Food gardens of hope

Last year’s Covid-19 hard lockdown exposed the reality of South Africa’s long-standing levels of inequality, deep poverty and food insecurity. And for many, the country’s economic crisis promises no change in the bleak affairs for at least the next few years.

According to an article in The World Bank, which was released on June 4, global food prices have risen by 40% since January last year. Maize prices are 66% higher, wheat prices 23% higher and cereal prices 45% higher than in January last year. The figures, coupled with the reality of the high unemployment rate and slow food relief systems in South Africa, paint a dire picture of the situation most South African citizens find themselves in.

According to an analysis released in September, 20% of the South African population, that is 11.8 million people, were expected to fall into the “crisis” level of food insecurity by March this year. This means urgent action is required to reduce food gaps and protect livelihoods, especially considering that food insecurity causes chronic malnutrition in children which increases their risk of stunting, diseases and death, ultimately, threatening our future.

The challenges are significant, but the need to intervene is too great to ignore. Over the years, civil society organisations (CSOs) have played the role of trying to fill the gaps, with varied interventions such as skills transfer, food relief and community development projects, but they cannot close these gaps fast enough and on such a large scale. In order to do this, we need community-based organisations that are empowered enough to impact the lives of their own marginalised communities.

Some of these CSOs are experiencing the ripple effects of their interventions. We recently saw this in BelaBela, where two communal gardens, after receiving inputs incorporated with training on how to start and maintain a food garden, evolved to being providers of food relief to their vulnerable community members.

One such case is the Reamogetswe Centre for Disabled Adults which grows enough vegetables for its own consumption and provides a nearby Early Childhood Development Centre with vegetables. This gives the Early Childhood Development Centre a guarantee of healthy and nutritious food which improves children’s mental development, prevents stunting and increases their physical activity. Furthermore, the Reamogetswe Centre for the Disabled provides women and children from underprivileged backgrounds with access to food.

Another example is the Development Skills and Community Project which underwent the same training programme and received the same inputs for implementation. It recently opened a food feeding scheme that caters to destitute children, women and the elderly in their community. This garden also makes provision for neighbours, relatives and those dependent on social grants. By partnering with community-based organisations, CSOs assist community-based organisations to reach their goals.

The key to combating food insecurity is the creation of sustainable community-based food supply chains, which have the potential of generating work opportunities and improving incomes and food security by supporting household production and selling fresh vegetables to the local market.