Water for Growth and Development IWRM in Service Delivery Community Projects & Funding Conference “Water for Resource Limited Farmers and Reform”

The Right to Water and WAR Land and water are important natural resources to address poverty and stimulate rural economic development particularly in the context of agricultural reform. Access to water is first and foremost a right, rather than a commodity or service provided to the poor and landless. Yet, the right to water is often a missing link in the debate on pro-poor agrarian reform and the distribution of water across class, race and gender remain unequal The Dept has started a process of addressing this. The WAR aims to re-allocate resources from those who have to those previously excluded.

A great challenge to maintaining a balance between water scarcities, redressing this unequal distribution of water and ensuring access to water for future generations given the potential impact of climate change (you already observe some changes) White commercial agriculture continues to remain the largest consumers of water further compounded by the fact that land ownership patterns remains the same with less than 4% of agricultural land being redistributed. For example emerging farmers as new entrants want access to water and productive assets, large commercial farmers want additional water to expand their agricultural operations (Share Equities take most of the water rights and not real empowerment) DWAF are tasked to accelerate the implementation of WAR and compulsory licensing process (Jan Dissels process will ensure re-allocation is initiated)

Water reform should ensure that the rural poor and landless particularly farm dwellers and workers gain access to water and land, as provided in the constitution. Water User Associations (WUA), Catchment Management Agencies (CMA) and water forums have been established to democratize the use and management of water as a critical resource. We face many challenges – Dept Strat Plan Pg 17 Public participation in the management of water resources therefore becomes essential and a constitutional obligation to ensure the efficient and sustainable use of the resource and provide for the equitable access to these water resources. Local Govt is extensively supported by the Dept. – yet you can cite many examples of problems – you need to put the pressure an alternatives

Sustainable Agriculture As emerging farmers and farm dwellers we have to develop alternative strategies for agrarian reform based on our daily struggles and the principles of human rights - the right to water should form a critical part. This should include access to and control over water and other natural resources. The use of pesticides it has shown are responsible for contamination of our ground and surface water, particularly canals, dams, boreholes and rivers. This could have long -term health effects and the contamination of our soil and water. Water harvesting, conservation, management of scarce resources should be part of your practices Climate change will require you to review and explore new land uses / options in future

What are our challenges? SPP’s experience in the Western and Northern Cape shows that emerging farmers and farm dwellers continues to have a lack of access to land and water resources. NC delegate remarkd that only 0,5% redistributed. Clanwilliam waited 13 years for commonage etc Participation in water institutions are constrained by limited knowledge, technical know how and lack of information – if we do not address these weaknesses real transformation and redistribution will just remain empty words. Collective challenge all role players We need to influence decision making at these institutions and engage existing power relations.

Challenges and responsibilities Expose unsustainable practices and also correct our own farming practices to effectively implement water conservation It is important to emphasize it is our right to participate and make decisions on how water should be managed in our areas – get involved Jan Dissels This can only improve through building organisation and a process of political education to critically engage within this process. Farm dwellers, emerging farmers and the landless should actively participate in the transformation process of water and agricultural reform – the raising of the Clanwilliam dam is a space to engage

Conclusion The struggle for agrarian reform should be broader than just access to land but should include agricultural and water reform to address the problems of rural poverty. It is only through organisation and our collective action / lobbying that we can bring about transformation in rural areas and broader society.

Conclusion Requires cooperation, sharing and learning from each other and building our local organisations. Resources bring conflicts but find creative solutions to your differences. The projects presented here today are challenged to provide ethical leadership, ensure participatory organisation and implement sustainable practices. I wish you well in all your efforts, struggles, activities. SPP supports many of you so we look forward tackling these challenges together.