Over 150 countries across the globe will be commemorating World Food Day on the 16 October 2011. The aim of commemorating World Food Day is to highlight efforts by government in eradicating hunger, and malnutrion through the Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Programme (IFSNP). The Northern Cape, Departments of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development, Education, Health, Social Development, Water Affairs and Rural Development will join millions

around the world in commemorating the festivities. These departments will commemorate World Food Day in Philipstown at Pixley Ka Seme District Municipality.

The MEC for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Mr. Norman Shushu will encourage the communities to establish their own food gardens and projects that would bring about food security for all.

This year’s commemoration will be celebrated under the theme “Food Prices: From Crisis to stability”. Pixley Ka Seme District is one of the municipality in the province with poverty rate of 63, 5% (Source: 2010 Human Development Report) and the household has income below poverty breadline.

The Northern Cape provincial government shall reflect on strides made in support of the global decision of combating hunger, malnutrition and reduction of poverty by 2015 as spelt out in the Millennium Development Goals.

The built-up events in the district has put more emphasis on encouraging household own food security production. The department has also conducted outreached programmes to canvass for the establishment of vegetable gardens by all household identified by Balelapa Programme.

Communities will be encouraged to establish their own food gardens and creating projects that would bring about food security for all. Since the inception of the provincial Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Programmes (IFSNP) in 2004, various projects throughout the province have been unveiled in support of Food insecure communities. The deliverables include the distribution of Irrigations tools, seedlings, food parcels, food schemes at schools and clinics. END

Members of the media are invited to the World Food Commemoration, and details are as follows:

Venue: Philipstown (Renosterburg Municipality)
Time : 09H00
Date : 16/10/2011

For accreditation and enquiries please call:
Phemelo Manankong –External Communications Officer 071 889 5112 /053 839 7881
Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

EDITORS NOTES

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.

Uniting against hunger becomes real when state and civil society organizations and the private sector work in partnership at all levels to defeat hunger, extreme poverty and malnutrition. In 2009, the critical threshold of one billion hungry people in the world was reached in part due to soaring food prices and the financial crisis, a “tragic achievement in these modern days" (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.

The MECs of four departments involved in the IFSNP, Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Education, Social Development and Health will encourage communities