Question NW1196 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
04 May 2022 - NW1196
Matiase, Mr NS to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
In light of the findings of the 2020-21 fifth edition of the Global Report on Food Crises, which indicated that the number of persons facing acute food insecurity and requiring urgent food, nutrition and livelihoods assistance is on the rise and aggravated by COVID-19, and that this situation is likely to worsen due to the war in Eastern Europe, what adaptive strategies does her department have in place to ensure that there is no shortage of food supply during this period?
Reply:
The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has held meetings with food processors, leaders in the fruit and grains industry, agricultural trading groups, and farmer associations to discuss Russia-Ukraine conflict and its potential implications of the sector. The sector engagement evaluated the availability of food supplies and farming input supplies for the coming months amidst the conflict.
As a result of recent good harvests on crops and some of the fruits, which have been coupled with acceptable levels of imports such as rice and wheat, there is no need to be concerned that the country could experience food shortages.
Further engagements that have occurred between government and industry players focused on:
- Ensuring increased frequency of reporting by wheat traders: The discussions encouraged wheat traders to declare their intentions to import wheat eight (8) weeks in advance to the South African Grain Information Service (SAGIS); and
- Increase the frequency of reporting on fertilizers prices: Fertilizer price changes are reported on a monthly basis to act as an early warning sign on price hikes. Furthermore, importers of fertilizer are encouraged to voluntarily declare their intentions to import fertilizers eight (8) weeks in advance to ensure that sufficient quantities of fertilizer are available in the country.