Sharing best practices - South Africa

Dairy farmers, local government officials and NGOs meet with Nestlé agronomists near Harrismith, South Africa, to discuss water management and other issues. The workshop is part of Nestlé South Africa’s Black Economic Empowerment agricultural programme, providing income to more than 140 dairy farmers, as well as assistance for infrastructure and access to local markets. South Africa which receives little more than half of the worldwide average annual rainfall, introduced The National Water Act in 1998. Nestlé Agricultural Services contributes to fulfilling its objectives of protection, optimum usage, development, conservation, management, and control of South Africa’s water resources.. Working with its milk producers, Nestlé implements the "Work for Water Project" where teams engage with farmers and big dairies to optimise the use of water at all levels. The project is sponsored by the National Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. Nestlé encourages water efficient evening and night irrigation as well as the introduction of computerised irrigation systems and recommends pastures with lower water demand in water-scarce areas. Working with big dairies, Nestlé encourages the use of oxidation dams to use recycled water on pastures. Farmers receive advice on minimum tillage practices with specific tools to keep soil moist. Similar to the Nestlé Farm Assurance Manuals used in different countries, the South Africa manual includes requirements and recommendations for farmers to improve efficient and safe effluent removal from their dairy shed areas as a pre-requisite for their registration with the National Health Regulations and compliance with Nestlé’s quality management policies for farmers.