A regional daily is “giving some wellie” to an international campaign to help families in eastern Africa in ending hunger and build a better future.

The East Anglian Daily Times has joined forces with the charity Farm Africa and its Give Hunger the Boot project to provide basic skills and equipment to farming communities so they can grow enough food to eat.

While Suffolk’s fertile conditions have helped establish a successful farming tradition, the charity says the region of Africa is plagued by crop disease, climate change and erratic rainfall, which is causing harvests to fail and children to go hungry.

Terry Hunt, editor of the Archant Suffolk title, has made a personal plea to his readers: “I’m asking you to get involved in Give Hunger the Boot and show your support for African farmers.

Keep smiling through . . . a Kenyan family who are being helped by the scheme

“It can help them grow enough food to feed their families so that they don’t have to face the daily struggle of not knowing where their next meal is coming from.

“It is a brilliant way to help African farmers grow their way out of hunger – simply by pulling on your wellies.”

To take part in the campaign, fundraisers are being invited to organise a sponsored welly walk at their local school or park, hold a cake sale with welly-shaped biscuits, organise a ‘welly wanging’ competition or wear their wellies to work for sponsorship.

The EADT editor said readers “have always got behind” the paper’s charitable partnerships over the years.

“I can’t wait to see how our readers help African farmers Give Hunger the Boot,” added Terry.

Pam Williams-Jones, director of fundraising and communications at Farm Africa said: “We are all thrilled that the East Anglian Daily Times is supporting Farm Africa with this appeal.

“I’m really looking forward to hearing wonderful stories from across East Anglia about families and communities raising money so that people in eastern Africa do not need to go hungry.”