Towards sustainable agriculture in post-apartheid South Africa

Abstract

This paper assesses the possibility of sustainable agriculture in South Africa in the context of recent policy initiatives. The new environmental strategy for agriculture represents a significant break with policy initiatives developed during apartheid. The likelihood of sustainable farming practices being adopted in South Africa will, however, face at least three obstacles. These are the integrated structure of industrial fanning, the concern over yields, and current political and economic changes in South African agriculture. It is argued that sustainable techniques are unlikely to develop in the large scale farming sector in the near future. If the considerable research and extension resources of the state are reoriented quickly enough, sustainable farming methods can be embraced by an emerging class of black commercial farmers.

Environmental apartheid: Eco-health and rural marginalization in South Africa

“…While this productivity protected food security, it came at considerable environmental and social costs (Fakir and Cooper, 1995); many farmers began to rely heavily on synthetic fertilizers, other chemicals, and mechanization. White-farmers have been historically protected by government drought insurance e potentially increasing their willingness to take risks with land (Mather, 1996). Environmental apartheid ultimately hindered the productivity and ecological vitality of all rural lands because it forced Blacks to farm on already marginal soils; encouraged White farmers to carelessly industrialize with over-application of pesticides, commercial fertilizers, and heavy machinery; and perpetuated inequality through unequal access to resources.…”

Imperatives for an agricultural green economy in South Africa

“…South Africa has grappled with land degradation caused by agriculture for many decades, and the negative environmental consequences of agriculture have been widely documented. [53][54][55][56] The contribution of the agricultural sector to climate change is significant. Agriculture is an emitter of greenhouse gases associated with landuse change, fertiliser use and enteric fermentation among livestock.…”

The political economy of agriculture in Southern Africa

“…Thus, all four of the other countries under consideration in this discussion are dependent on South Africa as an export market for specific commodities (in the case of Lesotho, a primary export to South Africa is water) and for imports of basic foodstuffs. Despite the seemingly "successful" agricultural sector of South Africa, the sector has been critiqued for the degree to which it has imitated the United States and Canada in terms of its resource intensiveness and environmental degradation (Mather 1996). In addition, South Africa and Namibia share a postcolonial agricultural history which contributes to both countries having dual economies within the sector (see Lipton and Simkins 1993).…”

“…Changing these models of production will prove difficult. The combination of a food insecure region and a neoliberal global trade environment that increases uncertainty for producers can stall policy makers and producers' willingness to experiment with more sustainable approaches (Mather 1996). Moreover, the ongoing negotiations between the EU and individual Southern African countries, do not privilege more sustainable production techniques.…”