Pretoria:South Africa is making strides in addressing food security challenges despite the country being broadly food-sufficient at a national level. Challenges remain in ensuring that all households have access to sufficient food, influenced by factors such as poverty, unemployment, and income inequality.
According to South African Government News Agency, Thulile Dlamini, Acting Director for Subsistence Farming at the Department of Agriculture, highlighted these issues during a discussion with SAnews.gov.za. Dlamini pointed to data from the General Household Survey (GHS) 2025, which indicated that 15.8 million people experienced inadequate access to food, a decline from previous years.
The Department of Agriculture defines food and nutrition security in line with the National Policy on Food and Nutrition Security, which emphasizes access to safe and nutritious food for all South Africans. The policy aims to guide government efforts to fulfill constitutional rights to food access.
South Africa observes Food Security Month every October, addressing issues like undernutrition and obesity. The National Food and Nutrition Security Survey (2023) shows significant levels of food insecurity and malnutrition among households and children, highlighting the need for continuous data collection and informed program implementation.
The government is promoting household food production through backyard and community gardens. Programs supporting smallholder producers are also in place, including the SA-GAP certification program and the Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) Programme. These initiatives aim to increase market access and productivity for smallholder farmers.
Furthermore, the National Food and Nutrition Security Plan seeks to coordinate responses to malnutrition, involving multiple stakeholders in addressing underlying determinants. The plan's second iteration aims to build on previous efforts and incorporate input from diverse sectors.
As World Food Day is commemorated on October 16, South Africa is urged to consider climate change impacts on food security. Dlamini advises farmers to adapt to weather conditions and emphasizes the importance of domestic food production and water conservation.
With Food Security Month concluding, the focus remains on practical measures for communities to enhance food security, such as home gardening and resource sharing.