ForAfrika’s Mangaung Food Security Programme

Boosting food security in vulnerable Free State communities.

In partnership with The Woolworths Trust, ForAfrika’s Mangaung Food Security Programme aims to build a green economy while strengthening food security in one of the oldest settlements of the Free State, Thaba Nchu. The Programme operates in a vulnerable setting – one that is ridden by malnutrition and unemployment. Thus, the Mangaung Food Security Programme focuses on providing skills and competencies to emerging farmers and Early Childhood Development Centres (ECD) to: 

  • Prevent malnutrition in ECD centres in children under the age of five through food intake and added nutritional value.
  • Improve the economic status of emerging farmers and increase household and community incomes through the sale of fresh produce to local businesses and community members. 
  • Promote behavioural and cultural shifts in mindsets to embrace agriculture as a means to promote food security, household affordability and prevent malnutrition. 
  • Offer a robust platform to emerging farmers to unleash their potential through skills development and mentorship programmes. 

In early 2022, ForAfrika selected 12 emerging farmers through a baseline assessment process. This was followed by a 5-day skills development training that taught them the basics of food production and land identification. Once trained, the emerging farmers received the opportunity to identify bigger pieces of land where they could grow their own food for greater return on investment.

Finally, ForAfrika provided them with 17 sets of gardening tools for the facilitation of their food gardens. 

Later in the year, ForAfrika provided their emerging farmers with open spaces to practice their skills and offered guidance and assessments of their produce, when required. 

The Mangaung Food Security Programme currently focuses on 17 individuals: 

  • Five are staff members at the ECD centre
  • 12 are unemployed but with an innate interest and love for agriculture

Achievements of the Mangaung Food Security Programme 

  • An emerging farmer, Moleho Rapulana turned a dumpsite near his home into a food garden after he received training and equipment from ForAfrika. This is a source of income for his family as well as nutritional produce for several households in the community. 
  • Four of the Mangaung emerging farmers have begun selling their fresh produce, including cabbage, spinach, beetroot, potatoes etc., to local businesses and the community they live in.
  • Mama Susiwe Tau (also known as Mme Ma-Tau), a social pioneer in the community, grows a variety of crops in her food garden that she uses in her soup kitchen that feeds close to 150 people a day. 
  • Two of the emerging farmers from the Programme have been identified as mentors and master trainers who will provide their guidance and expertise to others, especially at ECD centres to begin or maintain food gardens and improve the quality of their produce. 
  • A total of 431 community members, including ECD children and employees benefit from the Programme. 

Woolworths is honoured to partner with ForAfrika with an aim to incorporate agriculture in a meaningful manner to support livelihoods in the Thaba Nchu region. We look forward to following their journey in the fight to eradicate hunger in South Africa.