The role of informal trade markets in household food security and nutrition in Cape Town s food systems value chain

Malatji, Tshegofatso

The role of informal trade markets in household food security and nutrition in Cape Town s food systems value chain

Thesis / Dissertation

2024

Abstract

Increasing populations in urban areas increases a household's dependence on bought food. This phenomenon, in turn, makes existing and projected food security issues an urban challenge (Frayne et al, 2009; Battersby, 2011). To this end, fresh produce markets (FPMs) in urban areas enable increased access to affordable nutritional foods, especially informal fresh produce markets (IFPMs) (AFSUN, 2008-9). Thus, informal fresh produce markets in particular are elements of food systems that warrant closer attention for legislators, policy-makers, and spatial development planners. This research has looked to understand how food security is improved through an exploration of the distribution, preparation and consumption dynamics of the food system in context. This was done through making use of the case study of the Protea Road informal traders (hereafter ‘entrepreneurs') (Charman and Govender, 2016) in Philippi, Cape Town as an exemplar. This research therefore starts by looking at how the state of food [in]security in South Africa and the Western Cape Province has been framed, and what the gaps in research may be. This is followed by a look at what has or has not been done to address the issue, thus comparing what has or has not been said, who is involved and what those relationship dynamics are. It then answers why all this is happening as well as how these dynamics operate. Thereafter, the recommendations aim to suggest possible ways in which change can occur through policy engagement, capacity building and place-based spatial interventions. It has found that at macro-level, food systems and food systems planning is as equally dependent on political, economic, environmental and social support mechanisms, as urban priorities are. On a micro level, the physical, social and infrastructural requirements needed to make food more accessible to households are supported by urban priorities, while also recognising urban priorities as an integral part of food access (Crush and Frayne, 2011; Haysom et al., 2017; Battersby and Watson, 2018; SLF, 2018; Béné and Devereux, 2023; Haysom and Battersby, 2023).

Keywords

Architecture, Planning and Geomatics

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