Well-being of farmers and others in the food supply chain should be prioritised

Farmers and farmworkers, should be prioritised when it comes to the Covid-19 vaccine, according to a local expert.

According to economist Dr. Kobus Laubscher this group are essential contributors to the economy and the well-being of citizens.

Laubscher, an independent consultant to Agility Agri, said if this doesn’t happen, “it may jeopardise the contribution agriculture is making in terms of job creation, the continued ensuring of food security and earning foreign exchange”.

He said during last year’s hard Covid-19 lockdown the sector played a major role in softening the economic blow of the pandemic in South Africa, but the industry still faces enormous challenges in the rebuilding of the post-Covid economy.

“Bumper crops are expected in the coming harvest season, which will lead to a predicted growth of 7.5% in the industry. This will not only ensure domestic food security and sustained employment in the sector, but also a growth in produce exports. That is despite higher crude oil prices, a shortage of reefers (refrigerated containers) and an export unfriendly rand/dollar exchange rate.

“But it is vital that the well-being of both farmers and their employees, as well as others in the food supply chain, be prioritised,” said Laubscher.

“South Africa is reeling under the third wave of Covid-19 infections and the turning point in the latest outbreak is uncertain. The national government, which manages the vaccination roll-out, has prioritised healthcare workers and those over the age of 60, and more recently educational staff, to be vaccinated. Critical essential workers, such as those in the agricultural industry, have however been overlooked.

“The country’s population stands at 60 million people, and it is agriculture’s duty to ensure that enough food is produced to feed those people. The sector achieved this with sterling success last year and it will do so again this year regardless of the third wave,” said Laubscher.

However, he said, these key role players in ensuring food security live mainly in rural areas where they are most vulnerable to the virus and not near specialist treatment facilities.

“Prevention will always be better than cure. Proper communication about the virus is necessary and farmers must be assertive in enforcing basic preventative measures.

“But despite these routine preventative measures, it is vital that government also prioritises the industry in terms of the national vaccination programme,” asserted Laubscher.

According to him, the impact of the pandemic on rural agricultural healthcare is likely to play out indefinitely.

“A successful vaccination programme may be the beginning of the recovery, but progress will most likely be slow. Efficient and affordable healthcare will only become more important. I doubt that the sector will wait for the government to take the lead. The sector has always demonstrated the willingness and the ability to do what is required.

“In the meantime, prioritising agriculture in the vaccination programme can’t be postponed. South Africa cannot afford to wait,” concluded Laubscher.

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