The Swaziland Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (SWADE), a government parastatal, has injected new life into the community of Maplotini using an integrated water resources management approach.
When SWADE assessed the area in 2006, it found much of the land was being used to graze cattle, with some sugar cane farming, and small plots of vegetables for household consumption. Livestock and people alike suffered from a shortage of water. Sanitation facilities were also absent. “We had to wait for sunset to relieve ourselves in the nearest bush,” remarked one woman resident.
Ironically, plentiful water is available. When the Pongolapoort dam was completed just across the border in 1973, South Africa agreed to supply a specified amount of water back to the area in compensation for flooding 1,500 hectares on the Swazi side.
So in 2006, infrastructure was already in place to irrigate 530 hectares around Maplotini – to expand sugar cane production and potentially valuable vegetable gardening. It was not being used to its full potential due to internal conflicts in the community and a lack of skills and vision. Water for household use was directly dependent on the irrigation system, meaning when that supply was suspended, the taps ran dry.
SWADE’s approach involves building up local leadership and accountability and instilling an entrepreneurial mindset that allows communities to establish and maintain agricultural businesses. The parastatal’s training programmes rely on story-telling, illustrations, experiential learning and demonstrations in order to overcome typically low levels of literacy. Its philosophy is one of integrated water resource management.
Mbabazeni Matsenjwa, chair of the Maplotini Water Project [official name: Capacity Building for Lavumisa Irrigation Development Project], says SWADE partnered with the community to install water taps and build proper pit latrines. Community members dug the pits and SWADE provided the materials for the latrines.
SWADE also distributed 1,000-litre tanks to each home and connected them to a supply from Swaziland Water Services Corporation. The safe drinking water is also used to water backyard gardens. This component of the project in Maplotini cost $120,000, sourced from the Southern African Development Community, the Danish International Development Agency and the Swazi government.
“We had to drive donkey carts to Lavumisa town (five km away). Or hire a van to town at 50 rand (just over $6) to carry 210 litres. The town board charged us 60 cents per 25 litres,” explains Matsenjwa.
With the advent of the scheme, project manager Jerry Nxumalo says the community pays for the maintenance of the domestic water infrastructure – and for the water itself. Maplotini has a water committee and a small team to take care of the system.
A communal garden project has also been established, to teach and support the community to practice sustainable agriculture. The garden produces various vegetables, like spinach, beetroot, carrots and onions.
Ten hectares of land were secured from the sugar cane farmers, and SWADE’ helped to set up pipes for irrigation, fencing, and water taps to plant six hectares of vegetables. The communal garden project currently has seventy-two members, each of whom has been allocated a 25 by 50 metre plot.
The gardening project is also improving lives of people living with HIV/AIDS. A Lavumisa-based NGO, Mothers for Life, was given a hectare to grow vegetables for those who are destitute and chronically sick. Good nutrition is important for patients on anti-retroviral therapy.
In addition to the community garden, and the supply of drinking water and improved sanitation, the area planted with sugar cane was increased from 180 to 234 hectares and 91 hectares were planted with other crops by the Maplotini Cooperative. The Cooperative also planted 40 hectares with vegetables for sale in local markets.
Few of the homesteads in the area require donated food and SWADE expects the community has been set on a path of sustainable income generation.
Reviewing three years of effort, DANIDA programme officer Tania Diederiks said, “SWADE cannot remain here forever. They have assisted you to get onto your (own) feet. Now you know what you want and how to get it after being empowered, so you should go for it with all your abilities.”
For more information on the Capacity Building for Lavumisa Irrigation Development Project go to web sites of SWADE and SADCWATER.
For more information on multiple use water services go here.
Source: Phathizwe-Chief Zulu, IPS, 05 Jul 2009
