Bibliography: Land Degradation in South Africa project

Development of Small Scale Water Resources in Rural Areas, Khon Kaen, Thailand,

21-25 May. Occasional Paper 50.Anonymous Anonymous Pietermaritzburg:Institute of

Natural Resources, University of Natal. , 1990.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : WATER CONSERVATION; RURAL DEVELOPMENT; HYDROLOGY; SOUTHERN AFRICA;

POLICY; LAND USE; FORESTRY; MODELS

Notes : The inhabitants of less developed rural areas are experimental and

adaptive - they cannot afford not to be. They need, it is now realised, not

dictates but methods, not precepts but principles, not single system but a range

of options, not instructions on what to adopt, but ideas about what to try, with

support for their own trials and experimentation. With these basic tenets in

mind, the Institute of Natural Resources has initiated a number of small scale

water resources development schemes in less developed rural areas of southern

Africa within the general framework of an integrated rural development approach.

Important components of this approach include local institutional development,

land capability analysis and the formulation of policy and recommendations

concerning regional development and the optimum form of land use for a

particular area. Emphasis is placed on sustainability and economic upliftment

with the primary objective being to encourage and provide opportunities for

local people to move from subsistence agriculture into commercial farming and/or

other rural based income generating activities. Concurrent with the initial

study phase, a number of small scale precursor trials and demonstration units

relating to agriculture, forestry, water and sanitation development, etc., are

established with the help of the community and are run by local families or

groups. These early trials afford the community and researchers an opportunity

to assess the relative advantages and disadvantages of new systems, and lead

directly to the formulation by the local development committees (assisted by the

researchers) of realistic development proposals for the area. This paper

describes a successful model for small scale water resources development

involving the adoption of an integrated approach to overall development in

impoverished rural areas.

Ref ID : 979

867. Erskine, J.M. Environmental management and rural settlement: the human

carrying capacity of South Africa's less developed rural areas. Paper presented

at the conference on population growth and the environment: our tomorrow,

Technikon Natal, Durban, 16 June. Occasional Paper 48.Anonymous Anonymous

Pietermaritzburg:Institute of Natural Resources, University of Natal. , 1990. An

improvement in the quality of life for people living in the less developed rural

areas of southern Africa will depend on the optimisation of land usage in these

areas. This in turn requires extension of knowledge and links from South

Africa's developed sector, the creation of new centres in these areas which are

equipped from the start with all the components needed for a balanced life, and

the design of the links and centres in such a way that they, in turn, promote

the transformation of subsistence agriculture to commercial farming and ensure

that a permanent balance is retained with the environment. Thus, it can be

stated quite simply that there is a requirement for: construction of new

infrastructure; construction of new urban centres (rural service centres); and

introduction of commercial agriculture. This development triumvirate recognises

the growing population pressure on and the inherent limitation of the

agricultural (natural resource) base and the consequent need, if growth

(economic development) and a better quality of life are to be achieved, for

urbanisation and small-scale industrialisation.

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Keywords : RURAL DEVELOPMENT; POPULATION; COMMUNAL AREA; PRODUCTION POTENTIAL;

SOUTHERN AFRICA

Ref ID : 730

868. Erskine, J.M. Achieving sustainable agriculture in less developed rural

areas: introductory notes. Discussion/Mini-symposium Group F4. XXI International

Conference of Agricultural Economists, Tokyo, Japan, August 22-29, 1991.

Occasional Paper 99.Anonymous Anonymous Pietermaritzburg:Institute of Natural

Resources, University of Natal. , 1991.

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Keywords : SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE; COMMUNAL AREA; POLICY

Notes : To conclude this paper, the objectives of sustainable agriculture are

more a description of needs than a plan of action: increase production, yet

conserve resources; provide for twice as many people at higher rates of

consumption, yet avoid disastrous impacts on the environment. These are bold

objectives, and it is not at all certain how they will be achieved. The present

and past offer little reassurance. Demand growth and environmental degradation

are closely correlated, even in prosperous countries. Yet if we are to convey

to those who follow not only the resources on which to base adequate lives, but

also choices and hope, we must realize these objectives. We must develop

systems of production that satisfy growing needs and also maintain and enhance

the agricultural environment on which systems and policies that reconcile

differences. The challenges are formidable and the route uncertain. But would

any other course be acceptable? The concept of sustainability recognizes that

agriculture is governed as much by principles of system maintenance, and that

conflicts will inevitably arise. It offers a conceptual framework within which

these conflicts can be articulated and the best approach for resolving them.

Ref ID : 725

869. Erskine, J.M. Rain water harvesting systems in southern Africa. Paper

presented at the Conference on Rain Water Cistern Systems, Keelung, Taiwan,

August. Occasional Paper 86.Anonymous Anonymous Pietermaritzburg:Institute of

Natural Resources, University of Natal. :1-10, 1991. Poor water supplies and

sanitation services continue to be critical problems in the less developed rural

areas of southern Africa despite considerable effort to improve and expand

access. It is widely recognised that safe, easily available water supplies

provided in a form acceptable to the communities concerned are essential for

rural development. Most rural communities depend on local sources of water

which are available naturally - river water, open wells and springs - and these

are frequently polluted. Not nearly enough use is made of rain water collection

systems. This paper describes the research and development work conducted on

rain water harvesting systems in southern Africa in recent years. A case study

is referred to for the purpose of illustrating the approach being used to meet

the water needs of communities in some less developed rural areas for domestic

as well as agricultural use, with particular reference to the introduction of

simple, cost effective rain water harvesting technologies. The approach

emphasises the need through appropriate institutional arrangements, in choosing

suitable technologies.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : HYDROLOGY; RAINFALL; WATER CONSERVATION; SOUTHERN AFRICA; RURAL

DEVELOPMENT

Ref ID : 726

870. Erskine, J.M. Strategies for transforming subsistence farming to small

scale commercial agriculture. Report on Mini-Symposium F-4. XXI International

Conference of Agricultural Economists, Tokyo, Japan, August 22-29, 1991.

Occasional Paper 87.Anonymous Anonymous Pietermaritzburg:Institute of Natural

Resources, University of Natal. , 1991.

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Keywords : AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT; AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION; ECONOMIC ASPECTS;

COMMUNAL AREA

Notes : This article is a summary of deliberations. In summary, if the

development of small-scale commercial agriculture is important to a country,

government interventions must be oriented towards the needs of existing and

emerging small-scale farmers.

Ref ID : 727

871. Erskine, J.M. Sustainable land use and development in a changing South

Africa. Paper presented at the XXI International Conference of Agricultural

Economists, Tokyo, Japan, August. Occasional Paper 88.Anonymous Anonymous

Scottsville:Institute of Natural Resources. , 1991.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE; LAND USE; RURAL DEVELOPMENT; COMMUNAL AREA

Ref ID : 739

872. Erskine, J.M. Farming support programmes: a historical perspective from

development agencies' point of view. Paper presented at the Second Extension

Conference for Developing States (SA Society for Agricultural Extension),

Mmabatho, 3-5 March 1992. Occasional Paper 125.Anonymous Anonymous

Pietermaritzburg:Institute of Natural Resources, University of Natal. , 1992.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION; RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Notes : In this paper, a brief summary is presented of (a) the shortcomings of

past farming support efforts; (b) current initiatives; and (c) some new thinking

relating to integrated development in SA's rural areas which acknowledges the

importance of small-scale agriculture but emphasises the need for a more

holistic view of rural development. Put very simply, an effective farming

support programme is a comprehensive one that gives attention to satisfying the

basic needs and the farming needs of rural people wishing to use all or part of

their land holdings for sustainable production (crops, animals, trees) either on

a full-time or part-time basis.

Ref ID : 763

873. Erskine, J.M. Lessons in rural development. Farmer's Weekly :22-24, 1992.

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Keywords : RURAL DEVELOPMENT; POLICY; POVERTY

Notes : This article describes the outcome of the author's recent visit to

Taiwan and Japan to attend conferences concerning the subject of rural

development, and also to gain some insight into the past and present rural

development policies and programmes for these countries. The author visited

typical rural areas and met with government officials, represenatives of farmers

associations and co-operatives and farmers. In summary, what development

planners there have shown, is that to alleviate poverty and promote economic

growth, there is a need to liberate, reinforce and support creativity and self-

managing skills of ordinary individuals, and to emphasise productivity.

Ref ID : 764

874. Erskine, J.M. Breaking the cycle of rural poverty. Farmer's Weekly :36-38,

1992.

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Keywords : POVERTY; RURAL DEVELOPMENT; KWAZULU; ENERGY

Notes : The author suggests that SA's rural crisis is poverty, dispair and

hunger. The question is asked how to break the vicious cycle of poverty and

environmental degradation. It is pointed out that an old order collapsed in

1994 and a new one is not yet established. Perhaps something constructive can be

done to fill the vacuum. This paper looks at possible ways of doing so. The

Institute of Natural Resources is planning to test an integrated development

approach (which is outlined in the article) in two sections of Natal/ KwaZulu,

one serviced by Pietermaritzburg adn the other by Empangeni/Richards Bay. These

projects will attempt to provide the missing links through quickly mobilising

the energies of bodies sharing the same vision.

Ref ID : 741

875. Erskine, J.M. Farming support programmes as a vehicle for empowerment of

farmers. Paper presented at the Kwazulu Department of Agriculture Extension

Conference, University of Zululand, 14 July 1992. Occasional Paper 127.Anonymous

Anonymous Pietermaritzburg:Institute of Natural Resources, University of Natal.

, 1992.

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Keywords : AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION; POPULATION; RURAL DEVELOPMENT; POVERTY

Notes : This article concludes that, given the average size of land holdings in

the less developed rural areas and the population pressure in these areas, it is

obvious that very few rural households will achieve economic independence and a

reasonable standard of living in the absence of needed education/training,

infrastructure, basic services, and alternative employment opportunities in the

non-agricultural enterprises. The important point to make is that all of the

components of rural development mentioned in this paper are essential elements

of farming support programmes and must be addressed simultaneously in a holistic

and integrated way by those bodies charged with the task of managing the rural

development process. What development planners have shown so successfully in

some other countries is that to alleviate poverty and promote economic growth,

there is a need to liberate, reinforce and support creativity and self-managing

skills of ordinary individuals, and to emphasise productivity. We can learn

much from them.

Ref ID : 766

876. Erskine, J.M. Vetiver grass: its potential use in soil and moisture

conservation in southern Africa. South African Journal of Science 88:298-299,

1992.

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Keywords : WATER CONSERVATION; SOIL CONSERVATION; EROSION CONTROL; RESTORATION;

EROSION; CONSERVATION; SOUTHERN AFRICA

Notes : Vetiveria zizanioides offers the prospect of being an economic and

efficient means of protecting land in rural areas against erosion. Given a

plentiful supply of planting material, which means adequate nursery facilities,

the widespread distribution of information about the grass and its various

conservation and economic benefits, and good extension support, there is every

reason to believe that vetiver grass could be used as a significant tool in soil

and moisture conservation in southern Africa, particularly in the less-developed

rural areas.

Ref ID : 734

877. Erskine, J.M. Creating incentives for sustainable use of natural capital in

the less developed rural areas of South Africa. Paper presented at the Second

Meeting of the International Society for Ecological Economics, Stockholm,

Sweden, 3-6 August 1992. Occasional Paper 115.Anonymous Anonymous

Scottsville:Institute of Natural Resources. , 1992.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE; COMMUNAL AREA; ECONOMIC ASPECTS; SUSTAINABLE

DEVELOPMENT; POVERTY; POPULATION; RURAL DEVELOPMENT; POLICY; LAND TENURE;

CONSERVATION; LAND USE; AGROFORESTRY; AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

Notes : This paper emphasises that to promote sustainable use of natural

capital, and sustainable development in general, there is a need for poverty to

be reduced and for real incentives to be introduced to curb population growth

and destructive use of natural capital (particularly on the commons). To

achieve these goals, structural and functional changes (including the

introductin of a participatory approach to the formulation of rural development

policies and land tenure reform) in the system are required; economic diversity

must come from rural industrialisation to reduce the dependence upon

exploitation of natural capital to satisfy basic needs. The high level of

dependence on natural resources in SA is sufficient to justify a resource

conservation policy in both the developed and developing areas of the country.

It is likely that mining will decrease in importance which means that the

balance of the economy has to give increased attention to manufacturing,

expansion of services and agriculture (small-scale as well as large-scale).

This diversification of the economy is consistent with the principle of

sustainable development since reliance on a single, dominant activity subjects

the economy to exogenous risks (for example, world price variations). A

framework is presented for an integrated approach to sustainable development and

use of natural capital which emphasises the need for giving attention to a

number of components simultaneously; these include: human resources development;

infrastructure, services and rural industry; health and population control; and

appropriate land use systems. In the latter category, natural capital

augmentation (for example, agroforestry, water harvesting techniques and

'socially relevant' technology) is included as an important route to

sustainability. Some of the criteria for achieving sustainable agricultural

development and environmental management are: popular participation in the

identification of resource management problems and in planning, implementation

and evaluation of activities to overcome them; technology which is appropriate

to the resource constraints of and understandable to the local community; an

approach which recognises that non-sustainable resource use is not primarily a

technical problem that can be solved solely by technical fixes but a result of

socio-economic factors that need to be addressed directly; a scale of activity

that is amenable to local control. As important as these criteria are, however,

they are necessary to sustainability but not sufficient. In addition, the

activity must be economically viable. Economic viability conditions the rest

for it determines the willingness of people to participate and shapes the choice

of technology. It also refers to whether society's scarce resources are being

efficiently used and whether the policy environment is supportive of resource

sustainability. This must be evaluated at the household, project, and policy

levels. Without economic viability, the most intense work at grassroots

organising or the most clever technical solutions will almost certainly come to

naught. What is very clear is that the application of an ecological economics

approach, that is, addressing the relationships between ecosystems and economic

systems, to resource management problems is central to many of the issues in the

less developed rural areas of SA and to building a sustainable future.

Ref ID : 735

878. Erskine, J.M. Rural development imperatives in a changing South Africa.

Paper presented at the Biennial Conference of the Development Society of

Southern Africa, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 9-11 September 1992. Occasional

Paper 116.Anonymous Anonymous Pietermaritzburg:Institute of Natural Resources,

University of Natal. :1-11, 1992.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : RURAL DEVELOPMENT; COMMUNAL AREA; POPULATION

Notes : This paper concludes that, given the average size of land holdings in

the less developed rural areas and the population pressure in these areas, as

well as a future scenario that is unlikely to provide large, economically viable

farming units to significant numbers of people presently resident in the

underdeveloped rural areas, it is obvious that very few rural households will

achive economic independence and a reasonable standard of living in the absence

of needed education/training, infrastructure, basic services, and alternative

employment opportunities in non-agricultural enterprises. The important point

to make is that all of the components of rural development mentioned in this

paper are essential and must be addressed simultaneously in a holistic and

integrated way by those bodies charged with the task of managing the rural

development process. This, in turn, will require trust between as well as

effective co-ordination and networking of development executants and rural

committees.

Ref ID : 736

879. Erskine, J.M. Creating the right conditions for optimal management of

grazing livestock and sustainable use of grasslands in less developed areas of

southern Africa. Paper presented at the First Symposium of the Developing Areas

Branch of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa, Cathedral Peak, 16-18

September 1992. Occasional Paper 117.Anonymous Anonymous Scottsville:Institute

of Natural Resources. , 1992.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE; LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION; COMMUNAL AREA; VELD

MANAGEMENT

Ref ID : 737

880. Erskine, J.M. Integrated development: an appropriate means of eliminating

poverty and conserving the environment in less developed rural areas. Paper

presented at the EPPIC '92 Conference on Poverty and the Environment, Eskom

Training Centre, Glen Austin, Midrand, 28-29 September 1992. Occasional Paper

118.Anonymous Anonymous Pietermaritzburg:Institute of Natural Resources,

University of Natal. :1-10, 1992.

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Keywords : POVERTY; COMMUNAL AREA; RURAL DEVELOPMENT; SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE;

LAND USE; POPULATION; POLICY

Notes : Now is an opportune time to examine and test a new approach to

development in the less developed rural areas of SA which places emphasis on

breaking the cycle of poverty and environmental degradation. Experience

elsewhere in the world has shown that this can be achieved very successfully by

drawing together government and non-government bodies to tackle simultaneously,

in a holistic and integrated way, a number of components of development that are

in fact all essential support programmes for rural people. These include: human

resources development; land use management; infrastructure and services; rural

industry; health and population control; adaptive research; and policy

formulation. It is very evident that support programmes for rural communities in

less developed areas can only be introduced through an integrated development

approach.

Ref ID : 740

881. Erskine, J.M. Training for development in agriculture. Paper presented at

the National African Farmers' Union Conference, University of Natal, 29-30 June

1992. Occasional Paper 126.Anonymous Anonymous Scottsville:Institute of Natural

Resources. , 1992.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION

Ref ID : 743

882. Erskine, J.M. Property rights regimes and sustainable development in South

Africa's less developed rural areas. Paper presented at the Fourth Annual Common

Property Conference of the International Association for the study of Common

Property, Manila, Phillipines, 16-19 June 1993. Occasional Paper 138.Anonymous

Anonymous Scottsville:Institute of Natural Resources. , 1993.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : LAND TENURE; SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE; COMMUNAL AREA

Ref ID : 742

883. Erskine, J.M. Sustainable agriculture imperatives for farm households in