WWF Sabie Water Stewardship Project – Inception Workshop
The WWF Sabie Water Stewardship Project, funded by WWF Nedbank Green Trust and implemented by SANParks and Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region, held its inception workshop in Mkhulu, Ngonini on the 23rd of April 2018. The workshop was attended by 85 people in a total of which 74 participants were emerging farmers affiliated with the Khomanani Irrigation Scheme, 9 guests from the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region and SANPARKS.
Dr. Eddie Riddell, project leader and facilitator, communicated at the workshop that the three year funded project aims to maximise benefits from water stewardship for emerging farmers and conservation areas downstream of the Mpumalanga Drakensberg Strategic Water Source Area through enhancing farming activities in irrigation schemes along the Sabie river immediately adjacent to the Kruger National Park and providing incentives for catchment stewardship through the private sector focusing on the mid- and headwaters of the Sabie catchment. Furthermore, the project envisages promoting water security at catchment scale as the Sabie River is one of South Africa's most bio-diverse river systems. The farmers were very receptive of the project and communicated that they were pleased with the workshop, and alluded that additional workshops need to be conducted so that they can gain more knowledge. Mr. Andrew Ndlovu, Chairperson of the Khomanani Irrigation Scheme informed the participants the at the WWF funded project is a starting point that will educate and inform them on effective water use in agriculture, and jointly collaborate for the success for all farmers in the lower catchment.
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