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well it is our own fault and that of government
16/05/2008 08:37
food prices could have been alot cheaper had there been more food to go around the population of south africa unfortunately you have an extra 4 million zimbabweans, 2,9 million nigerians, 2,5 million mozambiquans,3 million from botswana and another 5 million from other african countries. So we have our selves to blame, government must realise south africa is not free for all here and they must take responsibility unfortunately the poor will suffer. Viva on the war against illegal immigrants - terence |
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You are correct, however
16/05/2008 08:39
as with ALL crises, the solution is for people who are in a position to make a difference to do so, as per their job portfolio. We do not have these people in place, whether it is education, farming, health, security, immigration etc. - AJ |
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I agree
16/05/2008 08:40
The biggest factor by far is the price-fixing, since at the beginning of the year the price paid to farmers for beef dropped with more than 30%. Five years ago the price for milk paid to farmers were less than 80c and some even were forced to get rid of megalitres (no I'm not over exgarating) of milk since Nestle and co didn't "need" it. Consumer prices was and still is increasing despite all this. - HVR |
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Don't Forget
16/05/2008 08:43
Extra expenditure on safety equipment and replacement of stolen property also taps people's expendable income. Plus, if a company is found guilty of price-fixing, why does their products' prices seem to go up after that? And please Tito raising interest rates is not curbing inflation, it just ensures that more people get their houses and cars repossessed. - Stephen |
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Kevin, good points but totally weak argument.
16/05/2008 08:44
You have raised valid points but your lack of reasoning and foresight let you down. you seem to rant a lot. SA had good weather, however due to maize being diverted to bio-fuel and government not reducing import duty on food and increasing export duties, we are to see more suffering. Farmers are now better off although at our detriment, they can now trade their products on the futures market something they could not do under the apartheid goverment due to import parity protection. - Libembe |
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Spot On
16/05/2008 08:46
you are so right. if i may add, the other factor is the market structure of most agricultural markets. farmers are many whereas buyers (processors) are few. as such farmers tend to be price takers and are abused by buyers. hence they are mostly not profitable. and with buyer power it is not suprising that they are engaging in price fixing and other monopolistic behaviour. - Boni |
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Food crisis
16/05/2008 08:54
Problem was and still is, the three big guns speak to eachother at an industry meeting (there are associations for most major foods) and agree what prices to charge and the small guys in the industry just climb on the bandwagon!When farmers had a surplus after the 2nd world war due to whatever reason,that same grouping decided at what prices to buy from farmers as well! - swaer |
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Complex problem, but you're mostly right
16/05/2008 08:56
HVR is correct: farmers are being ripped off. Many dairy farmers have started switching to alternative crops or products. Government doesn't understand the role of agriculture in the economy. The markets are being bombarded by product dumping from overseas, because our so-called liberal democratic government threw out ALL the market-protecting legislation, and stopped subsidising local agriculture. So we get EU milk dumped here at WAY below market prices. The worst is yet to come..... - Jakes |
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crisis
16/05/2008 08:58
its a crisis alright, but the world will get past this, its not all doom and gloom even though it may seem like it at the moment, it will be though if we dont take head of this wake up call - aa |
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Libembe
16/05/2008 08:58
Very little of our maize productin has been diverted to the production of Bio-Fuels. Further your statement about increased export duties is totally untrue as there is no duties payable on the export of goods. You only pay duties when you import goods and then only on certain goods. There is only a limitation on the volume of goods that can be exported. - NorthernExposure |
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Illegal immigrant population
16/05/2008 08:58
Terence, I seriously query the source of your stats. To state that there are more that 17 million illegal immigrants in SA at present is more than slightly distorted. Botswana for instance only has a population of 2 million, let alone another 3 million to illegally migrate to SA. - Rob |
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YOU ARE SPOT ON
16/05/2008 08:59
but you also ommitted over population in SA so called slums by Bangladeshis,Somalians,Pakistanis and others and the bio fuel produced by most maize producing commercial farmers and the anxiety caused by land appropiation - scorpion |
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We are stupid
16/05/2008 09:02
Us consumers are stupid. We whine about food prices all the time but we do nothing about it. We have all the bying power so the big corporations are depended on our money, but we still support them when they rip us off with price fixing. The goverment is to stupid to do anything about it thus we need to stand together and boikot these evil corporations. Are there any black brothers out there who can teach us whiteys how to boikot and toy toy properly? - john |
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Gratitude - for terrence
16/05/2008 09:03
Do you agree with the murder and violence against these people? I think it makes us no better than common criminals. What a way to thank our neighbouring countries for their support during the apartheid years. Now when Zimbabwe's people need our help against a bad government (sound familiar?), we kill and mutilate them and blame them for everything that's wrong in this country. It is the government's lack leadership that is causing the problems. - Comment by terrence |
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Foods crisis
16/05/2008 09:04
We must not forget that there was a time where food was in abundance in Africa. Where we used to plough and plant from potatoes to madumbez, we never suffered for food them. Until....u know what. Now all we see are dead fields and huge golf clubs belonging to one person. Until we realise that we still have a very fertile soil in this continent, we will continue being a food charity case. - Thokozani |
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well it's obvious!
16/05/2008 09:05
There's a food crisis, because there's simply too many people!!! Plain and simple. Governments should step in and do something QUICK about population control! - Christo |
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the failed grant system
16/05/2008 09:10
I am a community worker in the former Transkei, teaching effective food production and nutrition, i believe the skill to plant food is no secret and anyone can do it.
The government grant system makes the people totally reliant on the ruling party, they control the people and vote, so there is little desire to plant food. what they can buy is really just sugar and starch from the spaza shops, so there bodies are in crisis (you are what you eat). Now that the food price has soared, the grant will not cover this, so magically there are new types of grants that one can get, its quite sick really.
The other problem is that the ngo's encourage entrepreneurship as a pose to having to survive as a family/community first need, so mono culture is encouraged which does not bode well for erosion etc, chemicals are then dished out and its a lose lose situation. - Luke |
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Everytime
16/05/2008 09:10
a farmer gets killed and nobody takes his place the rest of the country suffers. Why cant the criminals see this. AT this stage to be a farmer is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world in South Africa - Everytime |
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Blame the usual suspect
16/05/2008 09:16
Kelvin points that the problem of food shortages is not only limited to South Africa but is world wide, but then he blames South African leadership for this. Is this going to become standard to blame SA leaders for everything from arms race to global warming? Come of it, acknowledge that the problem has more to do with the energy crisis i.e. higher costs to produce food and dabbling in biofuels taking food to create diesel.China's voracity is another contributor - L van Heerden |
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gratitude for terrence 2
16/05/2008 09:17
well i do agree with the violence, my friends sister was raped and killed by a zmbabwean who came here, so now its war against these thugs. People say crisis we all know there is no crisis in zimbabwe as our president has reassured us of that so there is no need for them here. There is no houses, food and space for illegal immigrants to come here end of story.Rob to be exact i heard from a goverment source that there are 16,6 million illegal immigrants in this country including illegals from asia - comment to terrence |
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Oddly
16/05/2008 09:21
It was this very same government that identified price fixing by food companies including Tiger Brand. It was this government that identified price fixing in car dealerships. So, gratutious comments intended to get feedback frm the usual suspects makes this article silly, stupid and offers very little in terms of solution other than show that the writer would never recognise a gift even if wrapped in gift wrap. Sure, you do not have to support government but facts are facts and not up for debate - LvH |
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food shortage "what shortage?"
16/05/2008 09:22
i do agree that some other countries are facing food shortages e.g. Phillipines and the short fall in rice. As for some African states they can do much to increase their crop production and thereby alleviate poverty in their states.It is not as if their producing at their maximum rate. Zambia and the likes come into mind here. that will also solve the question of trade liberalisation in World Trade talks - Seppo |
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Thanks
16/05/2008 09:28
Great to start the day with a worthwhile article, that can hopefully be discussed without the usual rantings and insults being thrown about. (I guess the usual suspects will try!) - SF |
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Grant System
16/05/2008 09:28
What grant system are we referring to? Is South Africa the only country in the world that has an old age grant? does everyone buy starch, or are they free to purchase what ever they need to eat? Does the grant system prevent people from maintaining their own garden and ensuring that they have a sustainable way of living. Should government intervene in every aspect of our lives, including when we eat and what we deposit in the toilet? Come of it!!!! - Len Anderson |
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Consumer fixing
16/05/2008 09:37
Why can't we as consumers do 'consumer fixing', eg. everyone in the whole country only buys Blue Ribbon and bocycotts Albany and any other bread company's. OK, so Blue Ribbon will make all the profit. But will they willingly pay over from their profits to their price fixing buddies? Let's get together as consumers and turn the skelms on each other. - Fed Up Consumer |
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@ len
16/05/2008 09:37
len, the point is that government has intrvened too much. it is time for people/ communities to empower themselves. len do you use this forum purely to vent or to create proper debate. south afriva is the only country in africa that has a grant system. and yes it does stop them from doing the things you mention because the vast majority in the rural ares suffer a severe case of victim syndrome which is not helped by the government creating dependancy. so you come of it and get with it!! - Luke |
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Goverment policy
16/05/2008 09:45
As I know some farmers let me tell you what is happening.The goverment does not subsidise local commercial farmers anymore(only upcoming or black) as this will erode trade relations with other countries(that is still subsidising their farmers that export to S.A) and it is also a way to discourage white people from buying land and becoming farmers.Farmers are struggeling with diesel prices and is now planting things like soya that doesnt need that much maintenance(diesel+water). - shane |
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You missed the point
16/05/2008 09:45
The government is providing state subsidies to farmers on a large scale, they are also entitled to drought relief if their crops are not up to the required standard. The farmers get substantial tax rebates from SARS in the payment of income tax for your information. In future do research before you misinform the gullible commentators on this little forum. Price fixing and worldwide food increases were not interrogated in your baseless article. Do some research before embarassing yourself further. - Calvin Mkhize |
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China
16/05/2008 09:45
The excuse in SA is that the whole world is affected,TRUE prices have gone up, But not nearly like in SA, I bought groceries this morning in China, Lettuce R2,20 ,12 eggs R3,10. 6 pack Beer R10,20 1,5 litre water R1.90. Box cereal, R4.25
4 large Tomatoes R1,25 Fillet steak R19.50 a kg. I go home to SA about 6 times a year, and the prices are shocking
- Gone Shopping |
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@Northen Exposure
16/05/2008 09:46
You might have missed my point there, what I mean is that our local production is now sold on the world market. Our local surplus does not help us because we pay the world price and not local price irrespective of shortage or surplus. Also if we do not have any export duties, we may introduce these as to discourage exports of maize as other Asian countries are considering. - Libembe |
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Overpopulation and @Thokozani
16/05/2008 09:54
The problem is simple:overpopulation.The gov is not to blame, its the responsiblity of adults to not have 6 children if they cannot feed them. Education is key. @Thokozani: your insinuation is unfortunately partially true. Before colonisation the native population was controlled by much higher infant mortality rates and & disease.Colonists tried to help by bringing medicine and technology to improve life expectancy. Now overpopulation is a problem. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. - Bridget |
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People are lazy
16/05/2008 10:00
People these days are lazy. I grew up in the Eastern Cape. During summer holidays people would work in their fields and plough mealies as well as all sorts of vegetables. People were eating healthily and it was only old people who were getting government grant. It was a shame to be seen buying a bag of mealies from the shop. Those were the good old days and nobody starved - i guess I am backward. Nobody works in the fields these days. Everyone wants to live in the cityand most of them starve! - Shibobo |
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Fertile land going to waste
16/05/2008 10:05
A lot of Farm land is going to waste because the Government are dragging their feet on the land redistribution issue. However, globally there is more demand for food due to the Chinese becoming richer and eating more meat which requires more corn etc. Also bio fuels are to blame. Stop blaming immigrants, it really has nothing to do with them. - Rian |
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Food Crisis
16/05/2008 10:09
Unfortunately the mindset of certain groups of people in this country are to have as many children as they can & not take responsibility for feeding or caring for them. They look to 'others' to support their children. THIS MINDSET HAS GOT TO CHANGE. ThThe parents are responsible for THEIR children and no one else. A serious drive to educating parents is required. Government is absolutly hopeless in so far as leadership is concerned. Their morals,values & standards are diluted and questionable. - coral vorster |
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Gone Shopping
16/05/2008 10:12
Perhaps might have to do with how much the people in china are paid? - L |
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Libembe
16/05/2008 10:12
It is a balancing act I agree. If we export we create revenue for the country and being part of the world market ensures that our pricing will be the same as what it is on the world markets. We have to look at what pricing we use in South Africa to ensure that we are not over charging our own people. - NorthernExposure |
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China
16/05/2008 10:16
Actually, prices i other parts of the world have gone up so much that there were riots. also, you tell us how much you paid for these items, without telling us how much you paid for them before, and hence comparisons are silly as I can compare food prices in europe and america and South Africa would seem cheap. - LvH |
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Calvin you missed the point
16/05/2008 10:19
They can only claim a certain percentage of fuel from SARS once a year.As you know they will plant twice a year and obvoiusly get that rebate the following financial year.The financial institutions(absa ect.) that fund these crops. doesnt want to take the risk.Only small upcoming farmers are helped by the Landbank(GOV) that is in financial turmoil because of corruption.The drought relief will only pay after a drought and that lump sum is split between all the farmerers in the area. - shane |
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Food and fuel
16/05/2008 10:20
what a nation need most to be great nation is food and fuel,oil prices had spiral up abnormaly
and to producer food you need energy,and this is africa we seen more of the sun why don't we convect our sun heat to energy the govt need to establish institute for science reserch,we can't always look up to the west if they come up with ideas - engineer/kaizer |
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Gone Shopping
16/05/2008 10:26
since you cannot use rands in China, i am curious to know how you converted the prices. Did you use the official (pegged) yuan/renmimbi rate or did you use the proper method i.e purchasing power parity which takes account of differences in inflation and the price level? I asssure you if you had used PPP the figures would've looked a lot different. - VG |
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Africa for you.
16/05/2008 10:29
Not so long ago South AFrica was one of the last bastions in Africa that was self sustainable. ie They could feed themselves. Alas they now fall in line with the rest of Africa. Takers rather than givers.Now you want to know why there is a worldwide food shortage??. Africa cant feed itself. - Denzil |
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Luke
16/05/2008 10:38
I asked questions and so am not really sure how asking questions is venting. you made generalised comments and imply that all people are inconvenienced by government support. The grants we offer are old age and were offered even during apartheid times. I spent a significant portion of my life in the transkei and it is tiring when you have people that make such general comments like you do. I am not sure you even understand what debating is. - Len van Heerden |
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Food crisis
16/05/2008 10:39
What about ANC "quiet diplomacy" [denial] on: (1)Farm murders. Do they increase or decrease supplies? (2) Zim. We should be importing food from them. Propping up Mad Bob has consequences @ home too. (3) Farmers need electricity. Overpaying cronies who can't supply it. (4) "Farm reform" (land grabs) means (4.1) farmers are reluctant to invest (4.2) no focus on "land improvement" - better methods, more water. (5) Over-regulation stifles production in agriculture, too. - Racist in ANCSpeak = 1 who dissents |
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Very well noted
16/05/2008 10:49
Ah, you have seen beyond the blatant lies the public is fed by the very people they say "we" have helped put into power. That is also one big lie. The government and the puppet masters knows exactly who the next president is going to be. But all of this mentioned in the article is but tell tale signs of the preparation for the One world government to be announced. But looking at SA's situation individually it's actually Ironic to see how the country has deteriorated since 1994. And SA wanted it? - Conspiracy |
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Denzil
16/05/2008 10:51
I understand what you mean. There was a time when Africa had enough food for its own inhabitants and needed no foreign intervention, until the colonists came. Both this statement and yours are useless in addressing the present problem - L van Heerden |
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Petrol
16/05/2008 10:55
ALWAYS ask for a cash slip when filling up your vehicle's tank,even if paying with cash and even if you intend on throwing the slip away because
The pump attendants take these unclaimed cash slips from the cash register attendant and sell these same cash slips to taxi drivers
The taxi drivers then add these cash slips to their own and so claim a bigger subsidy amount from government, thereby not feeling the
pinch of the fuel increases, and we the tax payer pay for that subsidy.
- Bee |
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Disconcerting behaviour
16/05/2008 11:07
Why, in the shops of the biggest foodchain, does one find packers emtying the contents of a certain item, whisking it to some dark hole, and when it reappears, the price has gone up? Why do all brands of milk, "farm milk" incl. now cost virtually the same? An item with two stickers on top of one another?..carefully remove the top one...the original has a lower price. We, the consumers, and the farmers are suffering, the retailers are rejoycing. No more clothes from China....Ha ha ha. - Alicia |
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