Grow your own food to weather the rising food price storm

South Africans in the suburbs, townships and rural areas should all start producing their own food.

This was the overwhelming message from the Agriculture, Conservation and Environmental Affairs MEC in Gauteng , Khabisi Mosunkutu and the national Agriculture and Land Affairs Minister, Lulu Xingwana.

The two government leaders were speaking at the opening of a two day Food Summit held in Midrand to help co-ordinate a comprehensive response to the mounting cost of food.

The focus of the Summit is to try to understand the root causes of the current food price crisis and the extent of the problem. Delegates will also develop short and long-term solutions to the problem. The Summit is also expected to make recommendations that will be forwarded to the planned National Agricultural Summit.

Delegates at the Summit included representatives from the agricultural sector, ranging from food processors; farmers; organized labour; consumer bodies and wholesalers, representatives from GPG departments, municipalities and non-governmental organisation (NGOs).

Said Minister Xingwana:

"Each family should have a vegetable garden. Let us help one another to grow our own food. In areas where the land lies fallow, let us mobilize communities to produce food for themselves."

MEC Mosunkutu echoed the minister's comments, saying:

"Together we must agree how best to use the pieces of land to grow our own vegetables and other crops that will help curb expenditure on food while ensuring ready supply of wholesome food."

He also criticized food companies who have been implicated in price fixing and said super profits at the expense of the poor will only lead to a recession.

He explained that the Summit was about joining hands with labour unions, businesses, NGOs and communities to find solutions to rising food prices and building partnerships. He added that strategies and solutions will formulated at the gathering will only be effective "if we all work together".

Mosunkutu further highlighted the Gauteng Provincial Government's efforts to fight poverty through agriculture, saying:

"In Gauteng we developed the Gauteng Agricultural Development Strategy specifically to boost urban agriculture, contribute to economic development, halving of poverty and to help create jobs."

The department has also allocated R146 077 million to veterinary services and agriculture.

Meanwhile, Minister Xingwana told the Summit that the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Escalating Food Prices has developed a proposal which will be presented to Cabinet next week.