Gardens, chickens and fruit trees: how the Karoo marked World Food Day
In Prince Albert, Leeu-Gamka and Klaarstroom, 106 households, three schools and two community projects got help to grow their own food.
Prince Albert — In the run-up to World Food Day on 16 October, the Western Cape's agriculture department helped families in the Central Karoo grow more of their own food, the provincial government said.
Who was helped
- Prince Albert: 62 households, with 57 vegetable gardens and five chicken projects, and water tanks for 25 households to harvest rainwater for their gardens
- Leeu-Gamka: 24 households with vegetable gardens
- Klaarstroom: 20 households, with 10 vegetable gardens and 10 pig-farming projects
- Schools and clinics: food gardens and farming lessons at Prince Albert Primary, Zwartberg High and Leeu-Gamka Primary, and gardens at Prince Albert Clinic and Prince Albert Skills School
Households also received seeds and other inputs, equipment and training. Under the "Plant One Tree, Eat for Free" initiative, 500 fruit trees were donated with the national environment department, and the annual Food Mountain drive collected donations for early childhood centres and care facilities. Learners in Prince Albert and Klaarstroom took part in a schools competition on growing food and nutrition.
"Food security is about more than just access to food," said provincial agriculture minister Dr Ivan Meyer. "It is about creating opportunities, building resilience and empowering people with the skills and resources they need."
Source: Western Cape Department of Agriculture, 16 October 2026.
