South African Economic Policies and Food Security: Finding Ways to Avert Food Insecurity

Abstract

Worldwide, most communities, villages, families and individuals are concerned about what they are going to eat over a period. The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security to exist when all people, at all times, have physical economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meet their direct needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. This reason places food security and agriculture as one of the pertinent issues in South Africa and the world at large. South Africa has developed policies which can ensure that food security is ensured at national level. However, various research studies have shown that chronic household food insecurity exists in prominent levels in South Africa. This research proved that there is high correlation between the economic policies and food security. Agriculture is highly aided by the economy in order to achieve food security in the country. Given that most South Africans are not actively involved in subsistence agriculture. This implies that most people rely on the food which they buy on the market. Consequently, most of the people are affected by food prices, unemployment, and extreme poverty rates. This research examines the economic policies that South Africa used to ensure food security and provide recommendations for interventions. In addition, it examines both the positive and negative impacts of each policy. The empirical analysis is based on data from databases such as the national surveys and literatures.