Global and local food production plays a pivotal role in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action). Food systems are closely tied to SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics at UMP, Professor Mzuyanda Christian, reflected on the food-related challenges that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic. He stressed the right to food as a collective responsibility to eliminate hunger.
Professor Christian pointed to alarming rates of food wastage due to post-harvest losses, emphasising the need for science-based solutions. He underscored the importance of indigenous crops in achieving food security through local production.
“There must be greater collaboration among producers, distributors, consumers, and researchers to ensure food security, particularly in the face of a growing global population. We must not only produce more food but also ensure that it reaches those who need it most,” said Professor Christian.
Dr Maanda Dagada, C
hief Director of Producer Support and Development Services at the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land, and Environmental Affairs (DARDLA) said food security involves availability, affordability and accessibility.
Chief Director of Producer Support and Development Services at the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land, and Environmental Affairs (DARDLA), Dr Maanda Dagada, stressed the importance of focusing on indigenous crops to alleviate hunger.
Dr Dagada noted that 50.8% of South Africans live below the poverty line, while 58.4% of youth are unemployed. He explained that food security involves not only availability but also affordability and accessibility.
According to the discussion, only 18% of Mpumalanga households engage in agriculture, with 83.6% of these households producing food solely for their consumption. The Mpumalanga International Food Market was highlighted as a key initiative to improve market access for local producers.
“Indigenous crops such as sweet potatoes and maize, which are resilient to climate change and require fewer inputs, are not only vital for food security but also for economic sustainability. We need to build awareness and demand for these crops, establish reliable supply chains, and integrate them into government programmes and broader markets,” said Dr Dagada.
Attendees learnt more about indigenous crops and how they require fewer synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, reducing costs for smallholder farmers.
Head of the School of Agriculture at UMP, Professor Fonso Kutu, addressed the global food security crisis, citing alarming statistics: 783 million people go to bed hungry, and 2.8 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet. He highlighted that 10 million tonnes of food are wasted annually in South Africa, worsening the hunger crisis.
Professor Kutu also discussed the impact of climate change and conflict on food systems. “Climate shocks and global conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Middle East crisis, have disrupted food supply chains, aggravating food insecurity worldwide. In Africa, droughts and environmental stresses continue to affect agricultural productivity.”
He emphasised that access to adequate food is a constitutional right in South Africa, yet smallholder and subsistence farmers struggle with limited land access, undermining their potential to contribute effectively to food security.
Professor Kutu called for community initiatives to reduce food waste, noting that the average South African wastes 79kg of food per year. He proposed introducing advanced diploma programmes in post-harvest technology to reduce food losses and address the challenges faced by smallholder farmers, including land access issues.
The event concluded with a call for collective action to uphold the right to food and address the challenges that affect food availability, affordability, and sustainability in South Africa and beyond.
Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures by JB Creative Cinema.