Assessing the Existence of Food Security Projects in Limpopo Province of South Africa | Chapter 03 | Food Science and Agriculture: Research Highlights Vol. 5

 

As the world continues to face widespread food insecurity, achieving food security for all at all times remains a growing global challenge. Food Security Projects initiated by the government of South Africa in order to help alleviate poverty within Limpopo Province have proven unsustainable and have struggled to provide for what they were mandated to provide, to the satisfaction of the government, which is to create jobs and alleviate poverty. The purpose of this study is to verify the existence of food security projects in Limpopo province of South Africa. The study was conducted in all five districts of Limpopo Province, namely, Mopani, Vhembe, Capricorn, Sekhukhune, and Waterberg. A mixed-method approach was used in this study. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews, which were administered to one official from the Provincial Department of Health and Social Development, one official from the Department of Agriculture and five tribal council representatives who represented all the tribal authorities at the district level and are knowledgeable about developmental issues. Document analysis was also conducted at the two provincial departments. The coded data were then analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 22). The findings indicate that food security initiatives are widely distributed across Limpopo Province, with notable concentrations of vegetable and broiler projects in the Mopani, Vhembe, and Waterberg districts. This study also revealed that there are 347 food security projects in Limpopo Province, with 338 declared functional. Mopani district has more functional projects than other districts. This study will provide policymakers with policy directives on how a database of food security projects can be kept so that they can be made known. The study recommends that careful monitoring and evaluation are crucial for proper utilisation of funds and assessing the efficiency of food security projects in Limpopo Province.

 

Author(s)details:-

 

Nesengani, T. J.
University of Limpopo, Centre for Rural Community Empowerment, P/Bag X1106, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/fsarh/v5/6599