South Africa grapples with rising hunger and food insecurity as Grain SA defends its stance on tariffs and advocates for sustainable agricultural practices.
Image: Phando Jikelo/Independent Newspapers
Grain SA has defended the organisation's position on import tariffs, agricultural technology and farmer development, saying sustainable local food production is essential to ensuring long-term food security in South Africa.
On Tuesday, Grain SA CEO Dr Tobias Doyer appeared before the South African Human Rights Commission's (SAHRC) National Investigative Hearing into Food Systems, where he was questioned by evidence leaders about the role of commercial agriculture in addressing hunger, affordability and inequality.
Doyer’s testimony came against a backdrop of alarming statistics that reveal how food insecurity is deeply intertwined with poverty and adverse socio-economic conditions in South Africa.
The SAHRC's findings, which were unveiled during their initial phase of the investigation in March, paint a grim picture. According to the figures more than 14 million people, equating to 22.2% of households, go to bed hungry regularly. Child malnutrition is an escalating issue, with more than one in four children suffering from stunting—a critical indicator of ongoing nutritional deficits.
During the hearing on Tuesday, evidence leaders probed Doyer about the implications of commercial agriculture in tackling hunger, affordability, and socio-economic inequality. "I think we, as Grain SA, are one of the organisations that contributes most to food security," Doyer asserted.
He further emphasised that the maize produced in South Africa ranks among the best globally, stating: "Because of that, we have access to the most affordable maize product. Wheat is a highly complex issue, and this is where the reality lies. Wheat is mostly produced by traditional first world countries, and those countries effectively support the producers by means of subsidies."
However, the conversation took a critical turn when Doyer was grilled about Grain SA's advocacy for increased tariffs on imported wheat. Critics argued that such protective measures could inflate staple food prices, disproportionately impacting low-income households.
Doyer countered this by asserting that while Grain SA advocates for an equitable competitive environment, it firmly opposes competing against heavily subsidised international producers. "We do stand by that statement, and the qualification is that we don't mind competing on an equal footing, but it is not fair to compete on an unequal footing." Doyer also cited rising transport and infrastructure costs as key drivers of food inflation, which in turn influence less-than-ideal food prices in the market.
Earlier in the week, Wisani Baloyi, spokesperson for the SAHRC, revealed strong links between food insecurity, poverty, and poor socio-economic conditions, raising concerns about the health effects of unhealthy diets.
"There were statistics that were provided about obesity in the country, almost half of the people are eating food and as such leads to challenges with obesity, and you can see that majority of people don't even know which food are they eating."