colloquium discussion document - kzn agriculture & rural ... · rural enterprise and industry...

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COLLOQUIUM DISCUSSION DOCUMENT REVISED DATES

KZN AGRICULTURAL MASTER PLAN

And

RURAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

AUGUST 2017

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Contents INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 3

National policy and strategic planning framework ...................................................... 4

KZN policy and strategic planning framework ........................................................... 7

Colloquim ................................................................................................................... 9

Purpose .................................................................................................................. 9

Objective ................................................................................................................. 9

Intended Outcomes ................................................................................................ 9

Audience ................................................................................................................. 9

Themes ................................................................................................................. 10

PROPOSED Sub themes and critical questions ................................................... 11

Timeframes ........................................................................................................... 13

Paper/ presentation requirements ........................................................................ 13

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION ................................................................................... 14

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INTRODUCTION The country is coming to the end of its current medium terms strategic framework (MTSF 2014-2019). This MTSF was drawn up to reflect the “commitments made in the election manifesto of the governing party, including the commitment to implement the NDP”. The MTSF sets out the actions Government will take and targets to be achieved. It also provides a framework for the other plans of national, provincial and local government.”(RSA: MTSF 2014-2019). The triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality remain critical areas to tackle in achieving the national vision of rural communities having greater opportunities to participate fully in the economic, social and political life of the country, as spelt out in the National Development Plan 2030. The role that the agricultural sector has played in supporting and achieving the MTSF priorities and targets, to move the country towards the 2030 vision of the National Development Plan, now requires critical reflection. This is so, because this economic sector has been afforded a central place in the New Growth Path economic strategies and the Rural Development strategies of the National Development Plan. Translation and contextualising national imperatives into broadly consulted and supported practical provincial and local plans should have ensured a more comprehensive and integrated set of interventions. However with arguably, mixed to poor results towards achieving the medium term targets for the sector, harnessing the potential of the agricultural sector would appear to require far more strategic co-ordination, focus and consistency in purpose than anticipated. Transforming critical areas or tackling key challenges within the sector in a more co-ordinated manner, to unleash its potential, also possibly requires a far higher level of common analysis and understanding of local conditions. It is common knowledge that the KZN Department of Agriculture has undergone numerous changes in its policies and programmes causing some concerns about its ability to really contribute to the unlocking of the Province’s agricultural potential and really transforming the sector. This inconsistency has also been exacerbated by the periodic change in its leadership often resulting in revised strategies and programmes. The Department noted in 2014 that there needed to be a radical improvement of the department’s mandatory services, together with innovative delivery models if it was to ensure a transformed agriculture sector and hence, a new strategy was developed. However, it remains a concern that such a departmental level strategy is insufficient to ensure the level of consistency in purpose and programmatic intervention that is required by the province to transform the sector towards achieving the broader rural development strategic objectives. Rather, there is a need for Provincial agreement on the strategy and a Master plan outlining a long range vision and purpose of this sector. The adoption of an Agriculture Master Plan supported by an adopted provincial Rural Development strategy, will provide comfort and consistency of purpose to those in the sector, of government’s long-range vision for the sector, regardless of leadership and management changes experienced by the responsible department.

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The starting point for such a Masterplan plan will be a reflection on the national and provincial vision, problem statement and key strategies adopted for the sector as well as how effectively these have been translated into provincial policies, strategies and plans. While the policy and strategy framework prioritises agriculture as a key catalytic sector for Rural Development and strategies have been rolled out in this regard like the Agriparks strategy and in KZN the RASET strategy the broader aspects of rural development are less well explored and co-ordinated in a comprehensive strategy for the province. The development and adoption of a provincial Rural Development strategy will ensure this focus is highlighted in the PGDP and will serve as a guide to all departments programmes in rural areas and in particular the key co-ordinating department , DARD.

National policy and strategic planning framework The New Growth Path (NGP), launched by government in 2009, seeks to shift the economy towards strong, sustained, and inclusive economic growth with an emphasis on the rebuilding of the productive sectors of the economy. Infrastructure development and agriculture, in particular, were identified as a foundation for more jobs and addressing rural underdevelopment. The NGP set targets of increasing the smallholder sector by 300 000 households, ensuring 145 000 additional jobs in agro-processing, and upgrading conditions for 660 000 farm workers. The NGP also provides the following broad policy guidelines for agriculture, forestry and fisheries:

Restructuring of land reform to support smallholder schemes with comprehensive support around infrastructure, marketing, finance, extension services, etc.

Upgrading employment in commercial agriculture, especially through improved worker voice

Measures to support growth in commercial farming and to help address fluctuations in maize and wheat prices, while supporting national food security

Acceleration of land claims processes and better support to new farmers following restitution settlements

Programmes to ensure competitive pricing of inputs, especially fertiliser

Support for fishing and aquaculture.

In 2009 the President also announced the formation of a national Rural Development Department to ensure comprehensive focus on rural development in the country. Although a national Department was formed, the mandate for ensuring rural development, is a constitutionally prescribed concurrent function which lies with both national and provincial governments. This renewed effort towards rural development were followed and concretised by the adoption of the National Development Plan (NDP). The NDP adopted by the country

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in 2012, offered a 2030 vision which aimed to improve the co-ordinated effort of government programmes and interventions towards a growing economy with sustainable, spatially equitable and integrated human settlements. The Rural Development chapter of the NDP also gives special emphasis to the role of the agricultural sector. It calls for an inclusive rural economy wherein rural areas are spatially, socially and economically well integrated and coordinated, where residents are economically active and food secure as a result of successful agrarian transformation and rural infrastructure development programmes, and having improved access to quality education and health care and basic services. The agriculture sector is regarded, in the NDP, as central to the future growth and well-being of the country’s economic growth. By 2030 agriculture should create close to 1 million new jobs, contributing significantly to reducing overall unemployment. The diagnostic evaluation informing the plan recognised that for the agriculture sector to catalyse development in the rural economy and the economy more broadly, it would:-

first need to transform the agriculture sector( change patterns and systems of ownership and control- Agrarian transformation) because its current trajectory was that of job shedding and increased monopolisation across value chains; and

it would need to be developed within a comprehensive approach to rural development i.e agriculture interventions should be planned in conjunction with land reform, basic service delivery, rural human settlement development, improved access to education and healthcare, and the development and expansion of agroprocessing tourism, fisheries and related small enterprise development.

At the same time the NDP asserts that “where people live and work matters” as skewed spatial patterns have lead to and continue to exacerbate “social inequality and economic inefficiency”. The Chapter on Transforming Human Settlement and the national Space Economy gives emphasis to the need for systematic responses to spatial inequity. The guiding strategies outlined in this chapter emphasise the need for developing normative principles that will guide the development of spaces that are “liveable, equitable, sustainable, resilient and efficient, as well as supportive of economic opportunities and social cohesion”. More choices need to be developed and offered to people about where to live. The NGP and the NDP are given strategic focus through the Agricultural Policy Action Plan (APAP) and the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF). It is in these shorter term strategic plans that the transformation plans should be spelt out and the comprehensive approach planned. The first cycle (i.e., 2014 - 2019) of this MTSF for the rural sector, was to focus primarily on seven imperatives as a core foundation for an inclusive and integrated rural economy, as follows (Outcome 7):

Improved land administration and spatial planning for integrated development in rural areas

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Sustainable land reform (agrarian transformation)

Improved food security

Smallholder farmer development and support (technical, financial, infrastructure) for agrarian transformation

Increased access to quality basic infrastructure and services, particularly in education, healthcare and public transport in rural areas

Growth of sustainable rural enterprises and industries characterised by strong rural-urban linkages, increased investment in agro-processing, trade development and access to markets and financial services– resulting in rural job creation

Reduce rural unemployment

Improved integration and coordination of rural development across all spheres of government and between government departments as a result of implementation of synchronised rural development strategies.

With a special focus on:

Provision of comprehensive support to smallholders to ensure increased productivity

Investment in agro-processing to enhance job creation

Trade development and market access through harmonization of agricultural policies and targeted support to strategic initiatives

Sustainable management of natural resources. For subsequent cycles, the rural sector as a whole will focus on the following:

Leveraging on established institutional arrangements and spatial planning tools and instruments to further advance effective urban-rural integration

Strengthening development planning based on effective spatial development frameworks at all three spheres to further unlock benefits in agricultural, forestry and fisheries value chains, and

Up-scaling implementation towards achieving concrete targets in the relevant sectors.

The passing of the national legislation, the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act 13 of 2013 (SPLUMA) is viewed as an important step towards developing a strategic and systematic response to spatial inequity. Progress towards its implementation has been beset with challenges in terms of capacity, clarity on responsibility for driving the transformative changes through this Act, as well as translating the act into clear normative principles that can guide programmes to support spatial equity. Finding synergy between sector departments to ensure a comprehensive approach to Rural development, inclusive economies and spatial equity remain a challenge. In 2015 the President announced the launch of the Agripark programme as a key strategy for the achievement of Comprehensive Rural Development objectives. The strategy requires the clustering and locating of key services and infrastructure to stimulate smallholder agriculture, and support their links into existing and new markets and processing opportunities. It also seeks to unbundle the vertically integrated

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agricultural value chains, by increasing participation of black farmers and business into existing and new value chains downstream and upstream. Through stimulating rural enterprise and industry it seeks to catalyse rural development. Above all it requires a well co-ordinated , comprehensive and inclusive approach to succeed. Achieving this In 2016 the DRDLR and DAFF engaged in an Operation Phakisa process focussed on Land Reform, Agriculture and Rural Development, driven by concerns about progress towards achieving the MTSF and long term objectives, as well as lack of synergy across relevant departments and spheres of government. Key areas of concern and focus included the need to establish catalytic processes that would :

• Reduce the environmental impact of agricultural production through interventions to improve soil fertility, environmentally sound agricultural pest control, and improvements in water management;

• Address fragmented and low impact of financial and non-financial support provided to producers;

• Ensure equitable access to land for economic development and agrarian transformation

• Determine markets and improve market access for commercial and smallholder farmers

• Devise interventions for economic growth of priority industries and commodities

• Stimulate development of rural economies

KZN policy and strategic planning framework The strategic objective of unleashing the potential of the agricultural sector is also emphasised in the KZN PGDS. However, unlike the centrality of the sector in the national strategies and plans the KZN Provincial Growth and Development Plan (PGDP), while recognising the potential role of agriculture, places agriculture amongst one of about 33 sub objectives in the plan. The Province of KwaZulu-Natal is said, in the PGDP, to be strategically located to use agricultural and agro-processing as a catalyst for the growth and prosperity. For this it is critical to identify the key opportunities for growth and the key structural challenges that might be prohibiting this growth through agricultural programmes and internvetions. It is these structural challenges that will require a co-ordinated, consistent and integrated government programme to ensure transformation of the sector towards achieving the broader provincial Rural Development strategy. While alignment between national and provincial strategies is reported on, the practical experience at implementation level suggests that some worrying misalignment at both strategic and project level. In the context of a highly skewed racial pattern of access to land and tenure systems in KZN a key strategic goal of the PGDP is Spatial Equity. Guided by the NDP and national Spatial planning legislation and frameworks the province has spent enormous effort supporting municipalities to drive these transformation and developmental agenda’s through planning. With little authority and control over national land reform

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legislative mandates and roll out of the programmes in KZN, as well as agricultural resource conservation frameworks, achieving a systematic approach towards a spatial equity vision remains a challenge without increased intergovernmental co-operation and policy and strategy coherence. To ensure such consistency and clarity of purpose it is deemed necessary that the province adopts an Agricultural Masterplan which will form a key overarching chapter in the PGDP emphasising the links with the other strategic objectives and sub objectives, enabling monitoring and evaluations and review of its suggested catalytic role. In particular, the plan should highlight the impact on Rural Development and the key provincial targets and strategies required to achieve rural development outcomes. It is also noted that in 2012/13, the KZN province underwent a consultative process of developing a KZN Rural Development Strategy and Policy framework, aligned to the NDP and national priorities. The draft RD strategy 2013 proposed the following vision which will need to be reviewed and adopted:- “ By 2030 rural communities in KZN province will have sustainable prosperity with viable institutions, growing economies, healthy skilled people, full employment and universal access to all basic social services.” The following draft strategic interventions were proposed in 2013 which again highlighted the role of agriculture: 1. Improving the competiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector. 2. Improve the environment in rural communities. 3. Improve the quality of life in rural areas. 4. To promote diversification of rural economy. 5. Promote balanced approach to rural development in rural areas. This process resulted in a draft policy framework, strategy and implementation programme, which did not get formally adopted by the province and integrated into the PGDP. Part of the reason for this is the transfer of the mandate and handover process, from the OTP to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2014. The draft RD Strategy document of the 4/4/ 2017 notes that: …”Notwithstanding the conspicuous progress made in the implementation of Rural Development since 2009 which yielded some benefits to the poor communities, especially in the rural areas, there are still serious problems of underdevelopment encountered ………” Further interrogation and refinement of this problem statement is required now to ensure that the underlying causes of the persistence of the challenges are better understood, and to ensure that alignment of strategies and programmes and plans across spheres of government are improved. This analysis of the problems must lead to a refined strategy and targeted plan and the role Agriculture will need to play in this. The draft key strategic areas in draft strategy 2013 will now need to be reviewed to ensure they tackle the key challenges the province continues to face in bringing about fundamental change in rural citizens lives.

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In addition to the roll out of the national agriparks strategy in KZN, the Provincial

cabinet adopted the Radical Socio-economic Transformation (RASET) strategy

which seeks to radically transform the food value chain. A key strategy is to utilise

government markets through set asides for Previously disadvantaged South Africans

, catalysing their competitiveness and participation in the agricultural value chain.

Colloquim

Purpose The Colloquium will seek to gather, and debate the current, cutting edge views,

concerns and ideas of a range of researchers, critical stakeholders and role players

in the agricultural and rural development sector, on key themes and questions for

these sectors in KZN.

Objective 1. To elicit positions, and confirm the key challenges and drivers in the

Agricultural sector in KZN and their potential impact on Rural Development,

and the KZN economy as a whole.

2. To elicit positions on the key challenges and drivers of spatial inequity and

their impact on Rural Development

3. To reflect on the levels of complexity of these challenges and drivers and the

possible types of interventions required to overcome them.

4. To identify areas that require further research and reflection.

5. To open up the discussions and debate for review and reflection in

preparation for the coming Medium term Strategic Framework planning.

6. To set the framework for further consultative and participatory discussions

and planning in developing and finalising and Agricultural masterplan and a

Rural Development Strategy

Intended Outcomes 1. To formulate an up-to-date problem statement on agrarian transformation in

KZN.

2. To identify key themes and issues requiring deeper analysis and broader

consolations in the development of the Agricultural masterplan and the Rural

Development Strategy.

Audience The audience will be limited to 100 to ensure sufficient debate and participation in

discussions in the panels. As this event is about reflection, and critical debate about

government policy frameworks and strategies , the audience will include presenters,

academics, key government senior managers and policy makers, key political and

civil society policy makers.

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Themes The themes have been developed around the existing assumptions made in key

government policy documents and plans on Agriculture and Rural Development.

Specifically, the colloquium will want to assess how and whether these sectors

policies and programmes are contributing to the development of an inclusive

economy, where poverty, unemployment and food insecurity are in decline.

The colloquium will seek to reflect on these assumptions and analysis through the

following 2 overarching questions for each of the identified theme/panel discussions

1. What has been and what is the contribution of the agricultural sector in

addressing poverty, inequality, and unemployment and building an inclusive

economy? Is the agriculture sector a key catalyst for Rural Development in

KZN?

2. What contribution have spatial development frameworks and land reform

frameworks had on reducing social inequality, economic inefficiency and

building inclusive rural economies in KZN?

Sub questions

o Current statistics and trends – What do we know?

Whether the stats and trends identified in NDP etc are still

relevant? Whether they were and are still correct?

If not correct, then how should they have been understood/

analysed?

o Drivers/ causes – How do we understand/analyse the stats and

trends?

Whether strategies and policy correctly or adequately identified

and understood the complexity of the challenges

(drivers/causes)?

o Achieving transformation and inclusivity through policy

instruments?

Which of these drivers are structural in nature and require

transformation type interventions?

What constitutes a transformation type intervention? How clear

are we about the outcome we seek when recommending

transformation?

Is our existing policy enabling this change?

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o Achieving inclusivity through co-ordinated management and

implementation plans?

Are the programmes and the way government organises and

manages its programmes, and implementation achieving what we

expected?

The above questions should be applied to each of the following proposed themes.

Position papers within each theme are expected to consider the thematic area within

the key framing questions above.

NOTE: Additional themes not expressed here will also be considered if clear

motivation is made.

PROPOSED Sub themes and critical questions Agriculture Thematic areas

Key concerns and questions

Natural and physical resource capabilities/issues and environmental sustainability (Sustainable Land Reform )

Natural and physical resource capabilities and environmental sustainability of the KZN Agriculture and rural areas? Water resources available for revitatlising agric? Irrigation scheme expansion? Climate change trends? Implications? Protecting high value agric land resource? Adequacy of infrastructure to support best use of resources and development of agriculture and rural developments strategies?

Agricultural commodity value chains (Sustainable Land Reform & Smallholder development/ agrarian transformation)

Potential of Agricultural commodity value chains to in KZN? The APAP recommends that different subsectors within agriculture, forestry and fisheries operate according to different dynamics and face distinct challenges, thus there is a need to be selective as to which subsectors or value chains to focus upon in the short and medium term. What are these for KZN? (Grain, livestock, sugar, forestry, vegetables , other? Which aspects of those value chains offer the most opportunity for employment, transformation and reducing poverty? Shift towards more labour-intensive agricultural subsectors

Farming systems: (Smallholder farmer development and support (technical, financial, infrastructure) for agrarian transformation)

Potential of smallholder farming and irrigated faming systems in KZN? Rising input costs and dependence on imports Declining competitiveness Consolidation of farms (larger size and fewer farmers) Role of large scale commercial farms in rural development?

Food and nutrition security (Food security)

Achieving Food and nutrition security through agriculture at national and household level? Contribution of agric to national food supply and KZN food supply? Contribution of agric (own or neighbours /local to h/h food security? Types of commodities that matter to H/h supply?

Rural and agric Markets

Access to and operation of Markets for agricultural primary and processed foods from KZN?

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(Growth of sustainable rural enterprises and industries characterised by strong rural-urban linkages, increased investment in agro-processing, trade development and access to markets and financial services– resulting in rural job creation)

Who is the market for primary produce from KZN? Is there a processing market or potential in KZN? How do retailers operate in KZN? What scope is there for competition or penetration or transformation? Is there a rural market? What is it?

Land access and ownership systems (Sustainable Land Reform)

Access to land and ownership systems for successful agricultural farming enterprises?Does the form of tenure and security of tenure, matter in growing and agricultural farming enterprise? i.e. to lease or tow own – what are the most conducive conditions and why? Keeping land reform farms productive? Ownership and management systems? Potential and challenges for growing agriculture sector and smallholders on land under traditional authorities?

Agribusiness support systems – rural enterprise and industry (Growth of sustainable rural enterprises and industries characterised by strong rural-urban linkages, increased investment in agro-processing, trade development and access to markets and financial services– resulting in rural job creation) (Smallholder support)

Agribusiness – rural enterprise and industry What kind of Support systems should be in place to enable rural enterprises (including primary producers) and industry to grow? There is much talk about the need for Capacity building, training, mentorship, advice etc. and many strategies have been tried, with varying success. How can this be best co-ordianted and clustered consistently towards enterprises development? “Modest real growth coupled with declines in formal sector jobs. The development trajectory of both input suppliers and agro-processors resembles that of many other countries, namely a trend towards higher levels of industry concentration”-APAP Processing Is there real scope for new agroprocessing in KZN? Can this be achieved in rural areas? Rural financial services and credit Access to financial services and credit for rural enterprises and the agriculture sector to achieve its development objectives and transformation?

Employment Employment growth potential and opportunities in agriculture and rural areas in KZN? South Africa’s pattern of increasing farm size and declining farm employment in face of increasing rural unemployment. Status and trends in Labour relations and farmworkers Agricultural skill requirements of farm or agricultural sector workers? Inclusion of agricultural graduates into the agricultural sector – what options, what can public and private sector do better? Key skill areas for rural development?

Transformation Critical structural challenges requiring transformation in KZN for the agriculture sector and there rural economy to grow? What is agrarian transformation in KZN context?

Rural Development thematic areas

Spatial marginalisation and spatial equity

Access to sustainable human settlement

What are the trends in migration between existing settlements or into new settlements? What are the trends in people formally accessing land and housing in formally recognised settlements (towns, villages, cities etc.)?

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(Improved land administration and spatial planning for integrated development in rural areas) (Increased access to quality basic infrastructure and services, particularly in education, healthcare and public transport in rural areas)

Are all settlements supported by recognised and well supported governance structures and land administration and management systems? To ensure access to government basic services development support. Impact of Tenure security and forms of tenure on access to development opportunities and basic services? Can SPLUMA objectives be achieved and support sustainable human settlement patterns?

Access to basic services and infrastructure (Increased access to quality basic infrastructure and services, particularly in education, healthcare and public transport in rural areas)

Norms and standards across typology of settlements – should this differe or be uniform? Impact of delivery of services on settlement patterns and spatial equity?

Rural Enterprise and industry development

What are the current opportunities for enterprise development in rural areas? What are the key sectors to prioritise and develop outside of agriculture?

Access to social services – education, Health, social support, ECD

Transport and ICT infrastructure and systems to enable accessibility

Can ICT and SMART agriculture support the achievement of Outcome & objectives? What are the opportunities for achieving spatial equity through improved access to ICT infrastructure, public transport and road networks?

Timeframes Call for abstracts 14 September 2017

Abstracts submitted by 20 October 2017

Papers accepted by 23 October 2017

Event dates 16 and 17 November 2017

Paper/ presentation requirements Approved papers will need to be presented as Powerpoints and supported by written

papers in the prescribed format. Accepted papers will be included in a Colloquium

publication after the event. Presentations can be no longer than 15 minutes.

Electronic copies of the PPT and the paper must be supplied to the colloquium

organisers before the date.

All abstracts accepted must be submitted electronically as full papers not less than

two days prior to the Colloquium. The papers can be either Adobe PDF or Ms Word

submissions. Papers must be completed on A4 page size, using 10pt font, Times

New Roman, with single line spacing and 6pt between paragraphs. Headings must

be 20pt. Include Authors name, address, affiliation, telephone number, and email

address in 11pt under the heading. Papers must be fully referenced, with references

include at the end of the paper.

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ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE

All abstracts must be submitted electronically by email to

[email protected] . Do not send hard copies.The deadline for

submission of abstracts is 6 October. Guidelines for abstract preparation are

provided below and should be read carefully prior to preparing your abstract.

ABSTRACT PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS

The abstract will be used by the Technical Review Committee as the sole basis for

acceptance of the paper for presentation. Thus, the abstract should clearly

communicate :

Which overarching question the position paper speaks to;

The position being made/ argued;

the status of the research work that it draws on to argue its position and why

this is relevant and useful;

the theme area it falls within or motivate a new theme if none of the suggested

themes are relevant.

Accepted summaries will be reproduced exactly as submitted in the Colloquium

Programme. Therefore, submitted abstracts should read like a short paper and be

suitable for publication. Time and effort spent constructing a clear, concise, and well-

written abstract will maximize the chances of paper acceptance. New work is not a

prerequisite for paper acceptance as all relevant, clearly motivated previously

published research can be drawn on to provide position papers to the overarching

questions and themes and will be considered by the review committee.

Questions regarding abstract preparation should be forwarded to Lisa Del Grande ,

[email protected] .

ABSTRACT FORMAT GUIDELINES

The format for abstracts consists of 300 words excluding authors details, and no

figures. Pages should be ISO A4 (210 X 297 mm) with margins of 2.5 cm on all

edges and font size not less than 10 pt. The abstract must be converted Microsoft

Word format for electronic submission.

The text page should include the authors' names, address, affiliation, telephone

number, and email address. References to prior work should be included as a

footnote at the end of the text page.

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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