Food security for a better future

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development hosted a food security awareness event at the Naledi Hall last Thursday.

The event focused on emphasising the starting and maintaining food gardens in our community and in schools.

As a means to include the community in its food security program, the department issued gardening packs to farming groups which have been identified by the department.

The Gauteng MEC for the department, Nandi Manyathula Khoza, said that the starter packs are for the community and that other residents can gain access to them

“It doesn’t end here, we encourage other individuals who are interested in food gardening to join the department’s data base,” Khoza said.

Sarah Moloi and Mavis Banda are part of different farming projects in Naledi and say their experience has taught them that farming is a source of life.

Moloi says her family sleeps with full tummies every night thanks to farming and doesn’t see a need to find employment.

Banda says she is passionate about farming and has been doing it from a very early age.

“Currently I have two hectares I have been allocated by the department but I plan to go big.

“A larger piece of land has been secured and I can’t wait to get started,” Banda said.

The MEC said farming is not only about vegetables. Different kinds of food can be produced from scratch, once there is more than enough stock farming becomes a source of income.

Khoza said that the department can help interested people to start farming by offering training, a starter pack and finding a market to sell to.

According Khoza, the department will be handing out a further 20 starter packs on Friday to residents and farming groups which didn’t get starter packs on Thursday.

Khoza says that jobs are scarce and planting your own food helps feed the home even when there is no one employed.