Eastern Cape To Create Food Hubs To Enhance Agriculture, Food Security In Rural Areas

The Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) on Tuesday shared its plan to set up food hubs in rural areas to ensure food security.

These hubs will help small-scale and home-based vegetable producers collect, store and process their produce for local markets. Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) Nonceba Kontsiwe said the plan includes supporting communities to grow their own food with home gardens and improving access to food and income.

"This initiative will focus on sustainable agriculture, water conservation, and youth entrepreneurship in rural areas. Investing in our people will reduce living costs and promote self-sufficiency, thus community resilience," she said, SA News reported.

Kontsiwe mentioned that the department is part of a broader effort by the provincial government to fight poverty and malnutrition in the province. She recognized that the department alone can't fix the food security problem.

Despite having several programs, the lack of a unified strategy has made their efforts less effective. The Office of the Premier is working with various government departments and agencies to create a Provincial Food and Nutrition Security Plan.

The department's main goal is to ensure food security in the province. Kontsiwe said the department is dedicated to helping people grow their own food, regardless of land size.

The MEC said the initiative will focus on sustainable farming, saving water, and encouraging youth entrepreneurship in rural areas. She explained that investing in people will help lower living costs and promote self-reliance and community strength.

The department plans to increase household food production in rural and nearby urban areas on a large scale. As part of the initiative, small-scale vegetable nurseries will be set up to supply high-quality seedlings, which will help cut production costs.

Kontsiwe said that DRDAR and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) are working together to help 42,000 households grow their own food in the 2024/25 financial year.

This includes 30,000 households from the Siyazondla Program and 12,000 from PES3. She invited everyone to join in the effort to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition in different areas.

The MEC also mentioned that they are speeding up a program to protect spring water to ensure villages have water for growing food.