Farmers in Mzansi have raised their hands to take over the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) tender worth over R1 billion, following its cancellation by basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube.
Food producers said while the department of education is still considering how to go about the programme, they are ready to step in and provide food to schools and ensure that the feeding scheme goes ahead without any hindrances.
‘Give farmers a chance’
Saamtrek Saamwerk leader Sehularo Sehularo said this is the opportunity for the department of basic education to reconsider the model they are using for the scheme.
“Each school in the country has a farmer close by. Whether they are small-scale or commercial, there is a farmer who is more than ready to deliver to the schools. It is not a matter of capacity but being offered the opportunity to produce for the schools.
“We know that farmers complain about not having markets. The department of education has a golden opportunity to engage organised agriculture and farmers in their communities to serve them with food. What is it that the farmer cannot produce that school need? We are ready to engage schools for farmers to deliver their produce to them,” he said.
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Sehularo said if the government is serious about partnerships and empowering farmers they would not hesitate to make this idea work for everyone involved.
“This is where we need to see government practising what they are always preaching. The interlink between government departments needs to kick start, farmers can supply directly to schools; there is no need for a middle-man. We are ready for the signal, we can even deliver tomorrow,” he noted.
According to Sehularo, a database of every farmer in the area should be done by the departments of both education and agriculture and what they could offer to the schools.
“In terms of giving tangible solutions to this matter, each farmer is registered with the department of agriculture, [and] the department of education, once they are ready with this initiative should engage their sister department for the database and the screening must take place and contracts be put in place.
“As much as it seems to be a tedious process this will go a long way to end hunger and create jobs in our communities,” he said.
Not enough markets for farmers
Pretoria vegetable farmer Nompumelelo Dhlamini said farmers could supply to schools as there are not enough markets for all the farmers.
“I think the schools need to check what they need and who are the farmers around their areas and in that way it also means more gates being opened for small farmers. That would be such a great opportunity for farmers.
“Farmers know one another so if schools can list what they need then farmers can collaborate amongst themselves to deliver to schools,” he said.
Mike Gcabo, a farmer and deputy chairperson of the Black Agricultural Commodities Federation (BACF), said farmers should and must supply to local schools.
“As for their (farmers) capacity, there are challenges ranging from phytosanitary as well as production capacity. These can be overcome though,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kgomotso Itumeleng, a member of Youth in Agriculture and Rural Development (Yard), said these opportunities should be directed to young people at the most.
“For example, the province we are in, just like any other province, has diverse produce from different regions and farmers. We do have farmers who produce a lot; the only problem they have is the market.
“I believe there is capacity on the ground to supply to schools. What is needed now is [for the] government to develop a structure where this whole thing is managed to ensure that quality is being delivered to schools, and there is no shortage of produce needed in schools,” he said.
Feeding schools while building the economy
Itumeleng said this is an opportunity for young farmers with different commodities to supply to schools.
“This, I believe, will be a deal breaker for most of the farmers, young and old, because having a sustainable market like schools will go a long way in creating jobs and reviving the rural economy. Let the talks start and all relevant stakeholders be invited around the table.
Department of basic education director-general Mathanzima Mweli said in a statement that the department initiated the process for the modernisation of the feeding scheme in July 2023.
“The department of basic education believes that the modernisation of the NSNP is an important initiative to ensure the optimisation of the social wage, reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living for the poor which is in line with strategic priority number 2 of the seventh administration,” Mweli said.
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