Food Security Course at UKZN

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UKZN’s Extended Learning Division and the African Centre for Food Security (ACFS) recently presented an intensive two-week course on the Pietermaritzburg campus titled: Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis.

Recognising the challenges being faced regarding food security in Africa, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) identified UKZN’s ACFS as a Centre of Excellence in Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis making it the ideal ground on which to tackle matters related to food security.

Covering a vast range of areas, the overall objective of Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis was primarily based on providing necessary skills to practitioners who carry out vulnerability assessment activities and also on building much needed analytical capacity.

The course was facilitated by researchers and academics in the University’s School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences including: Dr Joyce Chitja, Professor Ayalneh Bogale, Dr Maxwell Mudhara, Dr Unathi Kolanisi, Mr Denver Naidoo, Dr Alfred Odindo, Dr Mark Dent, Dr Rose Mujila-Mboya, and Professor Michael Chimonyo.

The course was attended by practitioners of food security in the various SADC countries. Those present were from varying backgrounds in food security; such as agricultural economics, crop science, dietetics as well as social sciences.

Consisting of four modules, the course focused on equipping attendants with the skills to:

* understand the complexities of food security, vulnerability and its indicators in the context of SADC countries;

* use food security and vulnerability analysis as a means to promote continuous monitoring rather than the once-off assessments triggered by emergency response;

* understand the assessment of crop and animal production, storage and access to food security and vulnerability.

A highlight of the course was a presentation given by Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, UKZN alumnus and founder of the Gift of the Givers Foundation: the largest nongovernmental disaster relief organisation of African origin. Sooliman spoke candidly on a number of issues related to food security, disaster relief and the work his organisation is currently involved in.

In the spirit of the ACFS’s mission to contribute towards eradicating food deprivation and promoting sustainable livelihoods among the people and nations of sub-Saharan Africa, Sooliman spoke on the politics related to food security and encouraged ‘Africans to respond to Africa’ in effort to make the world aware that Africans are dedicated to the cause of their own people.

The Gift of the Givers Foundation has also worked extensively throughout the African continent on alternative skills development in communities as well as food security concerns such as the provision of farmer’s packs in Malawi.

Chitja thanked Sooliman for his talk and overall contributions to food security and relief in Africa, noting that it was always immensely thought-provoking and engaging listening to his perspectives on relevant issues.

‘I am proud to be associated with the University, as my wife, my children and I have all been educationally involved with UKZN at some stage. Please continue the good work and strive to leave an extended mark on those you assist,’ said Sooliman.

    

-  Barrington Marais