A Progress Report July 1999 – August 2000

Compiled by: Duncan Hay

Institute of Natural Resources

Circulated to: SAVN Stakeholders

All correspondence to be directed to:

Duncan Hay
INR, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209
Tel: 033-3460796 / 083 630 1749
Fax: 033-3460895
E-mail: <[email protected]>

A Message From the Co-ordinator

The Southern Africa Vetiver Network provides a valuable service to a broad range of stakeholders with a common interest in reducing and reversing the devastating effects of soil erosion and reduced water quality in our region. We promote and provide advice, demonstration and support on a technology that works and that is simple, affordable, replicable, enduring, has diverse applications and uses, and is environmentally friendly.

As occurred last year the majority of funding (the exceptions being the sponsorship from the Thai Government to assist two participants to attend the International Conference on Vetiver, and a publication grant from the German Development Service) for the reporting period was generated within South Africa. All these funders have a direct interest in improved soil conservation in the SADC region.

It is encouraging to note increased interest in and support for Vetiver Grass Technology (VGT) by the South African Government, particularly by the National Department of Agriculture.

Preface and Acknowledgements

Various agencies have allocated funds and other resources for specific and general activities carried out by the Southern African Vetiver Network since its inception. Their contributions are acknowledged with considerable gratitude. They are listed below:

Since July 1999 a further two funders have made significant contributions which I would like to highlight:

A special mention of appreciation must go to Dick Grimshaw of TVN, Mark Dafforn of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), and Paul Truong of the Queensland Government (Australia). Their willingness to impart of their considerable knowledge on Vetiver has allowed us, in turn, to effectively service network participants in Southern Africa. Finally, a special thanks to Jane Zimmermann for her fund-raising efforts in an increasingly difficult economic climate.

Section 1: General Organisation

The Southern Africa Vetiver Network (SAVN) is hosted by the Institute of Natural Resources in Pietermaritzburg. There are five other proposed or existing networks covering different regions in Southern Africa: Mpumalanga/Northern Province, Tanzania, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Swaziland. Each of these networks is autonomous but receives support (technical, information etc) from SAVN.

Section 2: SAVN Objectives

SAVN has the following specific objectives:

Section 3: Impact

3.1 Network establishment

SAVN has a network of 630 individuals and organisations (increase from 450 in July 1999) located in Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa. Of these Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa have good representation. A list of members and their contact details can be downloaded from the website. In addition there are two other functional networks in the SADC region:

As mentioned in the preface funding has been obtained from the National Department of Agriculture for the establishment of and/or further development of networks in Eastern Cape Province, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. This was a result of a project proposal compiled and submitted to the Department by SAVN in April 2000. The establishment of a network in Swaziland is also progressing.

3.2 Promotion

During the reporting period meetings and or presentations were held with a diverse range of organisations and institutions in the public, private and civil society sectors. They include amongst others:

3.3 Information dissemination

Website: The network has a comprehensive website linked to the international site. It contains:

Newsletters: Seven newsletters have been compiled and distributed since the inception of the Network. The response to these newsletters has been positive and reinforces our view that they are central to information dissemination in a region where access to electronic communication is limited.

World Bank “Green Book” and the EcoLink booklet: Both these informative booklets are out of print and stocks have run out. SAVN is currently reprinting and copies will be available by the time this report reaches you.

Publications and fact sheets: SAVN has produced two documents:

Vetiver video: SAVN has copied the Vetiver video and it is available for a nominal fee.

CD-ROM: A CD-ROM, produced by Paul Truong in Australia, which illustrates vetiver applications, is available from SAVN for a nominal fee (R 30) which covers copying and mailing.

3.4 Grass Stock

The Network has supported the establishment of a number of nurseries (largely community-based) in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. Large nurseries were `discovered' at Bathurst and Tsolo in the Eastern Cape which will greatly assist in market supply in this province. Two other nurseries (at Bisho and Queenstown) will be planted this year. The erratic distribution of stock throughout the region remains problematic. Network members are encouraged to promote nursery development and to report to the co-ordinator where stocks of grass might be accessed.

3.5 Training

As part of its small-scale agricultural training course the INR training farm, Nansindlela, has a module on Vetiver grass technology.

3.6 Research and Conferences

The Network received several distinct genetic varieties of vetiver from Dr. Robert P. Adams, Director of the Plant Biotechnology Center at Baylor University in the United States. Despite spending seven days dehydrating in various aircraft holds most of the plants survived. Now that the plants have grown out it is the intention to carry out research on the relative ability of these plants perform in cooler climates. It is the intention is to establish 3 plots: one coastal, one at about 3000 ft altitude and one at about 5000 feet and look at relative performance of the genetic types within the plots and between the plots. We will try and locate sites with similar rainfall and soil characteristics with the only major difference being temperature.

In January 2000 four representatives from South Africa were invited to and attended the Second International Conference on Vetiver in Thailand. The conference provided a tremendous learning experience for these representatives in areas ranging from rehabilitation to vetiver-based craftwork production.

Section 4: Future Activities

The following activities will take priority in 2000 and 2001:

Section 5: SAVN Finances

Following is a summary of income and expenditure for SAVN from the network's inception in 1997 until June 2000. Details of MVPs contribution are only included from December 1998 when it was formally included within the SAVN project administration system.

Income:

TVN - R 140 600
Anglo-American and de Beers Chairman's Fund - R 25 000
Nedcor Community Development Trust - R 95 000
British High Commission - R 25 000
Tony & Lisette Lewis Foundation - R 150 000
Total South Africa - R 10 000
German Development Service (DED) - R 10 000
David Brown - R 300
Total - R 455 900
Expenditure
MVP expenses - R 118 000
Co-ordination fee - R 215 325
Vetiver stock - R 21 616
Travel and subsistence - R 29 580
Printing, telephone and fax - R 11 470
Capital equipment (Irrigation system for Nansindlela nursery) - R 2 752
Tapes/films/slides/maps - R 9 964
Total - R 408 707
Balance (30/06/2000) - R 47 193