officer.The DoA is responsible for rescheduling of their water debt. In addition, • Facilitators should have an in-depth supporting land reform groups after they have the group approached the Land Bank and knowledge of the local area thus making the received land and is therefore a central player started to negotiate a production loan.

Figure 3: Dirisanang’s organisational map

CPA Dirisanang members Dr. Reeden Management (Veterinarian) Committee

CPA-appointed farm manager

Dirisanang Group DOA extension Grazing Land officer

CPA-appointed shepherds Police commando

FARM-Africa Thieves

can lead to financial losses, especially if crops are planted late Step two: understanding the situation or not at all. So the first step is to help the group identify the key stakeholders who can provide them with agricultural and What information is needed? managerial advice, using an organisational map (Box 1 and Before planning, it is important to have a better under- Figure 3). The map illustrates the failure of some key state standing of the following areas. actors to engage with the Dirisanang group. Some months after this exercise the local municipality, which had not Objectives of land reform group members appeared on the map, made contact with the group and is It is unlikely that all group members will share one common now providing technical support. objective for how the farm should be developed. The land

participatory learning and action 52 August 2005 47 8 48 GENERAL SECTION lsarBradstock Alastair implement the plan. developed itispossibletoidentify anytrainingneededto of membersisessentialsothat whenland-useoptionsare An understandingoftheasset holdingsandtechnicalskills Asset holdingsofmembers and agreed. a largergroup ofpeoplewhoare• lessinterested infarming • a minoritycore group whowanttomakeagriculture a therefore oftenconsistoftwotypesmembers: individuals tosecure additionalfundstobuyland.Groups often forcing thefoundinggroup memberstorecruit more reform programme offers onlysmallgrantsforland purchase, atcptr erigadaction and learning participatory but expecttoreceive cashbenefitsfrom theirinvestment. have initiatedthelandpurchase process; and more importantcomponentoftheirlivelihood, andwill To avoidconflict,group objective(s)mustbediscussed 52 August 2005 in Witbank A rural family ment committeemembers,in arangeofparticipatorytech- FARM-Africa provided trainingforindividuals,mainly manage- theresearchprocess Gathering information: of theprocess. be difficult togetmembersengageeffectively inthispart decades, andduetoproblems inaccessingtheir farms,itcan Because blackpeoplewere alienatedfrom agriculture for farm, theconditionofitsinfrastructure, andcapital assets. It isveryimportanttoexplore theproductive potentialofthe Productive potentialoftheland have iftheyare toplantheiractivitiessustainably. mental technicalagriculturalinformationwhichtheymust of studies,butmissingthisstepdeprivesthegroup offunda- to payfortransport theirfarm. kilometres from theirland,thus effectively excludingthepoorwhocannotafford 3 The majorityofthegroups thatFARM-Africa workswith liveatleast20 3 Government rarely commissionsthese types Government

Photo: Pieter Roos 49

8 GENERAL SECTION 4 August 2005 52 Land reform and participation in South Africa in South participation reform and Land participatory learning and action focused on identifying and quantifying the financial , the PSC used the information from the other four , responsibilities the facilitator introduced the roles and explored the skills that existed within the group that introduced the concepts of natural and physical capital. sessions Once the PSC has been elected, its members receive prac- Once the PSC has been elected, its members receive session one session five Natural capital comprises renewable natural resources such as land, trees, water, such as land, trees, natural resources Natural capital comprises renewable of the PSC and described what training inputs were needed to produce of the PSC and described a plan. Research findings were discussed, PSC with an providing the of their overview of the different factors affecting the development farm. different objectives expressed by group members were The discussed and agreed. Session two In PSC grouped its farm assets accordingly.The A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, used to analyse these matrix was and threats (SWOT) two sets of assets. Session three capital of the group. of an inventory of this step was culmination The financial assets. the group’s Session four could help develop the farm. are not restricted to academic These achievement but include practical skills (for example, driving a tractor, animals,vaccinating how and when to irrigate a crop, etc.). steps The use their land were determining how members apply for the right to also defined, would have to pay for that as well as how much they right. management committee is responsible for agreeing these The rates, and irrigable land. which will differ for grazing In stated objectives. sessions to develop options to achieve the group’s implementation plans and facilitator introduced the concept of The translated into a plan.each option was included a narrative This description of the activities, outputs, outcomes, and a budget. As a result of the planning, the group successfully secured a loan from the Land Bank to purchase ostriches that it planned to fatten and export to Europe. Box 2:Box training planning sub-committee Strydenberg’s fisheries, and non-renewable resources such as oil and coal that people use to such as oil and resources fisheries, and non-renewable Examples include roads, generate a means of survival. Physical capital is produced. channels, power lines, water supplies, dams, and tools. irrigation machinery, 4 group to elect a planning sub-committee (PSC). FARM- to elect a planning sub-committee group experience of sub-committees is that, if members are Africa’s This is ineffective. usually not paid for their services, they are poor beneficiaries are to be expected as most land reform and farms do not to work for free, and cannot afford immediate benefits. produce to need tical training in a variety of planning tools, according (see Box 2 for an example). Once the management plan is committee to the management completed, it is presented The final draft is then taken for their comments and approval. the management committee to a general meeting where it for approval. presents It is not uncommon for members of land reform groups to groups It is not uncommon for members of land reform The information developed during these workshops was The information developed during these to afterwards A second workshop was held immediately tively; land; and central part of their livelihood. more Steps five and six: sub- the planning training the plan committee and approving The final task of the ‘sharing information’ meeting is for the The next step is to discuss the research findings with the manage- The next step is to discuss the research of ensuring they ment committee and continue the process ‘own’ the information. The committee is expected to synthesise the findings and distribute a written summary to members them to the whole presenting two weeks before approximately management committee at a public meeting. While most group support for had to provide FARM-Africa literate, members are this activity as most had not attempted a task like this before. of the farm because the development become alienated from management committees operate in isolation. By running activ- ities of this kind, the committee can demonstrate its intention to in its decision-making inclusive and transparent be more public meetings in At one of the Dirisanang group’s processes. the group’s 2001, the management committee presented years previously. accounts for the first time since it formed three at other FARM-Africa recorded Similar achievements were groups. Steps three and four: and Steps three use of the sharing and making information • why agricultural services were not being delivered effec- not being delivered services were why agricultural • accessing their members from what factors had prevented • a making agriculture • what had constrained members from niques. These included: wealth ranking; seasonal calendars; time- niques. These included: key interviews; pie charts; semi-structured lines; pairwise ranking; and household surveys. It was very impor- informant interviews; committee to play a key part in the tant for the management outcomes being owned the chances of the increasing research, and used by the group. in a plenary session that to the whole group always presented usually lasted for a took place at the end of the workshop, and had that groups While these discussions sometimes revealed day. to achieve in the described an ideal situation that they hoped rather than outlining the status quo, the workshops had future strength. on group a positive effect to use their and helped groups factors that both hindered explore interviews to try to gain used semi-structured land. FARM-Africa a better understanding of issues such as: 8 50 GENERAL SECTION lsarBradstock Alastair management mentoring tothemanagement committee. San theex-ownerprovided extensiveday-to-dayfarm which theymanagetheirfarms. Forexample,atKhomani managed tomakeuseofthis service,improving thewayin proved successful intheshort-termandmostgroups have farmers tosupplyagricultural advicetogroups. Thishas has created aservicedeliveryvacuum. addresses theneedsofblackratherthanwhite farmers transforming theDepartmentofAgriculture sothatit implementing theirplans.Thelengthyprocess of another problem forlandreform beneficiarieswhen The lackofgoodquality, agriculturalextensionadviceis Accessing agriculturaladvice funds (Box3). groups toovercome thisbyintroducing revolving credit on aloanare judgedtobetoohigh.FARM-Africa helped Property Associations,asthepoliticalcostsofforeclosing financial institutionsare unwillingtolendCommunal through community-basedsavingschemes.Mostformal are usuallybeyondtheabilityofgroup tomeet farms beingtransferred, theworkingcapitalrequirements group’s inabilitytoaccesscredit. Duetothesizeof A commonconstrainingfactorinimplementationisa Accessing credit management plan implementingthe Steps sevenandeight: atcptr erigadaction and learning participatory o :Howrevolving fundsoperate Box 3: almost doubleditslivestockintwoyears. butthemostsuccessfulgroup The schemeisstillinitsearlystages, the following27months. andthen 23Rand(approximatelyUK£2.30)permonthfor the scheme, group membercontributes90Rand(approximatelyUK£9)onjoining Every ewes representinterestontheinitialloanofeightanimals. The additionaltwo they areexpectedtoreturn10ewesthebank. Afteraperiodof27months scheme eachmemberisgiveneightewes. Onjoiningthe possible beforemakingloanstoindividualmembers. acquired bythebankwithaimofincreasingnumbersasquickly Smalllivestockare creating ‘livestock banks’. fund intolivestock, Allgroupsconvertedasubstantialpartoftheir the project’s donors. FARM-Africa establishedrevolvingcreditfacilitiesthatwerefundedby given periodoftime. fund andareexpectedtorepaythecapitalsuminterestovera cannot accesstheformalcreditmarket accessmoneyfromtheirown The ideabehindrevolvingcreditfacilitiesisthatpoorpeoplewho An initiativethatFARM-Africa haspilotedistohire white 52 August 2005 • the group benefitedfrom technicaladvicefrom the • key membersofthe managementcommittee • thegroup livedontheirland; made theproject successful: agricultural productivity andincome.Anumberoffactors low levelsofliteracy. members hadtotravelaccesstheirland,coupledwith San group wasconstrainedbythedistancemany commitment tothedevelopmentprocess. TheKhomani management committee,whichshowedlowlevelsof example, theDirisananggroup wasconstrainedbyits that madeadoptingoutsidetechnicalinputsdifficult. For Groups alsofaceotherphysicalorinstitutionaldifficulties Other constraints especially agricultural advicefrom theDepartment of what resourcescan learn theyare entitled todrawupon, organisational environment inwhichtheyoperate.They abouttheinstitutionaland with achancetolearn they managetheirgroup andfarm.Italsoprovides them newskillstoimprove how members thechancetolearn be implementedbythegroups. resulting inthedevelopment oflanduseplanswhichcan participatory planningprocess canhelptoaddress this, farms. FARM-Africa’s experiencehasshown thata without anyplantohelpthemmanageanddeveloptheir programme isthatblackpeopleare beinggivenland A fundamentalshortcomingofSouthAfrica’s landreform Conclusion techniques. down’ unlesstheyare giventraininginparticipatory groups ofblackfarmers,andtheirinputcanbe‘top Also, fewwhitefarmershaveexperienceofworkingwith commercial agriculture andnotsubsistenceagriculture. thatthesupportistoonarrowlyconcerns focusedon funds topayforthistypeofadvice.There are also initiative canbescaled-up.Fewgroups havesufficient means todeveloptheirirrigableland. overseas donorinthe1990s,whichgavethem substantial giftofagriculturalequipmentfrom an Department ofAgriculture and theyreceived a uptake andapplicationofinputs; and thiscreated afavourableenvironment forthe demonstrated highlevelsofcommitmenttothefarm Witbank wasthemostsuccessful group, raising Witbank A participatoryprocess offers management committee However, there aboutwhethersuchan are concerns 51

8 GENERAL SECTION Photo: Pieter Roos Pieter Photo: August 2005 52 participatory learning and action Land reform and participation in South Africa in South participation reform and Land A clear lesson from FARM-Africa’s experience is that FARM-Africa’s A clear lesson from farm’s natural resources. natural resources. farm’s this planning method should be initiated much earlier in a farm to occur before If it were process. the land reform to would be better prepared the group is transferred, cope with the inevitable challenges that arise from in determining however, managing a farm. A key factor, to be able to access a its success is the ability of the group Outside agencies (government high quality facilitator. departments, NGOs, and private sector organisations) to build their need to work closely with the groups understanding and capacity to use new participatory tools and processes. Sheep grazing in the Kalahari While participatory tools are a key part of the While participatory tools are Participatory tools also help improve the way a group Participatory tools also help improve planning process, their effectiveness in exploring natural their effectiveness planning process, members do not issues is limited when group resource have much agricultural knowledge. As this kind of it must be information is key to the planning process, collected in other ways, but in an inclusive manner, the opportunity to learn groups about their offering works on a day-to-day basis, for example, by improving communications between the management committee members. and ordinary Agriculture, and how best they can access complimentary and how best they can Agriculture, resources. 8 52 GENERAL SECTION lsarBradstock Alastair Email: [email protected] Fax: +442074300460 Tel: +442074300440 UK WC1A 2EA London 9–10 SouthamptonPlace Farm Africa Director ofPolicyandResearch Alastair Bradstock CONTACT DETAILS would bebetterprepared tocope…” thegroup before afarmistransferred, Ifitwere tooccur land reform process. should beinitiatedmuchearlierinthe experience isthatthisplanningmethod “A clearlessonfrom FARM-Africa’s atcptr erigadaction and learning participatory 52 August 2005 cape.co.za. Fax: +27538318333;Email:herman@farmn- South Africa.Tel: +27538318330; contacted at:POBox2410,Kimberley, 8300, for hisinputintothisarticle.Hermancanbe Thanks toHermanFestus,Project Coordinator, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ture maythenbecomeamore centralpartoftheirlivelihoods. able tomakeinformeddecisionsabouttheirfarms.Agricul- process, thisshouldleadtomore empowered groups, better apply thePLUP, especiallyinthepre-designation phaseofthe tively withlandreform beneficiaries.Ifthesedepartmentscan sion officers anddevelopmentofficers toworkmore effec- andHousing,enablingagriculturalexten- Local Government, tionalisation ofthePLUPinDepartmentsAgriculture, FARM-Africa isworkingwithpartnerstowards institu- Development Rural PovertyReductioninTanzania.’ Ellis, F. andMdoe,N.(2003)‘Livelihoods African Peasantry. Bundy, C.(1985) South Africa Reform intheNorthernCapeProvinceof Bradstock, A.(2005) REFERENCES . FARM-Africa: London , 31,pp.1367–1384. The RiseandFalloftheSouth David Phillips:CapeTown. Key ExperiencesofLand World