Official reply:
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION 892/2013
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
Date of publication on internal question paper: 03 May 2013
Internal question paper no: 14
892. Mr R B Bhoola (MF) to ask the Minister of Social Development:
(1) Whether the implementation of the Zero Hunger Programme is being
tested and refined through collaboration with the provincial
departments of agriculture;
(2) Whether the programme has been linked to the Comprehensive
Agricultural Support Programme; if not, why not; if so, what are the
relevant details?
NW1111E
Reply:
1) Yes. The Department is implementing Zero Hunger programme in
collaboration with the Department of Agriculture. A national task team
chaired by the Department of Agriculture has been established and
includes the Department of Social Development and other departments.
Nine provincial Departments of Agriculture also participate in the forum
that meets on bi-monthly basis. This forum is responsible for
implementing the Zero-Hunger programme. There is continuous
collaboration with all Provincial Departments of Agriculture.
In the implementation of Zero Hunger Programme the Department has
capitalized on existing policies, strategies and programmes in
collaboration with all relevant stakeholders at all levels of
governance, with better coordination and integration.
2) The Zero Hunger programme has a link with the Comprehensive Agricultural
Support Programme (CASP), which is a programme of the Department of
Agriculture that promotes local food production by food producers/
smallholder farmers, processing and support access to markets. The Zero
Hunger programme links with SASP through the procurement of fresh
produce from producers. This produce is then utilized by the food
transfer programmes of the department that supports the poor and
vulnerable citizens.