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Cape Town - Minister Didiza, will today visit the Quaker Peace Garden project in Khayelitsa in as part of Government's Imbizo Focus Week where government will be visiting communities as well as their projects throughout the country.

This visit is part of government's efforts to alleviate poverty through the Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Programme. This programme focuses on a Cluster approach where Departments responsible for the social well being of the country work together ensure effective social service delivery.

"Government is serious and is committed to fight poverty through our Food Security programmes. What we are seeing here today is an indication that communities are also working together to ensure that they push back the frontiers of poverty in their areas and communities. Myself as well as my counterparts will use the week of Imbizo Focus Week to ensure that we reach all our communities with the Food Security Message," said Minister Didiza.

The Quaker peace garden was started in 1992 in an effort to ensure that the communities around the A-Section Khayelitsha benefit from the food garden. Today the project has 65 members who are currently being trained by the Department of Agriculture in the various farming techniques.

Minister Didiza will also be giving away starter packs to help communities to continue to sustain their projects as well as booklets on farming practices to the community.

Additional visits have also been planned within the Western Cape area, which include, among others, old-age homes around the Western Cape area where she will be giving away fruits and starter packs.

Contact person: Zola Pinda on 082 4981624

Issued by Department of Agriculture

1 April 2003