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16th October marks the 30th anniversary of World Food Day and the 64th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). On this day we reflect on and increase awareness around global food problems, hunger and malnutrition.

According to the latest report published by the World Food Programme (WFP) the number of people in need of food aid in the world has reached a record first time figure of more than 1 billion. Many of these people are in the developing countries and many of them are from African countries. Yet Africa is the wealthiest continent with its endowment of mineral wealth, oil reserves, diversity of wild life, various types of livestock, fish, vegetation, kilometres of rich fertile lands and almost one billion hard working people.

We have to rethink our approach to food security in order to get it right. For the past two to three years, the global demand for food increased with the need for the world to produce and feed 6 billion people. This was compounded by the changing weather conditions that in some places resulted in dry spells that affected crop especially wheat production and in others floods that washed away crops. The tide of bad news continued with the economic recession which hit hard especially among the poor and most vulnerable communities.

As stated in our Constitution Section 27, 1 (b) that, "every citizen has a right to have access to sufficient food and water." Our government MUST with all available resources protect this fundamental right. For our people, this addresses availability and affordability of basic food products therefore calling for increased monitoring of food prices and appreciation of the work done by the Competition Commission.

To ensure food security among the most vulnerable groups, it has now become evident that government must stimulate agricultural production, invest in agricultural research and stimulate economic growth within the agricultural sector including aquaculture in order to achieve food security.

The people of this country mandated the ANC to effect change on land and agrarian activities to ensure support to subsistence food production, expanding the role and productivity of modern small-holder farmers and maintain a vibrant and competitive agricultural sector.

The ANC listened and prioritised government programme of action to focus on five areas: creation of decent work and sustainable livelihoods; education; health; rural development, food security and land reform; as well as the fight against crime and corruption, especially livestock theft.

Subsistence farmers will be supported through agricultural starter packs that will include seeds and seedlings, fertilizer and livestock. To protect your crops and livestock, the government will continue to rollout the fencing project to safeguard livestock. Already, we have rolled-out 50 km fencing costing 3,5 million for vegetables and crop, grazing land and the Buffer zone in Muyexe village in Giyani.

Over the past 20 years, cereal production in developing countries has increased by 78 percent and fish production by 113 percent while meat production has risen by 127 percent. Even so, many people in developing countries cannot afford animal products, as a result of which per capita consumption of meat is only 17.7 kg/year as compared to 81.6 kg/year in developed countries. About 60 percent of dietary protein is from animal products in developed countries, compared to only 22 percent in developing countries.

This shows that there is a substantial room for expansion of livestock production. Our primary intervention will be to support farmers to enable them to produce products at levels that are able to keep our food prices low, and internationally competitive.

In the rural areas, our key driving project is the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) which was launched by President Jacob Zuma on 17 August 2009 in Giyani. This programme which has a holistic approach towards rural development is developed to ensure integrated participation of all spheres of government to ensure improvement in livelihoods and thus reduce food insecurity of both individual households and communities. This holistic approach will also ensure co-ordinated planning taking into consideration all challenges facing the area like inadequate water resources.

Together with agricultural research institutions, local governments and provincial departments, we will empower rural South Africans to become participants and owners for the stimulation of agriculture forestry and aqua production in the area. Research institutions will also provide sufficient technology to support this initiative. Today, we are showcasing an innovative approach of food production that uses grey in the production of food in the villages.

This Veggie Tower approach has already been rolled-out in Muyexe targeting 300 households. Through this approach, we have succeeded in creating a nursery and a net tunnel covering one hectare to grow vegetables. Furthermore, we are looking into other technologies that will include possibilities of water harvesting and production enhancing alternatives to improve crop and livestock production. Many of these initiatives will be supported through the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' National Agricultural Production Strategy.

We are approaching agriculture, forestry and fisheries in a strategic and systematic manner and are determined to increase the overall production of commodities for food security and to contribute to the economy in a meaningful way. We believe that farmers should graduate to different levels to ensure sustainable production and food security.

We have partnered with the Food and Agricultural Organization whom have approved two Telefood proposals to an amount close to 20,000 US dollars for the poultry and vegetable production initiatives in Muyexe. Through our partnership we shall work together to strengthen ensure that this initiative does is sustainable and our communities are encouraged to produce food throughout the year.

Working together with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Provincial Departments of Agriculture and other stakeholders, we have improved existing food security initiatives to allow them to quickly respond to unemployment and poverty alleviation. These include, amongst others, the Community seed production schemes which are already implemented in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.

We are also finalising the revitalisation of indigenous seed security saving. The Limpopo communities of Thulamela and Sekhukhune villages have delivered a valuable service of conserving indigenous species of bambara groundnut, cowpea, sorghum, melon, pumpkin and maize.

Our approach will be to have communities own these initiatives to ensure sustainability of the projects. These indigenous seeds adapts to the scarce rainfall and drier climatic conditions that we are experiencing due to changing weather patens.
Food security, especially in Africa, is linked to the prevailing climate. South Africa's agriculture is particularly vulnerable to climate change, as farming depends to a great extent on the quality of the rainy season. Increased droughts together with higher temperatures require that we approach food production and conservation differently.

The current drought that has ravaged the western part of the country and the region since 2002 and has impacted heavily on rural communities. We must, work together, to strengthen our efforts to produce more. This is a call to zabalaza against being hopeless and waiting for government to allocate grants.

Working together we can do more to achieve food security!