Farmers' organisation: small towns dependent on commercial farmers

According to farmers' organisation TAU SA, for some time South African government circles have been expounding the view that South Africa really doesn't need its smaller commercial farms because the large commercial entities can provide enough food for the country on their own.

Any shortfalls can be imported. "This," TAU SA says "opens up the smaller farms for redistribution." The organisation argues that Government's past efforts at redistribution failed, "and there is little reason to believe that this new blueprint will do much to further food security in South Africa."

This thinking, according to TAU SA, stems from the fact that -- under the ANC, South Africa has been down-graded from net food exporter to net food importer. "Any further tinkering with an already fragile food production status quo is a gamble." the organisation warns. "Already the figure of 60 000 commercial farmers ten years ago has been reduced to less than 40 000 today" Thousands of small rural towns in South Africa depend on the surrounding farms for their survival, TAU SA says.

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