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Oktober 2016
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CLIMATE IS CHANGING
– food and agriculture must too
D
rought has played a significant role in driving agriculture
and food policy reform in South Africa.
Drought is a recurrent theme in South Africa’s history.
If nothing else, a drought exposes our vulnerability. The current
drought has certainly raised the awareness that we are indeed
vulnerable to increasingly uncertain climate conditions. The need
to change our current production and consumption patterns is
obvious and the essence for better planning is clear. Yet, as Prof
Coleen Vogel states in a 1994 article, ‘While the physical causes of
droughts are well understood, few detailed assessments of their
consequences have been undertaken.’
The theme of the World Food Day of 2016 is ‘Climate is changing.
Food and agriculture must too’. Observing World Food Day holds
many opportunities for South Africa and the region to reflect on
the lessons learnt from the current and more recent droughts and
droughts in distant past, and take decisive action regarding policy
intentions.
World Food Day is observed on 16 October each year since its initia-
tion in 1979. The event commemorates the founding of the organisa-
tion in 1945. The initial purpose of the day was to:
Heighten public awareness of the nature and extent of the long-
term world food problem and to develop further the sense of
national and international solidarity in the struggle against hun-
ger, malnutrition and poverty.
Encourage more attention to agricultural production in all coun-
tries and to stimulate greater national, bilateral, multilateral and
non-governmental effort to this end.
Promote the transfer of science and technology to developing
countries, particularly for the benefit of the small farmer and
landless labourer, with a view to possibly bringing about a new
agricultural revolution through the development of new biologi-
cal approaches.
Draw attention to successes achieved in food and agricultural
development as well as to emergency and other serious needs.
Promote participation by the rural masses in decisions and
measures affecting their development with a view to closing the
gap between actual and potential yields, to promoting greater
self-reliance, and to improving living standards for the rural poor.
Encourage economic and technical co-operation among devel-
oping countries in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fisheries,
nutrition and rural development.
It was recommended that: ‘The activities centred on World Food
Day should be held at local, provincial, national, regional and inter-
national levels and should include events and activities appropriate
at each of these levels, including ceremonies, displays, competitions,
issue of prizes and medals, special television and radio broadcasts,
seminars, and other educational activities, and that such activities
should be organised or assisted by rural groups, governmental au-
thorities, non-governmental institutions, international organisations
and agencies, and in particular by the Food and Agriculture organisa-
tion of the United Nations (FAO).’
South Africa, as a member of the FAO, commendably observes
World Food Day each year, with the Department of Agriculture, For-
estry and Fisheries (DAFF) hosting a high profile event. But, perhaps
we need to remind ourselves of the 1987 UN FAO conference state-
ment that urged ‘Member governments to make all possible efforts
to establish – or to strengthen if they already exist – World Food
Day national committees, in order to pursue the positive trend of
moving away from a stogie-day observance to a year-round pro-
gramme of constructive action, and from ceremonial observances
to more substantive activities addressing food-related issues.’ As
drought is a recurring event in South and southern Africa, perhaps
this year’s World Food Day theme challenges us to a more concerted
and focussed effort to shift policy intentions into year-round effort
to change production and consumption efforts in South Africa in
sustainable ways.
Despite our historical lack of constructive reflection on the impact
of drought in South Africa, droughts have had significant influ-
ence on our agriculture and food policies in the past. More recent
droughts have seen renewed focus on food insecurity.
Following a severe drought in the 1980s, significant quantities of
maize and other food products were imported at great cost. Because
of this drought, various committees were established to investi-
gate elements of national food supply. This included the Ministerial
Protein Advisory Council to investigate, advise on and co-ordinate
matters relating to the total demand and supply of protein.
Various President’s Council committees reported concerns regard-
ing the country’s natural resources and projected demographic
trends. In 1984, the Department of Health and Welfare expressed
concern about a possible shortage of locally produced food. In re-
sponse, the Committee for the Development of a Food and Nutri-
tion Strategy for Southern Africa was appointed by the Ministers of
Health and Population Development, and of Agriculture.
The findings of this report, as well as the findings and recommen-
dations from the Calitz Committee on Poverty, led to the implemen-
tation of the National Nutrition and Social Development Programme
(NNSDP), which was initiated in 1991. The primary aim and short-
term goal of the NNSDP were to address the nutritional needs of
poor communities and households (across South Africa as well as
the Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei [TBVC] countries
and self-governing states) through the involvement of local com-
munities, NGOs and government institutions by means of feeding
RELEVANT
SHERYL HENDRIKS,
director: Institute for Food, Nutrition and Well-being, University of Pretoria
“
World Food Day is
observed on 16 October
each year since its
initiation in 1979.
“