NORTHERN CAPE CELEBRATES WORLD FOOD DAY, 16 OCTOBER

The Northern Cape Premier Dipuo Peters will deliver the Keynote address at the provincial government’s celebration of World Food Day – 16 October – at Barkley West near Kimberley tomorrow, 10h00. Premier Peters is expected to highlight the efforts undertaken by government in eradicating hunger and malnutrition through the Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Programme (IFSNP). The event which will be held at the site of a major vegetable garden is to be attended by over a thousand people.

The MECs of four departments involved in the IFSNP; Agriculture and Land Reform, Social Development, Health and Education will together with the Mayor of Dikgatlong Ms. Martha Louw and councilors, support Premier Peters in encouraging communities to establish food gardens and creating enterprises that would bring about a state of food security for all.

The provincial government’s food security projects are aimed at providing communities with relief through the implementation of food gardens, poultry and small-stock enterprises, feeding schemes at schools and other centers to enhance sustainable livelihoods. World Food Day is celebrated worldwide annually to accelerate the momentum in the fight against poverty and food insecurity. The aim is to reduce hunger by 50 percent by 2015 as per the Millennium Development Goals. This year’s theme as endorsed by the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is “Investing in Agriculture for Food Security.

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Editors Notes:

South Africa is observing World Food Day as a partner to the International Alliance Against Hunger that is comprised of over 150 countries (mainly developing nations). International forums such as the World Food Summit and the World Summit on Sustainable Development called for serious actions to be taken in addressing the plight of over 840 million people that are chronically hungry and under-nourished.

World Food Day serves to build greater momentum in eradicating poverty and encourage efforts undertaken in

eliminating world hunger. Some of the world’s poorest nations are desperately in need of anti-hunger programmes hence the collective global call for no other person to die from hunger. Developed nations and the broader international community have been urged should make more development assistance available for fighting hunger.

Enquiries: Thabo Mothibi @ 083 255 8840 e-mail: tmothibi@agri.ncape.gov.za