Graaff-Reinet

Conference proceedings

The major highlight of 2009 was the Greater Karoo Development Conference, held on 26-27 March in Graaff-Reinet. The Conference was co-funded by the NRF, the Open Society Foundation, the Northern Cape Department of Economic Affairs, the Western Cape Department of Economic Affairs, and the Cacadu District Municipality in the Eastern Cape. The Camdeboo Local Municipality in Graaff-Reinet sponsored the venue. The Conference included 25 papers, in five key themes: Regional Development, Tourism, Agriculture, Business Development and Cultural Development. The Conference ended with a discussion session of the Karoo Development Foundation's Working Group, which highlighted new themes for research and development. The Conference was attended by two senior officials of Desert Knowledge Australia, and their costs were funded by AUSAID. The event received a great deal of media coverage, including Radio Sonder Grense, which transmitted their morning news programmes from our Graaff-Reinet venue.

Conference Programme / List of Exhibitors / List of Speakers

Sponsorship Page Trade Fair: Opening address by Mayor of Cacadu District Municipaslity

Clr Mlungisi Mvoko, Mayor of Cacadu District Municipality, opening the Karoo Trade Fair	The Mayor of Camdeboo Local Municipality, Mr Daantjie Japhta, opening the Conference
The Ncweba choir of Graaff-Reinet performed at the Opening Ceremony of the Karoo Trade Fair	The Mighty Angels Khoisan Dance Group provided entertainment at the Opening of the Trade Fair
Papers (preliminary list): Darryl David: Literary Tourism in the Karoo - 25KB Mr Darryl Davids of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, speaking on literary tourism in the Karoo Al Soko: Transport as a catalyst for tourism and socio-economic development - 169KB Mr Al Soko of the Department of Transport, Eastern Cape, exploring the interface between transport and tourism in the Karoo   Doreen Atkinson: Promoting cross-border collaboration in the Karoo - 644KB Stef Coetzee: Chambers of business in Karoo towns - unexplored potential - 51KB Dr Stef Coetzee of the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut made the case for local chambers of commerce in the Karoo   Keith Bodman: What mines can do to promote economic development - 66KB Jaco Mostert: Towards a new spatial strategy for the Karoo - 102KB Aggrey Mahanjana: Emergent Red Meat Producers Organisation - 88KB Mr Aggrey Mahanjane, of NERPO, speaking on the empowerment of black farmers   Kay Bodman: Support for emergents farmers in Western Australia - 72KB Amie Aucamp: National Wool Growers Training - 28KB Ernst Idsardi Agricultural Training for small holder - 91KB Dr Ernst Idsardi, University of the Free State, speaking on the empowerment of new farmers in the Karoo   Danie Jordaan World wide agricultural branding Mohair Industry - 167KB Judy Maguire Tourism and the heritage assets of the Karoo - 785KB Sue Milton The basis for sustainable business in the Karoo: Bringing ecological and economic issues together - 77KB Mark Wells Biogas technology for energy and nutrient benification - 1.51MB Sue Taylor Niche products in the Karoo - hoodia and olives - 333KB Dr Sue Taylor, Associate of the University of the Free State, speaking on indigenous agricultural products   Bruce Rubidge The Karoo as a unique geological site, the economic potential of deep history - 981KB Prof Bruce Rubidge of Wits University, speaking on the fossil heritage of the Karoo Dr Danny Titus, ATKV, discussing the creation of human, cultural and social capital in the Karoo.	Theuns Eksteen of Camdeboo Local Municipality, the Master of Ceremonies of the Opening of the Trade Fair Ms Patricia de Lille, Trustee of the Karoo Development Foundation, opening the Trade Fair Ms Riana van der Ahee, recounting her experiences as a Karoo entrepreneur Ms Jan Ferguson of Desert Knowledge CRC, providing insights from the Australian experience at the Working Group discussion Mr Johan van Jaarsveld of Montego Feeds in Graaff-Reinet, speaking about the potential of manufacturing in the Karoo Mr Ken Johnson of Desert Knowledge Australia, explaining the parallels between the Karoo and the Outback Mr Duma Magxwaliso of Cacadu District Municipality, chairing the session on business development Prof Erwin Schwella of the University of Stellenbosch, facilitating the Karoo Working Group discussion Mighty Angels Khoisan Dance Group from Koukamma Municipality in the Cacadu District. Nqweba Choir from Graaff-Reinet.  Choir and Khoisan dancers at of Trade Fair.

A stall at the Trade Fair

The beautiful dancers of the Mighty Angels Khoisan Dance Group

Presentations (preliminary list) Mark Ingle: Space Tourism - 673KB Deidre van Rooyen: Uranium in the Karoo - 286KB Ms Deidre van Rooyen, University of the Free State, analysed the implications of uranium mining in the Karoo Emil Nothnagel: Creation of business hubs - 383KB Mr Emil Nothnagel of the University of the Western Cape, explaining the concept of Business Hubs Doreen Atkinson: Promoting cross-border collaboration in Karoo - 608KB Daan Toerien: Promoting Rural Development in the Karoo – New Paradigms in Economic Thinking - 882KB Johann Kirsten: The images of the Karoo: A marketing opportunity and case for intellectual property protection - 84KB Danie Jordaan: World wide agricultural branding Mohair industry - 376KB Mr Danie Jordaan, speaking on the marketing of Karoo mohair Aggrey Mahanjane: Emergent Red Meat Producers Organization - 393KB Sue Taylor: Niche products in Karoo - olives and hoodia - 634KB Ernst Idsardi: Supporting emergent farmers - 805KB Melissa Wahl: Wind and solar energy alternatives for Karoo - 1.03MB Ms Melissa Wahl, speaking on solar energy options in the Karoo

Prof Lucius Botes ofthe University of the Free State, Trustee of the Karoo Development Foundation   Dr Dirk Troskie, Chair of the sesson on Agricultural Development in the Karoo   Dr Bernie Fanaroff of the Square Kilometer Array Telescope project in the Northern Cape   Dr Anton de Wit, speaking on the measurement of quality of life in the Karoo   The keynote speaker, Ms Sue van der Merwe, Trustee of the Karoo Development Foundation   Mr Gugile Nkwinti, the MEC for Agriculture in the Eastern Cape and now Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, encouraged the promotion of development in the Karoo

Articles from the Landbouweekblad and Farmers Weekly

Farmers Weekly - Daan Toerien

Farmers Weekly - Karoo Brand

Farmers Weekly - Making the most of the Karoo

Farmers Weekly - Sue Taylor

Farmers Weekly - What the desert needs

Landbouweekblad - Theuns Botha

Images courtesy of Mark Senekal Propix Graaff-Reinet