SAVN

A Progress Report

October 1998 — June 1999

Compiled by: Duncan Hay

Institute of Natural Resources

Submitted to: SAVN Stakeholders

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:

• Anglican Diocese of Pretoria, Eastern Transvaal
• Anglo-American and de Beers Chairman’s Fund
• British High Commission: The Development Section
• EcoLink
• Institute of Natural Resources
• Nedcor Community Development Fund
• Specialised Soil Stabilisation
• The Vetiver Network (International)
• Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)

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 Jobson’s 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:

• To establish a network of organisations and individuals with a mutual interest in the application of Vetiver grass technologies in Southern Africa.

• To promote the use of Vetiver grass technologies throughout Southern Africa amongst:

• Government departments

• Infrastructure and service supply agencies

• Conservation agencies

• Development and Environmental NGOs

• Private companies, particularly those involved in mining, quarrying and civil construction activities

• Small and large scale farmers

• To disseminate information to all interest parties which results in the appropriate and effective use of Vetiver grass technologies

• To promote and facilitate the establishment of Vetiver grass nurseries particularly by disadvantaged communities

• To facilitate the supply of seed stock either at competitive prices or freely to those requiring it and to link suppliers with potential clients.

• To facilitate training in Vetiver applications as and when required

• To direct research towards improving Vetiver applications.

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:

•  
• National Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Dr Pallo Jordan, in Cape Town. His response was disappointing (probably a function of the upcoming elections and his impending retirement). He referred us to his Department stating that officials would be in contact. No contact has been made.
•  
• Department of Agriculture’s National Landcare Committee in Pretoria. The Department, the Committee and provincial departmental representatives fully endorsed the appropriate use of Vetiver technology and are employing it in a number of Landcare projects.
•  
• KZN chapter of the Society for Agricultural Extension at Mbongolwana (near Eshowe). Approximately 60 extensionists, farmers and local community members attended the presentation as part of an environmental field day. The response was extremely positive and the local Department of Agriculture extension service has committed itself to supplying stock and supporting initiatives
•  
• International Erosion Control Association (IECA): As part of an initiative to establish a South African chapter of this Association SA Gabions invited an international expert on erosion control and vegetative stabilisation, Dr David Barker, to provide a series of presentations in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Vetiver was one focus of these presentations. The audience was primarily from the civil construction sector.
•  
• Mpumalanga Parks Board at Loskop Dam - workshop,
•  
• Moutse Rural Women’s Forum - presentation
•  
• Mpumalanga Environmental Education Service - Presentation to 13 centre heads
•  
• Phalabora Mining Co. Environment Section — presentation including a most informative visit to Foskor Mine where stabilisation using Vetiver was demonstrated.
•  
• Wits Rural Facility Acornhoek - as part of a Soil Erosion Workshop with about 20 participants representing the Department of Agriculture (Extension Staff), the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, and NGOs.
•  
• Bushbuckridge North Conservation Project (BNCP). - presentation
•  
• The Nehemiah Network - Zimbabwe -The network consisted of about 25 Christian Community Development Workers from the region - Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Angola, South Africa and Ghana. (The Vetiver exhibition was up for the weekend of the conference and considerable information was taken from the stand to be circulated elsewhere. )
•  
• Ekucathuzeni Primary School, Emjindini Barberton — presentation followed by planting with staff and students
•  
• Mshadza High School, Nsikazi, Hazyview — presentation followed by planting undertaken with both staff and students.
•  
• Zamani High School, Nsikazi — presentation - already has some Vetiver on site planted some years ago by EcoLink.
•  
• Nelspruit Women’s Prison - a presentation and 2 plantings
•  
• VSO Conference — informal interactions
•  
• Mondi Staff — video presentation
•  
• DWAF, Driekoppies Dam, Malelane — video presentation (have since carried out applications)

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:

•  
• Technical information on Vetiver grass including the World Bank "Green Book"
•  
• The SAVN newsletters
•  
• A database of SAVN members
•  
• Various reports

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

•  
• Technical Specifications SAVN has produced a simple technical specification fact sheet for general distribution (Appendix 2)
•  
• Vetiver Field Manual: David Jobson, together with Programme Administrator, Gail Knox-Davies, has produced a draft Vetiver field manual to assist in demonstrations and presentations. The manual has a strong photographic base and is designed to compliment the other publications.

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

•  
• Hazelmere Dam - in partnership with Umgeni Water at Hazelmere Dam
•  
• Eshowe - In partnership with the Zulu Agricultural & Credit Union and the Siyakhanyisa Networking Forum
•  
• Bushbuck Ridge — with the Bushbuck Ridge North Conservation Project

The funds will also be used to:

•  
• Increase stack availability from the Nansindlela Nursery
•  
• Establish a nursery at the Nelspruit Women’s Prison
•  
• Establish two nurseries at schools in Mpumalanga

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 Institute’s 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:

•  
• David Jobson has achieved considerable success in the area. As a volunteer receiving a very modest monthly allowance his activities are particularly cost effective. His successes should also be seen in the context of ongoing and debilitating reconstructive surgery to his teeth, necessitated as a result of an assault and attempted robbery in Grahamstown last year.
•  
• The MVP has a travelling exhibition that is used at various agricultural shows and similar events. The assessment is that response to this form of promotion has been limited and that more specific identification of venues is required.
•  
• The Department of Agriculture is developing 3 community nurseries in Moutse (NW Mpumalanga) and planting will commence in October.
•  
• Forty-four new members have been recruited from this region to the network this year.

Section 4: Future Activities

The following activities will take priority over the next six months

•  
• Continued recruitment into the network

•  
• The establishment of a partnership programme and trust fund to ensure the ongoing financial sustainability of SAVN

•  
• Secure funding for, and publish and disseminate the World Bank "Green Book" and the EcoLink Vetiver booklet

•  
• Support the implementation of the recently commenced Vetiver nurseries initiative

•  
• Increase the capacity of the Nansindlela nursery to supply seed stock

•  
• The provision of presentations, workshops, advice and demonstration on a demand basis

Section 5: SAVN Finances

Following is a summary of income and expenditure for SAVN from the network’s 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 Chairman’s 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