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Agriculture

Balance needed between trade and food security

───   SABRINA DEAN 09:01 Mon, 20 Feb 2017

Balance needed between trade and food security | News Article

Bloemfontein - There is a fine balance between trade and food security that can sometimes be thrown off kilter by a country's development priorities.


This is according to agricultural economist Dr Kobus Laubscher. He says a report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation states food security is comprised of four dimensions, namely food availability, access, use and stability. He says these can often come into conflict with national development priorities.

Laubscher also highlights President Jacob Zuma's recent emphasis on the importance of more effective trade in the Southern African region. He says this is a bit of a balancing act. “Due to the disproportionate size of the different markets in Southern Africa, fears of smaller economies that South Africa could dominate can be realised. This is something the Food and Agriculture Organisation warns against. Trade should complement food security, not work against it.”

He draws an analogy with the maize shortages in the region due to drought last year. “For example, South Africa is usually a net exporter of maize in the region. However, the drought meant that the entire region suffered due to the fact that South Africa had to import maize for own use.

“This meant that countries on the sub-continent had to compete with South Africa to acquire rare white maize in the world markets.”

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