Jozini Agricultural Development Project

The broad objective of the Jozini Agricultural Development Project is to improve the food and income security of 2400 rural households in Jozini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province, by supporting rural people to become self-employed small-scale farmers by May 2018.

HPSA staff will use a combination of strategies to develop the skills and ability of farmers to produce food and livestock effectively within the smallholder farming context in northern KwaZulu-Natal, where possible using assets they already have or have access to. This structured training process will develop critical practical skills that are often lacking in rural communities in South Africa.

A key component of the Jozini project will be the development of the community animal health worker programme (CAHW). A CAHW is a specially trained local community member who helps farmers to raise healthy animals to maximise their benefits. CAHWs have a wide range of tasks to perform, like providing basic preventive health care, training and advisory services. Through regular household visits, they provide a critical link between farmers, livestock associations, local government offices and state vets. Various names are used interchangeably for CAHWs such as community livestock workers (CLW) or Para-Vets. The primary purpose of a CAHW programme is to help prevent animal mortality and disease outbreak while increasing productivity. Overall the Jozini Agricultural Development Project will assist to end hunger and poverty in Jozini and neighbouring areas.