PRESENTATION TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY

Background to NAFU The National African Farmers Union ( NAFU) was formed 14 years ago under the auspices of NAFCOC The main aim of the union was to facilitate entry of black farmers into the mainstream of agriculture lobbying the then government and assisting black farmers to access land and other resources.

Background -Objectives of NAFU To Promote the interests of members and act as their mouthpiece To promote the acquisition by its members of agricultural land and lobby for appropriate tenure arrangements To ensure the removal of all legal restrictions which inhibit the activities of small and emerging farmers

Major challenges Noted : Initiatives KFA 5: regarding empowerment Legacy of past Water/ Irrigation alone cannot solve problems of emerging Agriculture Irrigation has potential – but is just one of components of broader integrated sustainable rural dev. Strategies

Challenges (c ) Initiatives to revitilize old schemes & ensure access (Sustainability) Access to other factors of production – Land Access to markets Knowledge Credit Technology Water

Specific Issues Water rights a commodity Limpopo: Problems of land reform beneficiaries – Land bought without water rights Water rights for black farmers an issue- Case of Mpumalanga: Cannot get rights / while neighbors are de-bushing Coordination between Department: re Infrastructure Participation