12 October 2016
The Free State is still in the grip of one of the worst droughts in recorded history. While some more fortunate farmers were initially able to absorb some of the costs associated with a lack of agricultural production, many farmers are now on the verge of closing down their operations.
The shortages of grazing and rising costs of food for livestock, the lack of production capital and increased labour costs have already had a dramatic impact on the ability of the agricultural sector to recover from the drought.
While government initially made some funds available for assistance to mostly emerging farmers, the commercial agricultural sector was largely ignored. Food security will be the victim of the lack of a holistic and consultative approach to this crisis by government that includes subsistence, emerging and commercial farmers.
As usual the government has followed a big brother approach that was based on the principle of “cadres eat first” during the drought that is devastating our rural communities. Examples of this are the following:
- The inflated costs of transporting water to towns while other cheaper options were often available;
- A lack of transparency and consultation in the distribution of agricultural assistance;
- A 10% payment to professional service providers for facilitating drought aid which implies that of the - R45 million that was used to assist farmers, R4,1 million was paid to agents; and,
National government spending an average of R250 000 per borehole totalling R12 million for 48 boreholes. I have been informed that an expensive borehole would perhaps cost about R40 000.
Food security is not only about the availability of food, but about the ability of households to purchase or produce nutritious affordable food.
While the country may not yet be experiencing national food insecurity, we are already seeing increased community and household food insecurity in our rural areas.
We once again remind government that the student protests are going to look mild compared to the protests over food and water.
Protesting students may eventually cause fees to fall, but food and water shortages has, in many countries, much more speedily caused governments to fall.
Issued by Roy Jankielsohn, Leader of the Official Opposition in the Free State Provincial Legislature, 12 October 2016
