Birth details and educational information:
Dr Jemina Kokotsi Moeng (nee Phooko) was born in Matatiele at Ha Sibi Village in the Eastern Cape and later settled in Polokwane, Limpopo. She is married to Willy Moeng and blessed with three children. She studied for a Bachelors’ Degree in Agriculture at the University Of Fort Hare and completed an Honours Degree in Extension at the University of Pretoria, where she further completed Masters in Public Administration (MPA) and received the SAPFUM Award for the best MPA student for 2000; and obtained a PhD in Public Affairs with the topic: Land Reform Policies to Promote Women’s Sustainable Development.
Employment details:
She joined the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) as a Director Land Settlement which later became Director Small Holder Development. She joined DAFF in June 2006 after working for the then Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs for 2 years as a Deputy Director for Land Reform.
Further experience in Agriculture was gained from working in the various departments that included:
- the then Transkei Agricultural Cooperation (TRACOR) for 24 years holding various positions the latest being the Executive Manager in Extension;
- the Department of Agriculture in the North West as the Crop Specialist for 2 years;
- the Department of Correctional Services as the Head of Agriculture for 6 months and the Department of Agriculture in Gauteng as the Assistant Director for Food Security.
Currently she works for DAFF as the Chief Director: Food Security where she oversees support to the Smallholder sector, Subsistence households and support in terms of Infrastructure services to producers.
Food security within the DAFF context:
Food security is defined as a state where all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active healthy life (DAFF 2013; FAO: 2008).
DAFF with its three Sectors Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is well placed to address the food security mandate along with the nine (9) Provincial Departments which have a concurrent function with DAFF.
Food security is a multidimensional and multi-sectoral aspect with its four dimensions which are: food availability, food access, food utilisation and stability over time, hence the need for broader interventions beyond government. Finally, the right to food is a Constitutional right as stated in Section 27 (1) (b) of the Constitution and government must ensure the attainment of this right within the available means.
