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Rising levels of poverty in South Africa continues to threaten food security – that's according to a report released by Statistics SA which revealed that 55.5% of the population are living in poverty.

To alleviate hunger and poverty, the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has introduced agricultural initiatives such the Food Security Programme targeted at indigent households in the province.

702’s Joanne Joseph sits down with Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Chief Director, Mncedisi Madolo to talk about the important work the department is making to alleviate hunger and poverty through agricultural initiatives in the province.

This is a very huge problem, nationally... if we're talking about people going without food – in the province, we've got about 18% of people that are actually going without food.

— Mncedisi Madolo, Chief Director at the Gauteng Agricultural Department

The campaign to reduce the number of food insecure households in the province comprises three types of initiatives, namely: community food type projects, homestead food gardens and school food gardens. Through these initiatives, the department provides households with the requisite production inputs, so that they’re able to produce their own food.

We also have school gardens and, also at clinics – whereby we encourage communities to grow their own food and therefore be able to, at least address the issue.

— Mncedisi Madolo, Chief Director at the Gauteng Agricultural Department

Additionally, with the help of an allocated grant from the National Department of Agriculture, the initiative has employed 120 agricultural graduates and, have already exceeded its target within the region.

Communities can vouch for the fact that they were not supported before and, with our intervention, there’s certainly been changes.

— Mncedisi Madolo, Chief Director at the Gauteng Agricultural Department

Watch Joanne Joseph in conversation with Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's Mncedisi Madolo...