Government must protect farmers for food security
SOUTH African farmers face a daunting task to grow their crops to ensure the country's food security.
There are periods of drought that have a devastating impact on their crops and livestock. The recent heavy rains, like those experienced in the Free State, saw farmers’ crops being washed away.
The Cape is experiencing swarms of locusts that the farmers have to contend with. To add to these woes, it was recently reported that our potato farmers are complaining about the dumping of potatoes from abroad. This is having a negative impact on their livelihoods.
It is long overdue for the government to intervene and protect our farmers by slapping hefty import duties on these imports.
Agriculture is a labour-intensive industry that employs thousands of workers.
Look at what happened to other labour intensive industries such as clothing, textiles, footwear, poultry, etc, where the government turned a blind eye to the flood of cheap imports that lost thousands of jobs.
If the government is serious about creating jobs, it has to protect our home-grown products.
It will be a sad day when we can’t purchase our up-to-date gravy soakers and melting moment spuds grown by our local farmers.
VIJAY SEWTAHAL
Clare Estate