The government’s plan to assist farmers in 2021 and beyond include the following:
These interventions are aimed at ensuring increased household food production, whilst increasing food access and improved livelihoods of poor and marginalised households, thereby contributing to food security and economic growth.
2. Yes. Food security remains a fundamental strategic imperative of the South African government in this uncertain period of the COVID 19 situation. The Government, through a multi-sectoral approach, continues to implement the National Food and Nutrition Security Plan (2017 – 2022) which is coordinated from the Office of the Deputy President and Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME). The Plan embodies the government’s collective response to the challenge of food insecurity and malnutrition. A number of programmes under this plan are already being implemented using the existing resources in various government departments.
This plan is implemented through six strategic objectives which are as outlined below:
6 Strategic Objectives (SO) Anchoring the Plan |
Lead Department |
Other Key Departments and Social Partners |
|
1 |
Institutional Arrangements for food and nutrition security Establish multi-sectoral Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) Councils and supporting structures oversee alignment of policies, legislation and programmes; coordination and implementation of programmes and services which address FNS and; draft new policies and legislation where appropriate |
Office of the Deputy President DPME |
DALRRD; DSD; COGTA; DBE; DTI; DRDLR; Provinces; Local government; Civil Society; Organised Labour, Development Partners |
2 |
Establish inclusive local food value chains to support access to nutritious, affordable foods |
DALRRD |
Water & Sanitation; DTI; DSBD; DST, NT; Civil Society, Development Partners |
3 |
Expand targeted social protection measures and sustainable livelihood programmes |
DSD |
DOH; Home Affairs; DBE; Provinces and local government; Civil Society; Development Partners |
4 |
Scale up of high impact nutrition interventions targeting women, infants and children |
DOH |
DBE; DSD; Home Affairs; Civil Society; Development Partners |
5 |
Develop an integrated communication plan to influence people across the life cycle to make informed food and nutrition decisions |
DOH |
DBE; DSD; Home Affairs; Development Partners |
6 |
Develop a monitoring and evaluation system for FNS in South Africa and establish an integrated risk management system for monitoring FNS related risks. |
StatsSA DALRRD |
DPME; DALRRD; DOH; DBE; Statistics SA; COGTA |
In addition, government implemented a number of interventions in response to COVID 19. These include social protection initiatives and programmes that are aimed at strengthening resilience of livelihood systems in various communities. As part of the governments’ collective response, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) is implementing a number of initiatives. These include:
Although a few challenges were experienced by producers and suppliers associated with acquisition of agricultural production inputs in the country, overall no major disruptions were experienced during the 2020/21 planting season, which started in October 2020. Despite the challenges of uncertain weather patterns, such as floods and draught, experienced of in some parts of the country, the weather outlook for the 2020/21 planting season has been positive. According to the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) the preliminary area estimate of maize as at February 2021 is 2,776 million ha, which is 6, 35% more than the 2,611 million ha planted for the previous season. This follows a bumper harvest of about 15.3 million tons of commercial maize that is estimated to be harvested for this season. The country has ample maize to meet the demand in the human and feed markets, and will be able to export into neighbouring countries.
The government of RSA is committed to ensuring food and nutrition security amid the COVID 19 pandemic.