Page 11 - Agro Processing Master Plan News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Developing small and emerging farmers is crucial for national food security and a stronger agriculture sector.

A pledge by the government to donate R50-million to help ease Cuba’s food crisis has prompted South Africans to ask how their country is able to do this while little is done to address the root causes of hunger at home.

While there was little mention of food security in the State of the Nation Address last Thursday, many can’t help but wonder if anything is being done to address the root causes of hunger and ensure South Africa is food secure. What is the government’s priority on food security?

For most agricultural subsectors, South Africa is emerging from one of the best years. The 2020/21 season saw bumper harvests for grains, oilseeds and some fruits. These boosted export earnings and improved farm incomes, especially for grains where the large harvest coincided with higher crop prices. When it started the current season, 2021/22, promised to be exceptional. But the continuation of the heavy rains has proved to be a challenge for various regions, causing crop damage and delaying planting. The heavy rains of the new year are La Niña induced and follow another year of higher...

What’s in store for South Africa’s agricultural sector.