Agri SA, SAAFWUA signs MoU to enhance water resource management

Agri SA and the South African Association of Water Users Associations (SAAFWUA) has concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the Agri SA's Natural Resources Centre of Excellence committee meeting. The MoU re-affirms is aimed at enhancing effective water resources management by the national government, Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs) and Water User Associations (WUAs) in South Africa.

Both Agri SA and SAAFWUA are in favour of the establishment of fully representative effective Local Water Resource Management Institutions (LWRMI) that supply water efficiently and cost-effectively to individual legal water users. Both organisations will collaborate on initiatives and projects that advance and facilitate the development of support mechanisms for LWRMI’s to improve the capacity of commercial and emerging South African farmers while at the same time ensuring that water is used efficiently by all.

"As is the case with land, issues surrounding the transformation of water use are of paramount importance to farmers in South Africa," said Wayman Kritzinger, chairman of Agri SA’s Natural Resources Centre of Excellence.

"It is more important today than ever before that sound, evidence-based policies, inform decision-making by the government when it comes to water. We are fortunate to have had SAAFWUA as a steadfast partner over many years and look forward to even closer future collaboration between our respective organisations in these turbulent times."