Food Preservation Challenges in Rural Areas of Developing Countries. A Case Study of Ha-Makuya Rural Community in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

The paper uses a remote rural settlement, Ha-Makuya in South Africa to demonstrate that renewable energy sources can promote food preservation in areas where modern means of food preservation facilities are unavailable. In 1994 the provincial government in Limpopo province initiated a number of Photovoltaic (PV) pilot projects to provide electricity for the local residents. The aim of the program was to eradicate poverty among rural dwellers in formerly traditional settlement areas. In 1996, the government started a number of solar energy projects in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa to promote first and foremost electricity supply in remote rural areas to enable them perform their domestic duties with ease as well as give them the opportunity to engage in solar energy related food preservation. The study therefore, assesses the impact of thePV system on food preservation and extra domestic uses to see if it has made any significance difference in food preservation as well as enhance household duties like food storage, cooking, lighting, access to information and reduction in food perishing from inadequate preservation. A social assessment tool on selected households was used to unpack the method of food preservation in Ha-Makuya. The study focused on traditional means of food preservation such as cooling, drying, to show that elementary means of food preservation are very important in remote rural areas where modern means of food preservation are absent. The study shows that the simplest means of traditional food preservation can ensure food security as compared to those who do not practice such simple methods.