'N Perspektief Op Voedselselfvoorsienendheid As 'N Determinant Van Voedselsekerheid

The article gives an overview of food self-sufficiency as one of the determinants of food ~curi_ty. Food secu~ty is defi?cd as the abil_ity of a country or region to assure that the existing food systems will provide the total population with access to ~ timely, reliable ~nd nutntlonally adequate supply of food over the long term. This implies, amongst other things, that increased domestic food self-suffic1e?cy and the stockpiling of domestic grain reserves are no guarantee for food security. These processes can ~ve? be counter-productive to f~ security if it is done in an ineffective way and the price of food is increased. In the case of South Afnc~ 1t seems !hat ~he supply of foo~ 1s not a serious problem. Globally seen it also seems that South African agriculture can, at least potentially, provides m the food requ1_rements of the growing population over the medium to longer term. Policy should thus concentrate on t~e other elements off~ sec~nty. The effectiveness of any food policy will partly be determined by the degree in which the comparative advanta~es of certain reg1?ns, products and farming systems are recognised in the policy-making process. A movement towards a freer market 1s necessary to achieve success in this regard.