SAVN
A Progress Report
October 1998 June 1999
Compiled by: Duncan Hay
Institute of Natural Resources
Submitted to: SAVN Stakeholders
Duncan Hay
Programme Manager and Director
Institute of Natural Resources
Private Bag X01
Scottsville, 3209
South Africa
Tel: 0331-460796
Fax: 0331-460895
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.
Ultimately we must move in the direction of payment for services rendered. Indeed, we are being forced in that direction anyway. The international funding which allowed the development of the network during 1997 and 1998 has been used to good effect but this source is no longer available. Local funding agents have a considerable interest in Vetiver technologies but prefer to invest their money in tangible applications such as conservation and rehabilitation projects, and nursery establishment. General promotion, the provision of advice, information compilation and dissemination, and co-ordination are low on their list of priorities. However, it is ironic these activities are critical for the success of those more tangible application initiatives.
It is a reality that many of organisations and individuals serviced by the network and its constituents rural small scale farmers, community based organisations, development NGOs will rarely have the funds to pay for these services. In the future we will be looking to our more established stakeholders in government, the private sector and the development community to form a partnership and trust through which the activities of the Network can be funded.
Preface and Acknowledgements
Various agencies have allocated funds and other resources for specific and general activities carried out by the Southern African Vetiver Network. Their contributions are acknowledged with considerable gratitude. They are listed below:
This report is aimed at providing this collective audience and other stakeholders with a common understanding of SAVN, its goals and objectives, its progress, its planned activities, and how the resources are being utilised.
A special mention of appreciation must go to Dick Grimshaw of TVN, Mark Dafforn of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), Paul Truong of the Queensland Government (Australia), and Tony Tantum of Specialised Soil Stabilisation (South Africa). 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
In February 1997 The Vetiver Network (TVN), an international network focusing on the promotion of Vetiver grass technologies worldwide, initiated the establishment of the Southern African Vetiver Network (SAVN) and also provided funds for specific activities in Mpumalanga Province. The Institute of Natural Resources was invited to establish SAVN and EcoLink was invited to head up the Mpumalanga initiative. Duncan Hay and David Jobson headed up the respective initiatives. Duncan is a Programme Manager and Director at the Institute and David is a volunteer with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO).
The missions of SAVN and the Mpumalanga initiative (now formally known as the Mpumalanga Vetiver Grass Programme - MVP) are similar: to promote and support Vetiver grass technologies for soil and moisture conservation in the agricultural, mining/quarrying, civil construction and conservation sectors. SAVN covers the entire SADC region but, because of its location, with a certain emphasis on South Africa, while MVP covers Mpumalanga and the Northern Province specifically.
In July 1998 VSO kindly accepted a request from the INR that David Jobsons term as a volunteer be extended for a further two years (this is not normally considered). So as to comply with work permit conditions, David was formally employed on a two-year contract with the Institute. He continues to operate from EcoLink in Mpumalanga. The retention of David by the Institute has been of considerable benefit in terms of co-ordination. It has had the effect of formally integrating the MVP into the SAVN. The Institute is now directly accountable for all the activities of these two initiatives.
Section 2: SAVN Objectives
SAVN has the following specific objectives:
Section 3: Progress in achieving objectives
3.1 Network establishment
SAVN has a network of approximately 400 individuals 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.
3.2 Promotion
In the first half of 1999 the following presentations were made and workshops held:
3.3 Information dissemination
Website: The network has a comprehensive website (www.inr.unp.ac.za/vetiver) linked to the international site (www.vetiver.org). It contains:
Newsletters: Five Newsletters have been compiled and distributed since the inception of the Network. The most recent, produced in February 1999, is appended (Appendix 1) for information.
World Bank "Green Book" and the EcoLink booklet: Both these informative booklets are out of print and stocks have run out. The World Bank is not considering printing more of the "Green Book" and EcoLink does not have funds to print another run of their booklet (See Section 4)
Publications and fact sheets: SAVN has produced two documents
Vetiver video: SAVN has copied the Vetiver video so that it is once again available for a nominal fee
3.4 Nursery establishment
Using the funds allocated by Nedcor SAVN is facilitating the establishment of the following community based nurseries
The funds will also be used to:
Discussions have been held with relevant stakeholders, infrastructural and training requirements have been determined and planting will commence in Spring. In all instances there is a demand for stock in the vicinity of the nurseries.
The National Landcare Programme has also allocated funds for nursery establishment and entrepreneurial development activities. The details of this initiative have yet to be defined.
Also, as a result of the presentation to the National Landcare Committee it is likely that Vetiver nursery establishment and Vetiver applications (with a strong emphasis on job creation and poverty alleviation will commence in Msinga (KZN) and Nebo (Northern Province) in the latter half of this year.
3.5 Seed Stock supply
The Institutes agricultural training, research and demonstration farm, Nansindlela, located near Inchanga has established a Vetiver nursery from which it supplies either freely or at a subsidised rate seed stock. When it cannot supply it directs users to other suppliers such as Spoornet nurseries, Department of Agriculture, The Valley Trust and commercial growers.
3.6 Training
As part of its small scale agricultural training course Nansindlela has a module on Vetiver grass technology.
3.7 Research
There is a considerable body of international research that demonstrates quite clearly what Vetiver can and cannot do. The focus of the Network is on application opportunities rather than on research needs. One area of action research that warrants attention is the extent to which Vetiver can attenuate leachate flow out of landfill sites. We are aware that it does it but how it does it and how effective it is remains vague.
3.8 Mpumalanga Vetiver Grass Programme (MVP)
Most of the progress of the MVP is described above. Following are a few additional points of note:
Section 4: Future Activities
The following activities will take priority over the next six months
Section 5: SAVN Finances
Following is a summary of income and expenditure for SAVN from the networks inception in 1997 until June 1999. 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 Chairmans Fund - R 25 000
Nedcor Community Development Trust - R 95 000
British High Commission - R 25 000
Total - R 285 600
Expenditure
MVP expenses - R 53 000
Co-ordination fee - R 132 465
Vetiver stock - R 14 346
Travel and subsistence - R 15 618
Printing, telephone and fax - R 7 146
Capital equipment (Irrigation system for Nansindlela nursery) - R 2 511
Tapes/films/slides/maps - R 9 961
Total - R 235 047
Balance (30/06/99) - R 50 553