'Food safety net' to buffer poor from prices

The government plans to create a "food safety net" to buffer the poor against skyrocketing prices

Cabinet on Wednesday announced a series of interventions in both the short and long-term that seek to ensure household and national food security amid a global food shortage and price crisis.

It also said the effect of Eskom's proposed tariff hikes on the poor would be minimised.

It said that while the National Electricity Regulator of South Africa was still conducting public hearings on Eskom's application to raise tariffs by up to 60 percent, the government would continue to hold discussions with stakeholders on the issue.

Cosatu called for the nationalisation of staple foods

The cabinet also endorsed the ANC's May 16 energy summit.

The Democratic Alliance last week reiterated the need for measures such as a basic income grant with the view to soften the blow on the poor.

Cosatu called for the nationalisation of staple foods.

Cabinet-approved interventions include "broadening and strengthening" the coverage of the existing social safety nets, such as grants; enhancing" the implementation of an Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Programme" and the "fast-tracking" of the implementation of the land and agrarian reform programme to promote agricultural production and investment.

A cornerstone of this plan includes the mass production of biofuels to help emerging farmers, the government confirmed last week.

The government recently stepped up its provision of food parcels to the poor

The cabinet said the measures were based on a "progress report" from its inter-ministerial committee on food prices, which span various departments.

"Cabinet noted the report and urged the committee to ensure that the proposed interventions focus on providing a safety net to the poor and are also designed to strengthen existing poverty alleviation programmes such as school feeding programmes", chief government spokesperson Themba Maseko said.

The government recently stepped up its provision of food parcels to the poor, while at the same time increasing starter packs for small farmers.

Maseko said the National Agricultural Marketing Council was assisting with the development of a strategy on food prices. Other stakeholders, including the private sector will also be invited to contribute.

• Source Url: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?art_id=vn20080501063328481C206805
  
  Posted By: Jan
  AfricanCrisis Webmaster
  Author of: Government by Deception
  

       

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  Readers' Comments

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  Date Posted: Friday 02-May-2008
  No dout any benefits will be for BLACKS ONLY. It does not matter if white people who built this land suffer.
  
  keith
  Pretoria
  RSA or is it Azania?
  

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  Date Posted: Thursday 01-May-2008
  What complete rubbish. They're the ones who created the problem. And how will they "solve" it?
  
  Jan Lamprecht
  Johannesburg
  South Africa
  

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  Date Posted: Thursday 01-May-2008
  The best food safety net is to stop murdering the farmers. The ANC is so full of shit.
  
  myname
  

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  Date Posted: Thursday 01-May-2008
  All of u out there remember this THE FOOD/FEUL/ELECTRICITY COMPANYS WANT TO SELL THEIR GOODS TO YOU,look at the feul companys they have listed their highest profits in history,yet they want more,ditto for the food suppliers,check the financial papers the manne are killing it so to speak,until we the people say...NO MORE this will continue,and why is it world wide simple they are and work together SO MUST WE...cut back on all purchases as much as you can.
  
  GUS
  s.africa