Agriculture
Social grants stimulate demand for food─── SABRINA DEAN 09:11 Thu, 19 Jan 2017
Bloemfontein - As much as half of the R121-billion spent by Government on grants every year is most likely used to buy food.
Agricultural economist, Dr Kobus Laubscher, says a report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has revealed that these types of grants play a significant role in rural development and the upliftment of rural women.
He says social grants are generally aimed at poverty alleviation but also help to stimulate food demand.
“On the production side it means – and there is also evidence of this – that in countries where such grants are paid, there are more hectares under production, more livestock is purchased and there is also a noticeable increase in investment in agriculture inputs.”
- OFM News
