On 10 September 2024, the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR), led by MEC Nonkqubela Pieters-Kontsiwe, outlined a comprehensive plan to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition across the province. A key component of this strategy is the creation of rural food hubs and the promotion of sustainable agriculture through community-driven projects.
MEC Kontsiwe acknowledged that food security is a multifaceted issue that requires coordination across various sectors. “Our department is part of a provincial effort to eradicate poverty and malnutrition, but we recognize that DRDAR alone cannot solve this challenge,” she said. To that end, the Office of the Premier has coordinated the development of a Provincial Food and Nutrition Security Plan, uniting government departments and agencies to work toward this goal.
The initiative emphasizes local food production, with the department supporting households and communities in cultivating their own food through home-based gardens. These efforts, which target rural and peri-urban areas, will focus on reducing food costs and improving self-sufficiency. The strategy aims to reach 42,000 households in the 2024/25 financial year, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development.
A notable feature of the plan is the fast-tracking of the spring water protection program, designed to ensure water access for food production in rural areas. Ten spring water projects are slated for implementation across five districts, including Alfred Nzo, Amathole, and OR Tambo, benefiting over 2,200 households.
In addition to water conservation, the department will introduce a pilot program utilizing climate-smart technology. Fourteen tunnels equipped with 3,720 climate-smart boxes will be installed across the province, allowing for year-round vegetable cultivation. Kontsiwe highlighted the program’s potential to engage youth and women in agriculture, boosting local economies and food security.
“We invite all sectors of society, from elders to schools and churches, to join us in promoting community food production,” MEC Kontsiwe urged, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in addressing the province’s food security challenges.
The department also highlighted plans to create small-scale vegetable nurseries to provide high-quality seedlings, reducing production costs for households involved in subsistence farming.
The ambitious food security strategy is expected to create jobs, improve access to nutritious food, and strengthen community resilience in the Eastern Cape, as it aims to expand agriculture’s role in the local economy.
