Minister Thoko Didiza has appreciated the role agricultural economics play in shaping agriculture and food systems in the country, saying that the economists’ insights and advice have sharpened how the government drafts policies.
Didiza spoke at the 7th African Conference of Agricultural Economists held in KwaZulu-Natal under the theme “Through crises: building resilient agrifood systems in Africa”.
The four-day conference, which wraps up tomorrow, is being jointly hosted by the Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA) and the Africa Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).
‘We need your expertise’
“The agricultural policies implemented in South Africa are a direct outcome of the advisory and insights generated by agricultural economists, some of whom are members of AEASA,” she said.
Didiza added that, underpinned by the advisory of agricultural economists, the country has reformed policies and deregulated the agricultural markets in the country.
“This has brought efficiency to our food system and expanded our product footprint in the international markets. Today, more than half of South Africa’s agricultural value is generated from export markets,” she said.
She called on the economists to join hands with the government as the country would be introducing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement based on their expertise, and knowledge would be needed the most.
“South Africa’s agriculture is faced with headwinds of climate change and at the same time, the duality of problems continues to divide our sector. These factors are increasingly outshining the positive gains that have been attained.
“You must assist us in resolving the new thinking and approaches. I am making this call because we rely on you and other professionals to educate us on the existing faulty lines in the agrifood system,” she said.
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Solutions for farmers
Didiza explained that it was important that economists provide solutions that were practical and sensitive to the values of the country so that they could resonate with the realities and needs of the farmers.
“I hope economists in this conference will take lessons that can be implemented in their respective positions in government, academia, and agribusiness to build a resilient and sustainable agrifood system in the country and the African continent at large,” the minister said.
Among the topics that were discussed in the conference were ways and measures that could be implemented by different African countries for a sustainable food system.
The conference also elected Dr Sifiso Ntombela from the department of agriculture, land reform and rural development as the president of AEASA, while Prof Jan Hlongwane from the University of Limpopo was elected as the deputy and Dr Manana Mamabolo as an additional member.
The conference further dwelled on research topics and subjects like climate change and the impact of contract farming on households’ food security in Kenya and Madagascar among others.
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