Monday, June 23, 2025
SUBSCRIBE
21 GLOBAL MEDIA AWARDS
Food For Mzansi
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
No Result
View All Result
Food For Mzansi
No Result
View All Result
in News

Didiza advocates for resource-poor farmers at WTO talks

South Africa's agri minister Thoko Didiza used the global stage in Geneva to advocate for farmer support in developing countries, and a trade system that levels the playing field between the haves and the have-nots

Duncan Masiwaby Duncan Masiwa
16th June 2022
Minister Thoko Didiza at the World Trade Organisation's Ministerial Conference for agricultural ministers in Geneva, Switzerland. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Minister Thoko Didiza at the World Trade Organisation's Ministerial Conference for agricultural ministers in Geneva, Switzerland. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsApp

The current round of negotiations at the World Trade Organisation’s Ministerial Conference in Geneva, Switzerland is showing that agriculture is once again a sticky point among the countries of the world.

This, according to agricultural minister Thoko Didiza, who is attending the WTO meeting for agri ministers with trade, industry and competition minister Ebrahim Patel.

The South African government believes there’s a divide between developed and developing members, and South Africa’s main priority during negotiations is to achieve a substantial and real reduction of international trade that distorts the support that governments can afford to farmers domestically. Also, to ensure adequate policy space for addressing poverty, inequality and low economic growth.

World Trade Organisation's 12th Ministers of Agriculture Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. #WTOMinisterialConference @GovernmentZA @GCISMedia @SAgovnews pic.twitter.com/sQYKs163cv

— Department of Agriculture, Land Ref and Rural Dev. (@DALRRDgov_ZA) June 15, 2022

“For South Africa, the negotiations need to follow a certain sequence, with domestic support as a priority,” Didiza said and added that developing countries such as South Africa have been subjected to a distorting system for years.

She believes historical imbalances need to be addressed, and the playing field needs to be levelled, before negotiations on market access continue.

“It is important that the revival of the agriculture negotiations must not undo or dilute the gains that had been made in the previous rounds of negotiations, especially relating to support for resource-poor and rural farmers… ,” Didiza said.

She believes it is vital to ensure a policy space for developing countries to bolster agriculture domestically.

Addressing food insecurity

One of the current international sticking points is different stances on public stock holding. Public stock holding allows governments to procure crops like rice and wheat at minimum support prices from their farmers, then to store and distribute those stocks to the poor.

But a debate is raging on whether public stock holdings should be allowed to be exported in order to “assist in humanitarian interventions to address food insecurity” in the world’s least developed countries and net-importing countries.

“Selling these stocks in open markets without safeguards may distort the market,” Didiza said. She cautioned that it must be carefully negotiated and clarified how such measures could be used within WTO rules.

South Africa will continue to advocate for negotiation, Didiza said. The last major decision on agricultural trade was taken at the Nairobi WTO ministerial conference in December 2015, on the elimination of export subsidies.

At the ministerial conference in Buenos Aires in December 2017, no joint declaration or work programme could be agreed upon. To date, progress has been limited with members mainly repeating known positions, continuing the divide between the West and the East, and developed and developing members.

ALSO READ: What SA agriculture needs from international trade

Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain.

Tags: Thoko DidizaWorld Trade Organisation (WTO)

Related Posts

Grain industry cheers as Leaf Services gets the boot

Grain industry cheers as Leaf Services gets the boot

23rd June 2025
Tractor rollout powers up struggling KZN farmers

This week’s agri events: 24 – 27 June

23rd June 2025

New multi-million rand wine fund backs black-owned brands

KZN MEC urges fast-tracking of key Ndwedwe projects

New 10-year strategy sets vision for Africa’s agri future

Agribusiness confidence slips amid trade and disease worries

High trade tariffs loom if Agoa deal fails

Tractor rollout powers up struggling KZN farmers

New multi-million rand wine fund backs black-owned brands
News

New multi-million rand wine fund backs black-owned brands

by Tiisetso Manoko
21st June 2025

Transformation in South Africa’s wine industry just got real. The new Wine and Spirits Fund, launched by the agriculture department,...

Read moreDetails
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for agriculture and rural development, Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, during a site visit to key infrastructure projects in Ndwedwe as part of Operation Sukuma Sakhe. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

KZN MEC urges fast-tracking of key Ndwedwe projects

21st June 2025
Spice up winter with this yummy sausage & bean stew

Spice up winter with this yummy sausage & bean stew

20th June 2025
New 10-year strategy sets vision for Africa’s agri future

New 10-year strategy sets vision for Africa’s agri future

20th June 2025
FMD: Farmers who notice symptoms of foot and mouth disease in their livestock should report it to local veterinarians as soon as possible. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Agribusiness confidence slips amid trade and disease worries

20th June 2025

Lafezeka: Natural haircare rooted in power and pride

Importer urges flexible chicken deal with Brazil

WC farmers: Sign up for free green help desks to power your farm

This week’s agri events: 24 – 27 June

Broilers: Small-scale success starts with these steps

THE NEW FACE OF SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE

With 21 global awards in the first six years of its existence, Food For Mzansi is much more than an agriculture publication. It is a movement, unashamedly saluting the unsung heroes of South African agriculture. We believe in the power of agriculture to promote nation building and social cohesion by telling stories that are often overlooked by broader society.

Grain industry cheers as Leaf Services gets the boot

This week’s agri events: 24 – 27 June

Rangelands under pressure: Saving SA’s grazing heartland

New multi-million rand wine fund backs black-owned brands

KZN MEC urges fast-tracking of key Ndwedwe projects

Spice up winter with this yummy sausage & bean stew

  • Awards & Global Impact
  • Our Story
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824
News: info@foodformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824
News: info@foodformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

  • Awards & Global Impact
  • Our Story
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought

Copyright © 2024 Food for Mzansi

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.