ABSTRACT
Despite a strong government commitment to addressing development issues in South Africa, tremendous disparities in food security exist between communities and households across the country, reflecting continuing social and economic inequalities. Estimates suggest that approximately 14 million people are food insecure and 1.5 million children suffer from malnutrition (HSRC–FIVIMS, 2003; HSRC, 2004). Food insecurity is prevalent particularly in areas that have been historically disadvantaged during the colonial and apartheid eras and in the growing urban centres. The cause of hunger and malnutrition is not due to a shortage of food, but, rather, inadequate access to food by certain categories of individuals and households in the population (Vogel and Smith, 2002). The growing need to address South Africa’s food insecurity has therefore emerged as a priority for both scientists and policymakers.
