While South Africa might be food secure, there are concerns that the rising population, especially in big cities, might experience some food shortages in the long run unless drastic food production initiative are implemented.
Statistics South Africa recently released statistics estimating the country’s mid-year population at 63.02 million people.
Gauteng and the Western Cape have experienced the largest inflow of migrants estimated at 1 381 024 and 492 427 respectively.
SA is food secure but…
Senior economist at the National Agricultural Marketing Council Thabile Nkunjana said rapid population expansion may raise concerns about food security for a country grappling with issues like local food insecurity and high unemployment and poverty rates in addition to growing living expenses.
“About 2.6 million and 1.1 million families, respectively, reported having insufficient and severely inadequate access to food in 2021. These families were located in big cities, primarily in Johannesburg, Gauteng, and Cape Town, Western Cape, according to Statistics South Africa.
“Perhaps more specialised programmes should be created for the areas that are primarily urban and peri-urban. According to research, these are the areas where high rates of poverty, unemployment, and population density are typically found. In Cape Town, some townships are attempting to grow vegetables on small urban plots,” he explained.
Nkunjana said as of 2022, South Africa is the second-most food secure country in Africa and has sufficient food at the national level.
“South Africa is even in a much better position to serve its population with other essential products that are crucial to food security, such as fruits. Essentially, food affordability rather than food production and thus availability is the problem in South Africa.
“Food insecurity is caused by the high cost and limited accessibility of food, which leads to a rise in the number of individuals and households facing hunger and insufficient food,” he said.
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Opportunity to grow small-scale farming
Meanwhile, the programmes coordinator for the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group (PMBEJD), Mervyn Abrahams, said it is important for municipalities to start focusing on localising South Africa’s food system.
“We need to grow our food closer to the table where it is consumed. In this sense, supporting small-scale farmers within and close to cities could provide a greater contribution to increasing food production, making food more affordable because it lessens logistics costs.
“We do not believe that the current population increase is of such a nature that it contributes to food insecurity. We need to look at localising food systems and bringing more small-scale farmers on board. Small-scale farmers face severe problems from too little access to land, [and] they need support with farming implements,” he said.
Pretoria crop and livestock farmer Nompumelelo Dhlamini added that the growth in the population is rather an opportunity than a crisis.
“Instead, I am seeing light in it. How I am seeing it is that we need more farmers, more land made available, meaning more job creation and employment.
“Every household needs an agricultural background and must be able to plant something but food gardening won’t curb unemployment. We need land to create jobs and supply the country with food,” she said.
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