Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
With reference to reports that farmers in the Western Cape have warned that the rising cost of diesel and fertiliser could lead to a sharp rise in food prices:
- How is his Department responding to the current increase in diesel and fertiliser costs that have an impact on the agricultural sector;
- what measures is his Department implementing to protect poor residents from rising food prices while also supporting farmers affected by increased input costs?
(a) Department continues to monitor the prices changes of key inputs which include fuel and fertilisers. The reliefs that were provided by Treasury on petrol and diesel were noted. The department continues to work closely with the industry stakeholders for find solutions for various challenges facing the sector.
(b) The Department has two of its Ministerial Priorities that plays a vital role in mitigating rising food prices i-e. Agricultural Support, and Food Security and Nutrition. At the core of the department’s mandate is to support farmers with the expectation to increase agricultural production. The Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) is one such programme aimed at supporting farmers to increase production and indirectly lead to creation of jobs on farms. The aim amongst others is to cushion the citizens of the Western Cape especially poor residents from rising food prices, as poor households spend a larger share of their income on food.
In addition, the Department promotes household and community food gardens so that low-income families can produce own food for household food and nutrition security, and thus, reduce their reliance on purchased food. The department continues to work closely with various stakeholders in implementing these interventions. It must me noted income poverty remains one of the main reasons why poor residence cannot access available food, and this is amongst other why our G4J strategy is very instructive about growing our economy to enable creation of jobs in the Western Cape.
