GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - HOW LAND REFORM CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ECONOMIC GROWTH AND POVERTY REDUCTION

26-04-2003, 06:08 PM

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From those who know about southern african agriculture, I'm
interested in an opinion on the recent massive vegetable price
increases in south africa. I see no climatic reason for this.

Is this due to the murdering of the many afrikaans and portuguese
farmers ? Is it that much of vegetable production is on a smaller
scale than grain, and that the veg-farmers cannot amortise the
cost of a private army to protect them ?

So would this then be a 'leading indicator' ?

-- Chris Glur.

Since the early 90's there has been approximately 1400 farm murders.
There are about 40 000 white commercial farmers in S.A. Furthermore
most of the farms affected are still functioning as commercial
enterprises and have not been occupied or redistributed.
The rise in food prices was the result of a) the devaluation of the
rand, commodities like food are bought and sold on a global market b)
ridiculously expensive fuel and high interest rates, which reduces
farmers profit margins consequently pushing some farmers out of the
industry and drives up prices and c) severe drought in the Limpopo
valley, Zimbabwe and Botswana.

It is a myth that white farmers in S.A. are under siege, they have
legitimate security concerns and are being targeted by _criminals_,
but there is no evidence which suggests that this is a planned and
directed campaign. The issue has been seized upon by opportunist
politicians (who care nothing for the farmers or their safety) as a
means to mobilize white support against the South African government.

Sarel S Marais
There's lots of whackos out there.