Agri-podcast: Prevailing drought in the Free State continues to compromise food security

The prevailing drought in the Free State continues to compromise food security. This is according to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in the province. And to make sure that food insecurity is tackled extensively, the Free State Food Security Stakeholders has forged a partnership with various departments in the province, including the Departments of Health, Social Development, Public Works, and the Department of Water and Sanitation to the resuscitate Food and Nutrition Security programme. This follows after the province was hit hard by failed harvests, drought, increasing input costs, and low livestock prices, among others, in the last few months. According to reports, about 30 000 jobs have been lost in the agricultural sector due to drought in the province. To ease drought pressure, the Treasury late last year provided Agriculture and Rural Development with R13.5 million for drought relief. The departmental MEC, Benny Malakoane, has launched new Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Strategy initiatives across the province with the primary objective of outlining and strengthening the newly approved Food Security Strategy to all stakeholders.