As the world marks World Food Day the Free State Province embarks on a drive to improve food security.
The Province says the effects of COVID-19 on food security remains dire as more people have lost jobs.
Backyard gardens are now seen as a cost effective solution to food security.
Free State Premier, Sisi Ntombela and Agriculture MEC; Thembeni Ncangisa visited Boshoff to encourage residents to start food gardens.
Hunger affects more people especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, while the high unemployment rate is linked to the increasing levels of hunger in the country.
In Free State 28% of the population is reported to go hungry daily. The Province has a population of about 3 million.
The situation is even worse in Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Eastern Cape which sit at 58% and 56% respectively.
An unemployed father of 4 from Boshoff says social grants are the only guarantee that there is food on the table.
“We have many challenges here are home because I do not work. We depend on the grant of the children.” says the father of 4.
Agriculture to secure food
The Free State Province says it is encouraging people to take up agriculture as a way to increase food security and stop hunger. It says there are opportunities for long term employment in the sector.
Premier Sisi Ntombela says food gardens are seen as an immediate solution to the problem.
Ntombela adds, “As Free State we are really encouraging our people to take the direction of agriculture. We want the Free Stater’s to be very involved in agriculture and we believe that this is going to assist us to decrease unemployment.”
The Province says it wants to regain its position as the country’s food basket. Agriculture MEC, Thembeni Ncangisa says his Department is boosting efforts to end hunger through agriculture.
“We also have a target as the Free State, remember Free State was the food basket of the country. With the strides we have made now to support them and the programme that premier has out lined of food gardens we are going towards that. Food is becoming expensive due to costs that are not necessarily controlled by South Africans such as fuel prices.”)
Ncangisa says his Department is making headway in ensuring that it improves food security in the Free State.
