The country’s commercial farmers who carry the burden of feeding the over 50 million population of South Africans have not had a good farming year. High input prices have only worsened their woes, above and beyond inclement weather conditions.
Due to the challenges they are facing, farmers will have to find means of ensuring that they stay in business. One of them will have to be using their available resources prudently.
The effects of high input costs borne by farmers are likely to be transferred to the purchasing price of agricultural products, which will drive up food prices.
The Department of of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries says the price of all farm requisites grew by 11% a year from 2011 to the end of 2014. The prices of agricultural products grew on average by 8,8% from 2005, with higher growth for field crops (12,5%) and lower growth for horticultural and livestock products.
