Afesis-corplan cordially invites you to attend our fourth quarterly seminar for 2011 which will be held on 18 November 2011 at the Osner hotel (08h30). The topic of the seminar is on ‘Small scale/ holder agriculture’.

Introduction

Small-scale agriculture is an alternative to factory farming or more broadly, intensive agriculture that is prevalent in primarily first world countries. An environmental health perspective of sustainable agriculture notes that it “is not merely a package of prescribed methods. More important, it is a change in mind set whereby agriculture acknowledges its dependence on a finite natural resource base including the finite quality of fossil fuel energy that is now a critical component of conventional farming systems."

South Africa is faced with the issue of how to secure food for its population, whilst addressing the land inequalities that were left by the apartheid government. The South African constitution section 27 (1) stresses that everyone has the right to have access to health care services, including reproductive health care; sufficient food and water; and social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependants, appropriate social assistance. In other words food is not a business but a human right. The constitution also states in section 25 (5) that the state must foster, within its available resources, conditions which enable citizens to gain access to land on an equitable basis.

According to the Worldwatch institute, the key to alleviating world hunger, poverty and combating climate change may lie in fresh, small-scale approaches to agriculture. The State of the World report says that ‘small is key ... school nutrition programmes and indigenous livestock preservation are excellent ways to encourage food security’. There have been calls for a move away from industrial agriculture and there has been an increase in discussions around small-scale initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa that work towards poverty and hunger relief in an environmentally sustainable way.

Afesis-corplan is hosting this seminar on small scale/holder agriculture to create a platform where the public can voice their views on small scale agriculture, looking into issues of job creation, food security and climate change.

Seminar Programme

DATE   : Friday, 18 November 2011
VENUE   : Osner Hotel, Quigney, East London
TIME   : 08h30 – 13h30
REGISTRATION OPENS : 08h30
SEMINAR STARTS  : 09h00

Speakers:

• DVD clip: ‘The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil
• The pros and cons of permaculture versus conventional food production in a new climate change and peak oil context by Pierre-Louis Lemercier, the Renewable energy centre
• Trends in agriculture: General context for South Africa and other local municipalities by Mulugheta Araia, Fort Cox College of Agriculture & Forestry
• Agrarianisation or de-agrarianisation in the Eastern Cape? Implications to employment creation in the agricultural sector by Dr. Mabhena, University of Fort Hare University
• Promoting Household Food Security model to address household food insecurity in South Africa by Artwell Chivhinge

RSVP
Everyone is welcome to attend and to invite other interested parties. To confirm your attendance kindly email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Tel: 043 743 3830