Farmer's Weekly

Fix SA’s food security myth

A month ago, just as South Africa’s national lockdown, imposed by government to initially slow the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection rate, got underway, I was almost frantically refreshing the worldometers.info/coronavirus page to see how fast the pandemic and its death toll was increasing locally and abroad.

About two weeks into team, along with the country’s farming sector, was focusing much of its attention on getting the message out that South Africans needn’t panic about food shortages. This is as true now as it was then. The country has ample grain stocks and a good harvest on the land; in fact, South Africa will be able to export surpluses of fruit, grains and other commodities. Similarly, livestock and poultry producers have been able to meet the demand for meat, eggs and dairy.

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