Rainwater Harvesting for food security (2004-2007)
The Mvula Trust has participated in the Department of Water Affairs’ funded rainwater harvesting programme (driven by DWA Head Office) since 2005. This rainwater harvesting programme focuses on harvesting rainwater in an underground tank (catching surface runoff water), to be used for homestead gardening. The objective is to ensure that households can grow fruit and vegetables the whole year round, so that no one goes hungry and that everyone (and particularly children) receive adequate amounts of nutrients and vitamins to perform optimally. Mvula was part of the group of NGOs and SMMEs that implemented the pilot phase, which included testing of various rainwater harvesting technologies. As a result of this phase, guidelines were developed which explain the process to be followed, technical options and the importance of the gardening component. Mvula implemented this project in Bityi (EC), Manamela and Mawa (both Limpopo) from 2005 to 2007.
In 2009 Mvula’s Limpopo office also started with the implementation of an expansion phase of the Department of Water Affairs’ rainwater harvesting programme, in which tank construction and training on and assistance with homestead gardening is scaled up. Besides Mawa (in Mopani District Municipality), rainwater harvesting is also being implemented now in the Vhembe and Sekhukhune District Municipality.
Limpopo/EC (DWA HO funded)
The Mvula Trust Northwest has started the implementation of rainwater haversting in Greater Taung Municipality District with the support of Regional Department of Water Affairs, the Premiers office, Department of Agriculture and various other regional stakeholders.
Northwest ( DWA RO funded 2009)