UFH to Mentor the Provincial Management Team of the Initiative for Development and Equity in African Agriculture (IDEAA)

“Think about what the human race has accomplished, space exploration, satellite communication, heart transplants, cracking the human genetic code. We’ve done what previous generations never dreamed of. But do you ever wonder, if we’re so advanced, why 820 million people still don’t have enough to eat? It’s absurd.” Miriam Zenzi Makeba, world renowned diva, recipient of a UFH honorary doctorate and Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.

For Sivelelo Nompozolo who is based in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development, agriculture is the answer to the above paradox, “Agriculture is, and for the foreseeable future, will remain the backbone of Africa’s economy. The majority of Africans are rural people, their incomes and livelihoods are directly or indirectly linked to Agriculture. The African farmers are dominantly smallholders. Africa has had minimal success with small-holders agriculture, yet such success arguably, is an important pre-requisite for reducing poverty, hunger, unemployment, and propelling overall economic development.”

With such passion for one’s work, which employs scientific programmes towards starvation and poverty eradication, little wonder Nompozolo has been appointed to serve in the Provincial Management Team to mentor the Initiative for Development and Equity in African Agriculture (IDEAA) phase II programme representing the University of Fort Hare. IDEAA is a Southern African programme currently running in seven countries (Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe) in the SADC region. The objective of the programme is to contribute towards small holder agricultural development by increasing agricultural productivity.

The programme was conceived in 1996, when the Rockerfeller Foundation responded to regional concerns over smallholder agriculture in Africa by setting aside some resources for African agricultural experts to design a programme that could strengthen African institutional capacity. A foundation member, Dr Blackie and a University of Zimbabwe staff member Professor Rukuni were tasked with spearheading the process, which initially focused on three pilot sites, Malawi, Zimbabwe and the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The concept of Initiative for the Development and Equity in African Agriculture was developed and discussed with leading agriculturalists in these three countries. In the process the Kellogg foundation also availed resources, which resulted in the expansion of the programme to Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, KwaZulu Natal and the Eastern Cape provinces in South Africa. In South Africa the programme now runs in three provinces the Eastern Cape, Kwazulu Natal and Limpopo Province. In 1998, Nompozolo was among five fellows appointed to pioneer the programme in South Africa. And following the resounding success of the first phase of this fellowship programme, he has been appointed to the Provincial Management Team of the second phase of IDEAA to maintain the momentum and continued engagement of the critical mass of intellectuals who have undergone the fellowship programme for the benefit of the smallholder farm in the region.

In his welcome address at a cocktail party hosted to celebrate the successful completion of the first phase of the programme, which also marked the launch of IDEAA phase II, Executive Mayor of Amatole District Municipality, Councilor Sakhumzi Somyo said, “ One of the key challenges the world faces is the eradication of poverty. We have the land, we must love it and desire to derive a meaningful living from it because with it we can alleviate poverty and even create wealth”. He said food security in Africa was an imperative and IDEAA is a revival, a rebirth that is dovetailed into the African Renaissance, “The launch of IDEAA is significant as it ensures strengthening African institute capacity and places an emphasis on agriculture economy development. The time is long over due for the smallholder to begin to treat farming as a business, only then can we ensure sustained productivity.”

Handing over the programme to the incumbent team, IDEAA II, a member of the pioneering team of IDEAA I , Dr Siqwana-Ndlovu, paid tribute to all those who supported them and contributed to their success. She singled out the Kellogg Foundation for their phenomenal support to the programme, “The Kellogg Foundation was there with us every step of the way, they showed a keen interest in what we were doing and unlike many sponsors who just put money in projects as a public relations exercise, the foundation demanded rigorous and timely reports from us. And I must say they read these because we always got feed back from them.” Dr Siqwana-Ndlovu also thanked the Land Ban and the Department of Economic Affairs in Bisho for their support together with her team members for the sterling input they made to the success of the project. In his keynote address, Agriculture Head of Department, Manjesi said, “It is imperative for the private sector to get involved and assist subsistence and emerging farmers if indeed we are sincere about eradicating poverty and empowering our people.” He said the developed world was protecting their farmers and this was a wake up call for African countries to assist their farmers. Manjesi pledged his department’s full support to IDEAA, “Initiatives already taken by my department to facilitate improved farming techniques and skill, equitable resources to agriculture development, encourage increased food production and improved livestock and improve our farmer’s competitiveness all compliment the noble goals of IDEAA,” he said.

Council Chairperson, Dr Sidzumo-Mazibuko gave a vote of thanks and said she was heartened by the sterling way the outgoing team had carried out their task and represented the university with distinction. “The downpour of praises that you are receiving is indicative of the viability of Fort Hare as a strategic partner in the region.” She said the success of this programme presents an opportunity for the university to network and forge links with other stakeholders.

By Tigele Mokobi and Luthando Bara