DA concerned by decline in national crop production

By Sasha Forbes
09 November 2008

The Democratic Alliance is very concerned by reports from the National Agricultural Marketing Council that there is a decline in national crop production that is threatening South Africa’s household food security.

A NAMC report shows that field crop production has declined by 19% since 1991 and at the same time the population which needs to be fed has grown by 32%. This figure increase when the impact of large-scale immigration into South Africa is considered.

Spokesperson for the DA Lindiwe Mazibuko says “the government needs to take action and it must do so urgently, or the number of people who will face the prospect of going without food, or relying on expensive food imports, will increase.

Mazibuko also said “one step that government needs also to urgently take is to increase its support, both financially and otherwise, for all forms of agriculture, but especially assisting the commercial agricultural sector and emerging farmers.

The NAMC notes that agricultural investment has been mostly declining since hitting a peak in the early 1980.”

The DA believes that more importantly, the government must create an environment in which commercial agriculture can thrive and put the necessary support structures regarding infrastructure, international trade requirements, disaster support systems and research and training in place.