Established in 1991, the Gamtoos Irrigation Board is based in the Eastern Cape town of Patensie, with satellite project offices throughout the province.
The GIB’s core services include the provision and management of water resources and the management of irrigation quotas for Agri EC members and others in the Gamtoos River Valley.
Other responsibilities include the monitoring of dam levels and flood management as well as water conservation and demand management.
The Board is also involved with managing infrastructure and road rehabilitation projects as well as ecosystem services.
The GIB, which was formed under the provisions of the Water Act of 1956, is currently in the process of becoming a water user association in terms of the newer National Water Act of 1998.
Since 1999, the Gamtoos Irrigation Board has been helping the Department of Environmental Affairs to implement a range of projects.
These include the Working for Water programme, which contribute towards conservation and social upliftment through job creation in the Eastern Cape.