RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
5.2 RESEARCH ANSWERS
5.2.3 Implementation
How does the implementing agent decide upon the approach to take for implementation?
From Chapter 2, the CBNRM principles were considered in implementation:
(D Integrating economic and environmental goals in policies and activities;
(D Emphasis on transdisciplinary approaches and socio-economic development;
d> Sustaining agricultural production over the long term;
(D Providing for equity within and between generations;
d> Dealing cautiously with risk and irreversibility; and (D Recognizing the global dimension of action.
The approach taken was largely supported by the research questionnaires, focus group discussions, interviews and was guided by a successful initiative in Avon Catchment Network (2000: 2) Australia stating the following:
"In 1990, a partnership formed in the Avon Region, Western Australia, brought together by commitment and knowledge of farmers, the technical skills of Agriculture Western Australia, and the financial support of the major mining company Alcoa World Alumina Australia and the National Land Care Programme. With this partnership, more than a hundred farming families working co-operatively in six catchment groups have implemented new land management systems to repair degraded land, conserve bushland areas and wildlife, and protect waterways. Together they have developed successful but still evolving Land Care management systems. They have learned how to plan as a group and how to implement management challenges across the whole landscape."
The rationale for using the above-mentioned approach was the fact that the SRU policy contained no clear guidelines and steps to follow, on how to go about implementing it. The approach followed, is outlined briefly as phases: Phase 1:
Communication, establishment of relationships and partnerships; Phase 2:
Awareness raising and learning about partnerships; Phase 3: Development of
goals and objectives from needs assessment; Phase 4: Community-based issue analysis; Phase 5: Development of action plans and proposals for Land Care funding; Phase 6: Submission for funding; Phase 7: Implementation and monitoring; Phase 8: Evaluation and feedback; and Phase 9: Support for established structures.
Table 4 highlights the essential aspects in the objectives of the SRU policy, specifically as applied to Enkumane. It was adapted from a framework as described in Chapter 4. The author agrees with Levitt (1980) who states that the framework assists in the process of describing and identifying important features in the policy process. An example of a framework is shown below.
Table 4: A framework adapted for assessment of proposals (Levitt 1980).
Category Intervention
Administrative
Integration
Areas of Exploration 1. Nature of the problem
2. Severity of the problem 3. State of knowledge-base
4. Application of knowledge, experience and skills 5. Statutory expression of policy
6. Instruments for policy
7. Framework within which policy belongs 8. Timetable for introducing policy
9. Financial and resource costs 10. Enforcement
11. Interested parties 12. Roles
13. Relationships between parties
The proposals generated from the partnerships will now be outlined. The policy instruments should be considered here. As stated in Chapter 2, they are defined as the people, organizations and devices through which policies are expressed. An application for project funding through the National Department of Agriculture's Land Care Programme was developed. The mission for the project was to build the capacity of Masibambaneni Youth Club so as to promote sustainable livelihoods in the Enkumane community using incentives. The primary incentive was the grant, which was applied for. This was especially investigated as development is more a process by which members of a society increase their personal and institutional capacities to mobilize resources, in order to produce sustainable and jusdy distributed improvements in their quality of life consistent with their own aspirations (Korten 1991). This included the development of the Masibambaneni Youth Club as an important institution.
Institutions are enduring systems of structures, rules, customs and values that shape the behaviors and relationships of people within a society. The overall goal of the Land Care approach was to optimize productivity and sustainability of local resources, to bring about greater productivity, food security, job creation and a better quality of life. The potential benefits of the implementation of the SRU policy were high because of the deteriorating agricultural land, soil erosion, overgrazing, bush encroachment, invasion of alien plants, and inappropriate land use practices. Training was provided by the Department of Labour in catering, Permaculture, business skills, block making and craft making. The KwaZulu- Natal Department of Agriculture provided agricultural extension services. It was logical that the economic instrument mentioned in Chapter 2, provided more value to the case study.
The full involvement of the local community promoted the partnership approach where all stakeholders benefited. The major strengths of the programme were
that the Masibambaneni Youth Club members are determined to improve their livelihoods. The major weakness was the impact of disadvantage clusters, and negative perceptions on development because of previous unsatisfactory experience and violence. Alien plant invasion, flooding, lack of proper waste disposal, no sanitation, overgrazing, uncontrolled firewood collection and poor developmental planning are threats to implementing the SRU policy in Enkumane. The main objectives were employment creation and sustainable income generation, improving household food security, CBNRM, sustainable development, and improving the quality of life of the youth. Table 5 lists the proposed techniques for implementing the SRU policy at Enkumane.
The implementing agencies were the Masibambaneni Youth Club, National and the Provincial Departments of Agriculture, the Department of Labour, the Post Office, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Eskom, Telkom and the Richmond Community Tourism Organization.
Table 5: A compilation of proposed techniques for implementing the SRU policy
at Enkumane.
Techniques
Rehabilitation
Propagation of Vetiver
& other plants Installation of water tanks with pumps &
pipe
Building of swales Stone packing in dongas
Land Use Type
Communal gardens & terraces Degraded sites
Communal gardens & key points
Communal gardens
Mixed, grazing, natural veld, crops
Area Size
200ha lOha lha
lOha lha
Initiation of an integrated alien plant control programme1 Establishment of a grazing management Programme Initiation of a community skills building programme Crop introductions for food security
Disease control
Community gardens
Mixed, grazing, natural veld, crops
N/A
Community gardens Grazing lands
200ha
2000ha
N/A
lOOha 2000ha