Join Oxfam ambassador Julie Goodwin in conversation with three inspiring women farmers from South Africa in an event, Challenging the Hunger Myths: Land Is Life, at Redfern Oval Community Centre on Tuesday 12 June at 6pm.
As world governments prepare to address issues of sustainable development at the Rio +20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development next month, the small-scale farmers are embarking on a speaking tour of Australia, to share how they are overcoming numerous challenges to feed their communities.
The event includes a launch of a photo exhibition, featuring the work of photographer Matthew Willman, documenting the work of the Women on Farms-supported cooperatives in Rawsonville and Ceres, South Africa.
Oxfam Australia NSW Campaign Coordinator Debbie Hunt said there were many myths about how the world grew, consumed and distributed food.
“Women feed families and produce most of the food in many developing countries, yet represent more than half of the world’s hungry,” Ms Hunt said. “By investing in small-scale food producers – particularly women – we can tackle hunger now and into the future.”
She said that around the world, farmers were forming cooperatives to address the particular problems they faced. Women in poor rural regions were learning new agricultural skills that enabled them to grow their way out of poverty.
Oxfam’s partner organisation, Women on Farms, aims to help seasonal and unemployed workers to better feed themselves and their communities and increase their income. The cooperative at Ceres grows gourmet mushrooms, which they sell to commercial outlets. They are changing their farming techniques to be more sustainable and adapt to a changing climate.
“There are many reasons why one in seven people currently go hungry,” Ms Hunt said. “In developing countries, food often rots for lack of adequate storage or because poor transport means it is unable to get to the market in time.
“Understanding how 80 per cent of the world’s hungry are also involved in producing food is another step we collectively need to take before we can feed everyone both now and into the future.”
Challenging the Hunger Myths: Land Is Life speakers include Colette Solomon (Deputy Director of Women on Farms Project), Gertruida Baartman (Chair of the Agridynamic Co-Operative) and Oxfam Ambassador Julie Goodwin.
When: Tuesday 12 June, 6–7.30pm
Where: Redfern Oval – Community Room, 51 Redfern Street, Redfern
RSVP: to http://www.eventbrite.com/event/3602145113
Those unable to attend can support Oxfam’s work by donating to the Stop Hunger Appeal at www.oxfam.org.au
For further information or interviews please contact Laurelle Keough on 0425 701 801 or laurellek@oxfam.org.au
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