The Northern Cape Provincial Government will be joining over 150 countries across the world in commemorating World Food Day on 16 October 2009, 10h30, at Soverby School Grounds near Keimoes in the Siyanda District. Acting Premier and MEC of Corporate and Government Affairs, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs, Kenny Mmoiemang will unveil the province’s yearly multi-million-rand interventions that are to be undertaken by various departments in their quest of eradicating hunger.
Acting Premier Mmoiemang who is to be accompanied by three of his cabinet colleagues, will further demonstrate government’s commitment in combating hunger through the economic empowerment of the rural masses by launching two projects:
- BLOCUSO PROJECT – Funded to the tune of R21 million until end of March next year by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. Forms part of Wine Development Initiative targeting farm workers and dwellers for economic empowerment in irrigable agriculture. Water rights allocated for development of 216ha. 15ha of wine grapes is underway. 466 families are benefiting from temporary job creation relating to infrastructural development and long term higher income levels. Blocuso Trust is constituted by the Bloemsmond, Curriescamp and Soverby communities that received land reform grants worth R7.4 million in 2000.
- OASIS HYDROPONICS PROJECT – Set to benefit 72 disabled beneficiaries who are based at the Oasis Skills Development Project that offers vocational and training facilities. R1, 3 million had been spend for the construction of greenhouse, irrigation system, and electric fence.
MECs Sylvia Lucas (Environmental Affairs and Nature Conservation and acting Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development), Mxolisa Sokatsha (Health) and Dawid Rooi (Roads and Public Works) will participate by officiating through the different elements of the World Food Day programme.
The MECs are to encourage communities to establish their own food gardens and creating projects that would bring about food security for all. This year’s theme is “Achieving Food Security in Times of Crisis”. Since the inception of the province’s Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Programmes in 2004, various projects throughout the province have been unveiled in support of food insecured communities. The deliverables include the distribution of Irrigations tools, seedlings, food parcels, food schemes at schools and clinics.
Members of the media are invited to the World Food Commemoration, and details are as follows
Venue: Soverby Sportsground ( Keimoes)
Time : 10H00
Date : 16/10/09
South Africa is observing World Food Day as a partner to the International Alliance Against Hunger that consists of over 150 countries, mainly developing nations. With an estimated increase of 105 million hungry people in 2009, there are now 1.02 billion malnourished people in the world, meaning that almost one sixth of all humanity is suffering from hunger (source –FAO).
World Food Day serves to build greater momentum in eradicating poverty and encourage efforts undertaken in eliminating world hunger. It also seeks to heighten public awareness of the world problem and to strengthen solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty.
The world’s poorest nations are in dire need of anti-hunger programmes; hence a collective global call for no other person should die from hunger. Developed nations and the broader society have been urged to make more development assistance available for fighting hunger.