Two, 20-foot containers of grain have been delivered to communities in need, in places such as Zimbabwe, following donations from South Australian farmers.
Through humanitarian aid agency Barnabas Aids' Barnabas Relief Education and Development - or BREAD - program, surplus grains are helping tackle food insecurity in East Africa.
Zimbabwe was once regarded as the bread basket of southern Africa, but is experiencing an increase in food scarcity and hunger with about 60 per cent of the population believed to be in "acute food insecurity".
In 2022, cases of childhood stunting, measles and pellagra, condition caused by malnutrition increased rapidly.
The emergency has been fueled by successive droughts, the ongoing effects of COVID-19, grain shortages due to conflict in the Ukraine and internal political instability.
With the support of grain processing facility KI Pure Grain, 47,000 kilograms of high-protein lentil grain has been sent to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, in 20kg bags.
The shipments of grain have become known locally in Zimbabwe as "the Lentil Revolution" where the children in particular receive incredible nutritional benefits that lentils provide.
The lentils are distributed through Church leaders.
The charity is seeking to partner with South Australian farmers to source lentils or ASW wheat, which can be delivered to any of the Viterra regional bulk handling silos.
Grain can be donated to communities in East Africa experiencing food scarcity by contacting BREAD Australia, the humanitarian arm of Barnabas Aid, by transferring the donation via the BREAD Australia NGR card and completing the grower-to-grower form available through Viterra.
As a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and with Deductible Gift Recipient status, all donations of grain are tax deductible.
