Minister Didiza Assures Food Supplies Amid Russia-Ukraine Conflict

South African Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Ms. Thoko Didiza, has announced that the country has sufficient food supplies to last the foreseeable future, despite the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. This assurance is based on good harvests of various crops and fruits, as well as large imports of essential products like wheat and rice. Industry stakeholders have committed to sharing information about food production conditions, enabling better planning and response to potential future shortages. The Minister also highlighted the need for long-term inclusive growth in the sector, with a focus on addressing constraints to agriculture growth, including access to funding for new entrant farmers and improving domestic fertilizer capacity.

Key Takeaways:

• South Africa has sufficient food supplies to last the foreseeable future, with good harvests of various crops and fruits, and large imports of essential products like wheat and rice.
• Industry stakeholders have committed to sharing information about food production conditions, enabling better planning and response to potential future shortages.
• The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has identified the need for long-term inclusive growth in the sector, with a focus on addressing constraints to agriculture growth.
• Key areas of focus include access to funding for new entrant farmers, crop and animal disease occurrences, and improving domestic fertilizer capacity.
• The Agriculture and the Agro-processing Master Plan will be launched soon with social partners to drive long-term growth in the sector.
• The plan aims to improve domestic fertilizer capacity, which is a constraint to agriculture growth.
• Industry stakeholders have committed to supporting the Minister's efforts to drive long-term growth in the sector.

Statistics:

• South Africa has sufficient food supplies to last the foreseeable future.
• 22% of South Africa's food supply is imported, with a large share of these imports being wheat and rice.
• The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development will launch the Agriculture and the Agro-processing Master Plan soon with social partners.
• The master plan aims to improve domestic fertilizer capacity, which is currently a constraint to agriculture growth.

Sources:

• Government of South Africa, March 22, 2022