Since the start of the pandemic, in collaboration with the private sector and civil society partners, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture has collectively increased food gardens for households, communities and schools by 563%. This programme now supports 5 640 households which benefit from this provincial programme, a massive growth from a base of 800 in the first quarter of 2020. This goes a long way in addressing the food shortages our country faces, by specifically shifting from food relief to that of food security.
Over the past year, we have witnessed the devasting impact which Covid-19 and harsh lockdown regulations had on the lives and livelihoods of many residents. As a result of many households losing their jobs and, in most instances, primary income from the onset of the pandemic, there was a great need for the Province to intervene and help restore dignity for vulnerable residents. Through the Department’s ‘One Home, One Garden’ initiative, these units can either be used to produce vegetables or chicken houses, providing much-needed nutrition for families.
In addition to assisting households, the Department has also broadened its approach to developing whole communities. Since March 2020, the Department has increased its support from 62 community food gardens to 132. Whilst the gardens differ in size and the average cost of establishment is approximately R110 000, each applicant is entitled to a maximum funding allocation of R200 000. Furthermore, schools in the Western Cape have also benefitted as school gardens have more than tripled to 43 units in the same timeframe.
MPP Van der Westhuizen says: “These figures show how a caring provincial government contributes towards the empowerment of residents and growing grassroot efforts to improve food security. As Chairperson of the Standing Committee, I will be submitting parliamentary questions to the Provincial Minister to ask what measures are in place to ensure that these gardens are sustained and whether more gardens will be established in the future.”
By providing affected groups and individuals with a nutritious and stable source of food, we are able to partner with residents to sustainably safeguard their wellbeing.