Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
School of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Postgraduate School of Agriculture and Rural Development
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
Since 2003, Prof Nic Olivier and other members of the staff of the SADC Centre for Land-related, Regional and Development Law and Policy have been working with the Greater Giyani Local Municipality in developing and coordinating a Local Economic Development Strategy. The focus of the programme is to promote the sustainable utilisation of the abundant natural resources within the municipal jurisdiction.
With the extensive support of the Greater Giyani Local Municipality, the Mopani District Municipality, the Office of the Premier in Limpopo Province, various other government departments and the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the Programme rolled out three community driven natural resource projects whilst establishing the necessary governance structures. This model of local government development is expected to be rolled out in many other rural municipalities soon.
Whilst Prof Olivier and his staff are responsible for the overall coordination, monitoring and reporting as well s the establishment and maintenance of sound relations with the provincial and
local spheres of government.
The CSIR component of the joint Sera Task Team on Sustainable Rural development is responsible for the implementation of the Mopani Worm Commercialisation project, which includes investigations on other Mopani worm products such as polony and instant soups. In addition, various other service providers are involved in bee-keeping and oyster mushroom cultivation projects. Giyani traditional community members are actively involved in all areas of these projects.
In the implementation of these projects UP Honours students and academic staff have been doing intensive research, the outcomes of which will be a number of further degrees as well as academic publications.
What makes these projects unique, is that they do not occur in isolation, but are embedded in the developmental planning of the local community whilst strengthening the governance structures; simultaneously the academic input forms the basis for both the conceptual framework and the coordination, providing a controlled environment for academic research
Contact person: Prof NJJ Olivier.
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