biggest challenge to food security

One of the biggest challenges to food security in Grahamstown (eastern cape-South africa) is the high unemployment rate which is currently hovering at around 70%. People are struggling to feed their families especially when they spend most of their time job hunting which proves to be unsuccesful most of the time especially now when most industries closed down.

One of the major projects currently running to help fight food problems are the UMTHATHI Trainig project.

The Umthathi Training Project, is an NGO, based in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape Province and was founded in 1992 to provide skills training to craft producers from the Grahamstown townships. Its services rapidly expanded and by mid 1993, Umthathi was being directed towards self-sufficiency training through research into the training needs in the Eastern Cape, coupled with requests from local communities.

Problem Statement

The depth of poverty in the Eastern Cape is revealed in one of the worst Human Development Indices (0.49) in the country. With food prices massively escalating the rural poor in the province are more vulnerable than ever.

The needs are for adequate knowledge about and real skills relating to nutrition, health, increased food security and conservation by enhancing biodiversity strategies in order for people in these areas to both cope with HIV/AIDS and then move beyond a paradigm of basic survival.

Problem Response

Vegetable and indigenous plant cultivation training at community, school and household level establishes productive gardens that supply food and healing plants. Nutrition and Health training adds both theoretical and practical know-how, while Business and Entrepreneurial Skills can be applied to any surplus generated to bring in cash. Basic health training with an extensive HIV/AIDS information and coping mechanisms component is an important element of all our courses.

Our vision is for all South Africans to have sustainable access to the food and resources necessary for building a healthy nation.

Umthathi’s mission is to provide developmental education and training in organic permaculture cultivation methods that enable schools and communities in rural and peri-urban areas of the Eastern Cape to enhance healthy bodies and relationships, sustain their own livelihoods through vegetable and indigenous plant cultivation and develop sustainable agricultural methods.

This mission is based on the following principles: Pro poor, pro women, pro youth, adult education methodology and respect and dignity for all.

The mission of the organisation is carried out through the following programmes: africulture, community development and school gardens. More information is available at http://www.umthathi.co.za/index.php?pid=1.

Another project that I found to be interestind is the GADRA(Grahamstown District Relief Association) gardening project for the blind. The are currently assisting three trainees to develop food gardens at homes. It all started when one of the volunteers (Frances) there worked closely with Bongani (a blind man) to develop a highly productive garden behin the GADRA offices. By september last year Bongani was making a profit of R108 per month selling vegetables and seedlings.