10 March 2003

More than 200 000 poor households across the country stand to benefit from government’s R230-million food security scheme.

The money forms part of the R400-million set aside by Cabinet for the Food Emergency Scheme, aimed at addressing the plight of households that are most vulnerable to hunger.

The remaining R170-million was set aside for the World Food Programme to fight hunger and starvation in neighbouring southern African states.

The food scheme initially saw 35 000 poor Eastern Cape families receiving food parcels worth R31.5-million on 17 February.

The scheme is being launched in Mpumalanga, Free State, North West and Gauteng this week, and will be launched in KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape and the Western Cape on the 20th, 21st and 28th of this month respectively.

Free State stands to gain R27-million for 30 000 families, KwaZulu-Natal R27.4-million for 30 390 families, Northern Cape R4.2-million for 4 670 families, North West R64.8-million for 72 000 households, and Mpumalanga R10.8-million for 12 000 households.

Gauteng and the Western Cape each stand to receive R4.5-million for 5 000 households.

On Friday, Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya launched the Limpopo Food Emergency Scheme, in which approximately 50 890 families will receive food parcels worth R45.8- million.

The families were given parcels containing mielie (maize) meal, samp, cake flour, cooking oil, sugar, rice, tea, coffee, baked beans, milk and vegetables.

The Food Emergency Scheme forms part of the government’s Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Programme, which aims to develop a comprehensive Food Production and Trade Scheme through establishing household and communal food gardens and ensuring that the poorest families, especially child-headed families, have food on the table.

Targeted recipients are families with little or no income, children, orphans, child-headed homes and people living with HIV/Aids.

According to Skweyiya, the food security scheme also aims to ensure that vulnerable children, especially orphans, are linked to the School Nutrition Programme.

He said the scheme, piloted in December last year, has so far provided 12 000 poor households with food parcels to last them one month, each one worth about R250.

"Government recognises that the total value of each food parcel is still not adequate. Resources permitting, the food content value of these parcels will be reviewed from time to time", Skweyiya said.

Source: BuaNews