15 October 2006
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 councillors, 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 centres 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."
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 to
make more development assistance available for fighting hunger.
Enquiries:
Thabo Mothibi
Cell: 083 255 8840
E-mail: tmothibi@agri.ncape.gov.za
Issued by: Northern Cape Provincial Government
15 October 2006
Source: Northern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.northern-cape.gov.za)
