By District Communicators
Stakeholders participating in the National Food Security and Nutrition Consultative Session
The National Food and Nutrition Security Plan Consultative Session took centre stage across all districts which aimed at strengthening the fight against hunger, poverty and malnutrition in South Africa.
The session, hosted by the National Department of Agriculture in partnership with the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD), sought to gather community-driven proposals to shape an inclusive, coordinated national strategy that responds to the realities faced by vulnerable communities.
The consultation brought together traditional leaders, local government representatives, organised farmers and various sector departments to contribute ideas towards building sustainable solutions to food insecurity.
The proposed plan sought to coordinate interventions across government departments, including Health and Social Development, while prioritising nutrition safety nets, nutrition education, agricultural investment and participation by emerging sectors.
The initiative comes amid concerning food insecurity figures, with recent data indicating that 26.7% of South African households experience moderate food insecurity, while 17.5% face severe food insecurity. Working-class communities and women remain among those disproportionately affected.
The consultative session provided a platform for stakeholders to identify practical interventions, strengthen collaboration and ensure that communities play a meaningful role in shaping food security policies.
Through these engagements, government aimed to advance a coordinated approach towards ensuring access to adequate, safe and nutritious food for all South Africans.
