The province’s Zululand district is the hardest hit, with 35% of households experiencing severe food insecurity and high levels of hunger.
News24 reports that the findings are part of the Food and Nutrition Security Survey (NFNSS), and provide a comprehensive snapshot of the province’s food security.
The survey was initiated in 2019, and the institution released its findings in Durban this week. The report was handed over to the provincial government for attention.
The report stated that the increase in food prices was the biggest shock experienced across all districts in the province. It recommended that the province should focus on strategies to increase agriculture production systems among households.
However, agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo told the publication that the problem was not agricultural output but income poverty. South Africa produced enough food, and was food secure at a national level, but at a household level “millions of people are in deep hunger”.
“Regardless of the prices of the food, some people just don’t have money to be able to procure the food. Not that it’s expensive, but some households literally have no income. In such a household, even if social grants support exists, it’s just not enough,” Sihlobo said.
To address the issues of households struggling to secure adequate food, the government and private sector needed to address unemployment.
