“Recently, I have done a lot of research and could not find an example of a place in South Africa where a residential area was demolished or a mine closed to make way for agriculture. Once we lose our land, it’s gone forever,” said Steenhuisen.
He pointed out that it is not only South Africa’s food security at risk if agricultural land is not protected, but also the country’s ability to help other nations on the continent in times of food shortage.
Tobias Doyer, CEO of Grain SA, said in a panel discussion at the congress that South Africa has already exported 400 000 tons of white maize to its northern neighbours this year, with an additional 250 000 tons to be exported over the next two months – mostly to Zimbabwe.
Doyer attributes the food shortages beyond South Africa’s borders largely to interference in the free market. Prices rise due to shortages in a free market, allowing farmers to respond by planting more.
Market interference
In some African countries, the price of maize for flour is manipulated to strengthen governments’ political positions, especially before elections. Artificially low prices make farmers believe there are no shortages, leading them to plant less maize and causing shortages. This shows how essential transparent markets and accessible market information are, Doyer said.
Steenhuisen emphasised that food security is crucial for domestic stability. “Where a country cannot feed its people, trouble soon follows.”
Johann Kotzé, CEO of Agri SA, told the congress the affordability of nutritious food is just as important as food security. “We run the risk in South Africa of being able to produce enough food but with too few people who can afford it, which has the same consequences as in countries where food shortages occur.” Doyer said rural decline makes it increasingly expensive and difficult for farmers to produce affordable food and get it to the consumer. Like mining and industrial developments, this decline also strips the country of productive land, as farmers far from cities can no longer viably produce food.
