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

      Good day HLPE Members

      Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this process. The input herein is from the Chief Direcorate: Food Security team of DALRRD.  

      RESPONSES:

      Different ways of defining resilience :

      How do different groups define resilience (e.g. Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations, the scientific / peer reviewed literature, other key rights holders)? 

      The ability to recover and restore the original status quicker. 

      What are the main types of vulnerabilities facing food supply chains and what are the potential consequences of the food system actors?

      The main types of vulnerabilities facing the food system chains include power (electrical) insecurity affecting the irrigation schedule, and storage facilities because the food needs cold storage facilities.  At the level of production, an increase the cost of production inputs and the production processes. The breakdown of diseases and pests also affects the food system because production gets affected resulting in food shortage for consumers. Additionally, any political uprisings affect the whole chain because the inputs will not reach the farm, workers will be unable to get to their workstations and produced food will not be distributed. 

      The food system in South Africa is characterised by under–and–overfeeding. There are malnourished people as well as obese people in the country. The need to transform food systems is critical. The system disadvantages mainly the smallholder and subsistence sector when it comes to access and affordability of inputs, as they are operating on the periphery. 

      Furthermore, Climate related shocks inclusive of floods, droughts, biological hazards and conflicts affect food supply chains equally. 

      Under researched shocks include biological hazards and these require further research as they don’t have boundaries.

      Vulnerable communities (especially women, youth and people with disabilities) are totally displaced and call for more funding support which normally would not be budgeted for. 

       

      What resilience frameworks are there that should be explored? 

      The Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis (RVAA) Programme is one of the frameworks that can be replicated. Concerted efforts to understand livelihoods and how they are impacted by shocks have been the priority for this programme. It is the fundamental view of the RVAA Programme that there is a pressing need to advance from planning for response to planning for and building resilience, which will require poverty analysis as well as resilience measurement and monitoring (SADC, 2018 – Synthesis Report on the State of Food and Nutrition Security and Vulnerability in Southern Africa, 2018).

       

      3. Understanding and mitigating trade-offs:

      • Are there trade-offs between increasing adaptation to one type of shock and creating other types of fragility? 
      • What is the impact on resilience programming of different understandings of food security and nutrition (e.g. focus on nutrition, the four pillars, the six dimensions of food security, etc)?

      3.1 Increasing environmental or climate change adaptation through agro-ecology will have a long and sustained positive impact on the quality of the soil structure but may in the short to medium term affect large scale production of food.

      3.2 Resilience programming will have an everlasting impact on food and nutrition security pillars as food access, availability, utilization, stability will improve and be able to withstand different shocks and knocks, Developing food and nutrition security resilient strategies aimed at the most vulnerable also ensures that a buffer is created to cushion those likeliest to be hit by seen and unforeseen shocks.

       

      4. Existing programmes and policies to promote resilience – a gap analysis of current strategies and recommendations:

      • How are countries preparing for food systems resilience today?  What are the main policies and documents that can provide information on these national level plans?
      • Are there current or recent partnerships / initiatives proven to contribute to building resilience? What are the lessons learned? 
      • Could you provide success stories and best practices examples that can be applied to other locations?
      • Is the currently portfolio of resilience programming well aligned to different types of foreseen and unforeseen shocks, scales, or parts of the food system? 
      • What gaps are there in the current portfolio of country adaptation / resilience policies? 
      • What types of policy changes are needed to enhance the resilience of local, regional and global food systems, including with respect to global trading rules and considering inclusive and equitable employment opportunities, environmental sustainability, access to healthy diets and human rights?
      • What is the role of states in building more resilient food systems, including with respect to providing infrastructure, regulatory measures, international policy coordination and policy coherence?
      • What measures are necessary to incentivize private sector strategies and investments that promote supply chain resilience?

      Existing Policies: 

      4.1 The National Food and Nutrition Security Policy which seeks to provide an overarching guiding framework to maximise synergy between the different strategies and programmes of government and civil society.

      The Agriculture, Agro-processing Masterplan that serves as a partnership compact for the country:  

      Partnerships and measures to improve: 

      4.2 Partnership between the department of agriculture and the Commodity Organisations, inclusive of farmer associations. 

      4.3 Innovative research is conducted resulting in drought resistant seeds and the re-introduction of indigenous crops.

      4.4 Not well aligned due to the fragmented conception, development and implementation, monitoring and reporting of multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder adaptation and mitigation policies and strategies. 

      4.5 Improved coordination, monitoring and reporting by different stakeholders involved in ensuring a resilient food system.

      4.6 To create a conducive environment for continuous food systems dialogue by multi-sectors and stakeholders and put building blocks (resources – human and capital, legislation, policies, research, monitoring and evaluation framework, etc) in place to ensure achievement of set objectives. Roll-out country specific interventions or initiatives.

      4.7 Tax rebates and profit. Roll-out a deliberate country-wide infrastructure programme to improve production, storage and movement of food. Ensure uninterrupted supply of critical resources such as water and electricity. Depoliticize the municipalities and ensure the hiring of skilled professionals.

      See the attachments:

    • Dr. Jemina Moeng

      Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
      South Africa

      Good day

      Kindly see find my inputs.

      Harvesting change: Harnessing emerging technologies and innovations for agrifood Global foresight synthesis report systems transformation: Global foresight synthesis report

      South Africa’s inputs into the topic of “From Foresight to Field: Exploring regional and multistakeholder perspectives to implement a foresight on emerging technologies and innovations in agrifood systems,” is premised on the reality that producers/farmers have indigenous knowledge that has stood them in good stead over centuries and therefore technologies and innovations should build upon their past experiences. Producers at all levels, be it subsistence, smallholder and commercial levels play a critical role in the agrifood systems transformation, farming at all stages has an impact on the environment, hence the need for holistic approach towards agrifood systems. 

      Critical to the development of technologies and innovations is the level of consultation and partnerships that occur amongst all stakeholders. At the Regional stakeholder engagements, the role of current policies and legislation are critical for the development of new technologies and innovations. Indeed, the ability of multi-stakeholders to collaborate and fund the development of technologies and innovations enables timeous implementation of these for supporting pathways of agrifood systems. 

      South Africa has the National government sphere that has concurrent functions with Provincial Departments, for some of the key Departments. The National sphere provides Policy and legislative guidelines whilst Provincial Departments are the implementing arm of government, therefore working very closely with farmers/producers. A collaboration nexus exists between the National, Provincial and Local spheres with the producers/farmers at the centre. The five scenarios provided by the report become applicable to the SA situation. 

      The SA dialogues involved all these stakeholders and the re-initiation of these dialogues to implement pathways will assist in igniting the food systems transformation deliberations. 

      Consideration of additional drivers of agrifood systems for emergence of technology and innovation should be added as follows: 

      1. The missing middle, these are youth above 18 years, enrolled at tertiary institutions – they are outside government school feeding programmes and not getting any form of government grants due to their age. Their livelihood support depends on other sources of income such as bursaries that “might” have student allowances. Introducing farming technologies at this level will enhance the ability of this grouping to generate their own food and other forms of income. A further missing middle category are adults at 60 years and above. Technologies for agrifood systems for this category will lesson the burden of hard labour involved in farming.  
      2. Supply and Demand Estimates (knowing where we are in terms of food availability) as a source of information should guide the types of technology and innovation that get introduced. 

      Leveraging private sector support for innovations will enhance further coverage and use of such innovations – the role of Institutions of Learning becomes critical.

      See the attachments:

    • 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: