Lobbying: the art of the possible - BioWatch
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Lobbying success “on the ground” Lawrence Mkhaliphi Biowatch Agro-Ecology Manager
Transcript of Lobbying: the art of the possible - BioWatch
Lobbying success “on the ground”
Lawrence MkhaliphiBiowatch Agro-Ecology Manager
Who is Biowatch South Africa? Founded in 1997 as an environmental and social justice NGO,
we work with small-holder farmers, other civil society organisations and government
to ensure that people have control over their food, agricultural practices and land within a bio-diverse,
agro-ecological and sustainable system.
Key focus areas:Biodiversity | Food Sovereignty | Biosafety | Social Justice
Two-fold approach:• Advocacy, research and networking• Work on the ground with small-holder farmers
• Advocacy, research and networking
• Work “on the ground” with small-holder farmers
NO to GMOs
NO to Industrial Agriculture
YES to Seed and Food Sovereignty
YES to Farmers’ Rights
YES to Agro-Ecology
Small-holder farmers are marginalised:• minimal government
support• no access to fencing• no access to piped
water
1. Work with small-holder farmers – training and support.
2. Supply fencing to secure food gardens – community erects fences.
Need access to water.
3. Seed ritual event– showcase to local municipality, traditional leaders.
Lessons learnt
• Let local government see and hear what communities need.
• Identify and support community “champions”.
• Show what can be done – producing much with little.
• Show government what they should be doing.
Lobbying is as much about “showing” as it is about “telling”!
Empowering and partnering with small-holder farmers for
REAL support “on the ground”.
Durban office
Address: 23 Acacia Road, Glenwood, Durban 4001
Telephone: 031 206 2954
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www. biowatch.org.za
Mtubatuba office:
Address: Oriole Centre, Jan Smuts Avenue, Mtubatuba
Telephone: 035 550 3148
Cell: 074 688 7854
E-mail: [email protected]
