LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND THE FUTURE OF WATER AND AGRICULTURE

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION3rd IFWF

Tshwane, South AfricaNov. 14-17

YPs Contribution to the CPWF

Farmers - open to interacting with YPs

YPs open minded to new approaches & technologies Not technophobic

YPs have potential to be role models for younger generations

YPs for instrumentation data collection for

modelling(reliability of results)

Challenges in R4D Farming and Land Water and Food Gender Climate Organisation Resource Constraints

Challenges in R4D … Farming

The face of a farmer Age Gender Culture Religion Access to resources Impairment Education

Challenges in R4D … Water & Food

Transboundary WM issues in certain CPWF Basins need to be addressed with regards to water scarcity and conflict over water,

Utilisation of virtual water to ensure better food and feed production

Photo: Courtesy Manuel Magombeyi

Challenges in R4D … Gender

Gender is not widely understood as an issue Gender stereotypes – roles & expectations Tools & AWM – gender issues

Conventional ploughing

Vegetables in planting basins

Maize planting basins

Challenges in R4D … Climate Long term adaptation measures “difficult” for

farmers to buy into Resilience (adapt, mitigate)

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Challenges in R4D … Institutional

Are we working with the right role players to make an impact?

Conceptualising research and packaging information for impact

Challenges in R4D … Resource Constraints

Resource constraints real Fieldwork Efficiency Multiplying effects in use

Packaging & dissemination

Innovative Solutions??

Awareness on gender and climate change Incorporate climate change as an integral

part of all RIs Internal policies and strategies to address

gender issues Tools that identify stakeholders & water

resources - online CPWF - advocacy on policy and practice on

WM local (basin) and international scales Set up inter-basin communication strategy Marshall resources for sustainability

Things to keep in mind (paradigm shift)

Gender & Technologies For a viable future, young people

need support to get access/ownership of land

Protocols to keep in place checks and balances

Research outputs - familiar language (farmers and policy-makers)

Non-farm based livelihood actions must be encouraged