South Africa grapples with rising hunger and food insecurity as Grain SA defends its stance on tariffs and advocates for sustainable agricultural practices.
Grain SA has defended the organisation's position on import tariffs, agricultural technology and farmer development, saying sustainable local food production is essential to ensuring long-term food security in South Africa.
On Tuesday, Grain SA CEO Dr Tobias Doyer appeared before the South African Human Rights Commission's (SAHRC) National Investigative Hearing into Food Systems, where he was questioned by evidence leaders about the role of commercial agriculture in addressing hunger, affordability and inequality.
Doyer’s testimony came against a backdrop of alarming statistics that reveal how food insecurity is deeply intertwined with poverty and adverse socio-economic conditions in South Africa.
The SAHRC's findings, which were unveiled during their initial phase of the investigation in March, paint a grim picture. According to the figures more than 14 million people, equating to 22.2% of households, go to bed hungry regularly. Child malnutrition is an escalating issue, with more than one in four children suffering from stunting—a critical indicator of ongoing nutritional deficits.
