Task team to draft action plan to protect SA food security

Agri SA on Wednesday said it will be part of the task team which “will draft action plans to assist in mitigating the indicated risks that this serious drought poses”.

“This will include engaging with government to ensure food security and the sustainability of the industry‚” Agri SA said‚ adding that the Department of Agriculture‚ Forestry and Fisheries‚ Agbiz‚ the Land Bank and the Independent Development Corporation would also be involved.

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The federation of agricultural organisations said a meeting stakeholders took place on Tuesday “to discuss the effect of the rapidly deteriorating drought situation in South Africa on the broader agriculture sector and food security in particular”.

“Good rainfall in the summer rainfall region of South Africa over the next months is possible and can still break the drought cycle and ensure relief for crop and livestock farmers especially‚” AgriSA said.

“However‚ scenarios are increasingly pointing to a situation where significant imports of maize‚ as staple food crop‚ will become necessary‚ as well as the provision of fodder for breeding herds of livestock to be maintained.

“While agricultural financiers will strive to the best of their abilities to assist farmers to survive the drought through debt consolidation and other means‚ they are also bound by‚ amongst others‚ stipulations of the National Credit Act in terms of strict lending practices that need to be adhered to.”