Keeping the Food Flowing from Farmer to Community
We use donor funding to purchase from small scale food producers to feed communities across South Africa.
Beyond Food Aid:
Food Livelihoods
Food Flow supports a Food Livelihoods approach. Supporting small-scale farmers who are not a part of the large retailer supply chain to continue working and earning income throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are grateful to be one part of a large web of organizations, government, and academia working to provide food into the communities most heavily impacted by the lockdown and COVID-19 pandemic.
With the rapidly increasing rate of food insecurity in South Africa, large scale food assistance to keep people fed is vital. Food Flow promotes a livelihood approach to protect, recover and strengthen individuals' and households' abilities to earn a living while providing fresh and nutritious food to the communities most impacted. The food grown in these communities is purchased through Food Flow donations to remain in these communities to feed those most in need.
Solely implementing large scale food aid programmes which purchase from the large corporate retailers and suppliers risks blocking local small scale food producers’ access to market. Disrupting farmers and other small scale food producers’ ability to continue working during this time risks putting them and their families into food and economic insecurity as well, and if their businesses are not able to recover from this period it may create dependency on external assistance in the longer term. In many emergencies, more lives are saved in the long term if people do not lose their livelihoods and become destitute as a result of the emergency protocols.
Additionally large scale food aid relies on canned and dry goods which often are less nutritious than fresh foods. Although this choice does have practical implementations in terms of storage capabilities and limiting contact between distribution points and communities, it does potentially limit the nutritional value which is a key element in supporting people’s immune systems during a health crisis.
Farmer Health
Many of the small-scale farmers we order from, either directly or through farming collectives, live in densely populated and under-resourced township communities that are, and will be, most heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic both in terms of health and livelihoods. We are also aware many of the small-scale and micro farmers are older and some are immunocompromised. We have consulted with multiple public health and medical professionals who have advised that the process of travelling from their homes to their farms, working outdoors, and to deliver their produce does not put them at any more significant risk of contracting the virus than an average individual in their community who is also using public facilities and transport during this time.
We have also been advised that farmers should not be wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as medical masks and gloves but rather utilizing cloth masks which are washed and ironed after use, frequently washing their hands thoroughly, sanitizing surfaces and ceasing going to work if feeling unwell. PPE is not designed for outdoor labour and is intended for use by trained medical professionals and those in direct contact with people who are sick.
Western Cape Government’s policy on cloth face masks for public use
Farmer Agency and Well-being
Every individual is experiencing this pandemic differently and we all are assessing both our personal and collective risk. Farmers are in a unique position to continue earning an income during this period as essential workers and may have an even larger amount of financial responsibility as many other family members are now likely not allowed to continue working during the lockdown. Freedom to choose what is best for themselves and their families is essential, and keeping the market open for them, as well as potential grant support for those choosing not to continue working, are parts of ensuring farmers have the agency to decide for themselves. Holding on to some sense of normalcy and continuing their meaningful farming contribution, all while providing for themselves and their family is an important element of wellbeing required to get through this time.
Farmer Safety
We are aware incidents affecting community safety and security have already begun occurring across the country in areas most significantly impacted by the lockdown restrictions. These are likely to become more common due to the increasing food and income insecurity impacting so many. We will access information as it is known and both individuals, as well as partner organizations, can assess if their particular area is secure enough to continue operation. Although farmers, food delivery, and social welfare workers are on the front lines we do not expect or encourage anyone to put themselves in direct risk.
Other Local Initiatives Supporting Small-Scale Farmers’ Response to COVID-19
Abalimi Bezekhaya
Support the ABALIMI MANURE RUNS to provide farmers with resources such as *manure, seeds and seedlings* to grow their own veggies. #manurerun
http://abalimibezekhaya.org.za/call-to-action/corona/ | @abalimi_bezekhaya
Umthunzi Farming Community
Support UMTHUNZI to provide supplemental income to small-scale farmers who can not continue to work during this time
https://umthunzifarmingcommunity.co.za | @umthunzifarmingcommunity
Oranjezicht City Farm
Support OZCF to lobby for the market to open for essential take home produce and support small scale farmers with all safety precautions in place.
https://ozcf.co.za/market-day/ | @OZCFarm