Food Security Programmes

Targeting 10 000 new beneficiaries’ household gardens and supporting a further 15 000 in Mpumalanga, North West, Limpopo, Eastern Cape and Free State Provinces. As far as project completion goes , we exited from 63 areas in 4 provinces at the end of March 2019, after having worked with them for a period of 2 years . The total number of beneficiaries trained in these areas was 6 580. Our most recent Quality
Assurance visits show that a total of 489 beneficiaries dropped out over this period. This figure also includes those who passed away.

Woolgrowers Support Programmes

We worked with 15 associations and targeted 200 new beneficiaries during this period whilst continuing to support existing woolgrowers in the Eastern Cape. Working alongside the 15 associations, with a target of treating and dosing of 7 000 sheep, we succeeded in supporting
farmers with treatment for a total of 6 978 sheep.

Work with two more associations around Bizana has been very slow. However, on a positive
note , we have been engaging with two more associations in Qumbu and Idutywa respectively, with both on board to start work with us in the 2019/2020 financial year. Payments for wool has been a little slow to come through to the farmers. The final amount farmers have received for
their wool came to R900 135.

Dipudi Project

In its second year, this project continued with 37 existing beneficiaries in Losasaneng in the North West Province. These beneficiaries have been introduced to a number of key stakeholders with the aim of assisting them with their businesses. Among those is SEDA, who will be conducting a workshop on co-operatives and assist them to register.

The group has also been encouraged to request land in order to help in keeping their boergoats separate from the traditional ones as well as help improve efforts to avoid further breeding with the traditional goats. A presentation was done to the Chief in this regard.

In addition to the Dipudi project, we continue to identify and support projects and communities that show potential to complement our poverty alleviation efforts in the community.

Community Gardens

Exceeding the targeted 10 gardens, the MDA worked with a total of 17 gardens in the 2018/2019 period, chiefly in the Free State, Mpumalanga and Eastern Cape. The success of the gardens can be mainly attributed to the amount of people who have either graduated from the Food Security Programme, or sought our support as a result of the programme.

Special mention must be made of our work in the Steynsdorp community in Mpumalanga which was the highlight of our work in 2018. This is a hard-working community of at least 50 farmers, producing various types of vegetables, which were adversely affected by the previous years’
drought and required assistance with w ater for irrigation. The MDA stepped in on their behalf and approached Bokamoso Impact, a Pretoria-based company, to link us with experts to assist with the problem. A preliminary report w as done which showed that there is w ater available for irrigation purposes. However, a total of R1.3 million would be required to fund the project in order help the community with irrigation water, especially in winter months and during drought periods . In the meantime, interim solutions are being explored whilst we secure funding for a comprehensive long-term intervention. Our belief is that Government should be approached to assist.

Challenges

Our main challenge has been spor adic community protests that have led to numerous disruptions in our day to day work. Extreme weather phenomena is on the increase in South Africa, with heat waves, drought fierce storms and tornadoes affecting various parts of the country . These conditions have had a negative impact on our Food Security Programme as well as our community gardens.