Several local, national and international role players signed the Ficksburg Declaration at EarthRise Mountain Lodge, outside the town, on Monday 30 January 2017 at a meeting hosted by Free State Agriculture (FSA) and EarthRise Trust.
The agreement is aimed at creating new opportunities in rural areas, and to build on current socio-economic initiatives.
Farmers from the eastern Free State who drive their own social economic and upliftment projects shared their stories and ideas at the event.
Members from organisations like the Seriti Institute, AfriGrow, Oxfam South Africa, Ntaba kaNdoda and Agri SA also took part. The intent of the declaration that was signed welcomes and fully supports a national initiative undertaken on 17 November 2016 by AgriSA, the EarthRise Trust, the Seriti Institute and AfriGrow, and supported by the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
Some of the points in the statement read: “We commit to this statement of intent to create new opportunities in rural areas. Our focus will be to build and expand current initiatives and develop future projects and programmes that involve rural communities to sustainably manage people, the planet and profit.
“Our common purpose is building trust within society as it helps to build a bridge between farmers, farmworkers and their families, local communities, agriculture organisations, the state and society.
“For the realisation of sustainable livelihoods, we need to strengthen farming communities as part of society through facilitation of partnerships and enhancement of community capabilities. We want to address social challenges, establish thriving enterprises and strengthen livelihoods in various ways.”
FSA and EarthRise Trust are planning to undertake more such meetings on various issues, including land reform.