Food gardens give households affordable access to food, dignity and wellbeing

On Sunday, 16 October 2022, the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation and the rest of the world commemorate World Food Day.

According to the Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer, World Food Day is about placing the focus on food insecurity.

Meyer said: "It is about highlighting the devastating scourge of hunger. The ultimate goal is to ensure that people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences."

Meyer continues: "It is for this reason that the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) introduced its One Home One Garden Campaign. By doing so, we ensure that households have affordable access to nutritious food for domestic consumption through production at the household level."

"In the 2020/2021 financial year, the WCDoA rolled out 2780  food security projects. These included 142 community projects, 26 school food gardens and 2612 household food security initiatives."

"We will support 165 community projects, 12 school projects, and 1800 household gardens in the current financial year."

In the lead-up to World Food Day 2022, the WCDoA and the Swellendam Municipality recently hosted an event in Suurbraak, a town within the Overberg District. The event provided the Department and its partners with the opportunity to support the local community, household, and school food security projects.

Meyer commented on the support: "We mobilised donations towards a Food Mountain. The food has been donated to local NGOs,  Mossienes Prep School, Trust Huis, and Vulindlela Msenge Creche in Swellendam."

"I am also grateful that together with Swellendam Municipality, we have participated in wellbeing and dignity projects within the region. These 100 food security projects include 45 in Suurbraak, 20 in Swellendam, 14 in Buffeljas, 11 in Barrydale, 3 in Rietkuil, and 7 in Malgas."

The WCDoA will implement an additional 160 projects in these selected areas during October.

"Addressing the scourge of hunger is about restoring hope, care, wealth, dignity and wellbeing to our communities, and is a priority of our government," concludes Meyer.