Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

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Dr. Jemina Moeng

Member since
Organization: Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Country: South Africa
Field(s) of expertise:
I am working on:

The support of subsistence producers to produce their own food in South Africa. Coupled with the conclusion of the National Food and Nutrition Security Survey (NFNSS) that has been conducted by our Department at the District level. This survey is the first of its kind at the Sub-National level, in the Country.

Statistics South Africa (StatS SA) also conducts the General Household Survey, however this provides data at the Provincial level.
The purpose of the survey was to guide areas of vulnerability for targeted support towards food security. {Food security is also caused by poor targeting of some of the vulnerable groups due to their inability to access government services. The survey provides focused interventions opportunities for decision making and support.

This member contributed to:

    • Dr. Jemina Moeng

      Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
      South Africa

      The South African Food system is comprised of a range of actors in the production, storage, processing, distribution, consumption and disposal of food products. Furthermore, the food system is made up of sub-systems (farming/production systems, market systems, waste management systems and input management systems). 

      Issues affecting the country’s food system include governance, political, social and economics of food production. 

      The country’s National Food and Nutrition Security Plan Evaluation Report (2023) has identified governance as one of the gaps that requires urgent attention. The country has identified four pathways:

      • Enhancement of sustainable local production for local consumption of safe, nutritious and indigenous foods; 
      • Promotion of economic and environmental resilience;
      • Facilitation of inclusive, sustainable and competitive value chains; and
      • Promotion of integrated food systems policies, legislation, planning and governance.

      Each pathway will be governed by a Committee and will report to the Food Systems National Task Team. The Food Systems Task Team will then report to the Food Security Council which will make decisions regarding the food security matters in the country. The National Food and Nutrition Council will be chaired by the Deputy President of the country.

      The FAO can contribute towards the governance of the agrifood systems by further linking up with the Nominated Food Systems Focal Points in various countries. The need to involve various stakeholders in the food systems transformation is critical as each role player has a specific area of focus. 

      In South Africa engagements have been with Farmer Organizations, Institutions of Learning, Civil Society and Traditional Leaders. The cost of hosting various consultative processes are unaffordable for some of the critical stakeholders. The FAO can support by providing assistance for meeting platforms, eg. The FAO once supported our Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development with a 1 000 people consultative meeting during the Food Systems Country Dialogues [prior the Food Systems Summit] and created a virtual meeting platform that was used to engage all.

      The country, therefore, seeks assistance in setting up a governance structure by facilitating the establishment of a National Food Systems Task Team, and a committee for each identified pathway. 

      Specifically, assistance is required on the following requirements: 

      • Technical expertise on Food Systems in the country to assist with governance i.e setting up the National Food Systems Task Team.  
      • Financial backing especially for Civil society participation 
      • Technical post-harvest technology for use by subsistence and smallholder producers (inexpensive). 

      SUBMITTED BY THE FOOD SECURITY UNIT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DALRRD). 

      END 

    • Dr. Jemina Moeng

      Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
      South Africa

       submitted by Dr Jemina Moeng on behalf of the team.

      Input by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) Food Security Team

      Introduction: Hidden costs are like a vicious cycle as they cost more in the future than in the present, making attempts to achieve sustainable development impossible.

      To effectively incorporate the hidden costs and benefits of agrifood systems into decision-making requires:

      • Recognition of the strengths and weaknesses in the current food systems, what purpose they serve, who they serve and whether they enable progress towards achieving the national goals.
      • The most affected populations by hidden costs of agrifood systems should be identified e.g. the vulnerable, rural and peri urban. The food insecurity and vulnerability assessments should be constantly undertaken. These assessments should further analyse coping mechanisms of people that should be understood for informing agrifood systems decisions and proper targeting of the most affected.
      • All role players in agrifood systems including all spheres of government, business, non-government actors, researchers and communities must integrate and streamline policies and legislation and national frameworks based on the agreed upon hidden costs and benefits of agri-food systems.
      • The point of departure is recognition of the power of collective action and a need to forge powerful partnerships and creating mutually reinforcing and appropriate interventions.
      • Inclusion of Traditional Leaders in cases of rural settings is critical to ensure that the communal areas and communities are consulted upon, noting that indigenous knowledge will enrich the policy process for transformation.

      Thank you

      CDFS Team

    • Dr. Jemina Moeng

      Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
      South Africa

      Input made by the Food Security team in the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. 

      Introduction: Urbanisation is an inevitable trend seen across the world, and it could be lessened by providing adequate livelihood opportunities and public services for rural populations, and by collectively building resilient agricultural sector in the face of climate change.

      Urban and peri urban food systems could be improved by:

      • Coordinating the role of different actors involved in governing urban food systems, this could be achieved by establishing the Food and Nutrition Security Councils that will stakeholders accountable.
      • Peri-urban agriculture plays a role in generating food system conditions that can enhance food security thus the economy. However, this land is under considerable development pressure. It is therefore important for local government to pro-actively include food production and the food system in land-use decision making in order to strengthen urban and peri-urban food systems.
      • Provision of adequate climate smart support and training to (peri-)urban farmers is also important in improving their production and they must be empowered with resources across the entire food systems’ value chains.
      • Facilitating rural transformation, inclusive, sustainable and competitive value chains can be achieved through improving the following:
      • Food and agricultural hubs in or near rural and peri-urban markets must be established to absorb the produce of household, smallholder and micro farmers and agribusinesses and agro-processors; and
      • Market stimulation for smallholder producers to participate in local value chains
      • Improved policy environment to enhance participation of small holder producers in local food value-chains.
      • Community land and water food administration systems must be established to facilitate equitable access to quality water, energy, infrastructure, food safety for rural and urban communities.
      • Balance should be maintained between domestic production and food exports to strengthen the food system and its resilience; and
      • Food system aggregators must be established in the villages, rural towns and townships to ensure sufficient throughput of the products and services from schools in the villages, community production centres, household and smallholder producers at the desired quality on a sustainable basis.

      In conclusion:

      • Transformation of the rural economy is essential for growth, poverty reduction, employment creation and overcoming inequalities.
      • Greater focus should on raising the productivity of smallholder producers as a way of increasing local access to nutritious foods.
      • Focusing on local value food chains increases employment opportunities and reduces dependence on imports and migration to urban areas for job opportunities.
      See the attachments: