The food security policy context in South Africa

South Africa is a net exporter of agricultural commodities and has a high per capita income, even for an emerging economy. There are no tight foreign-exchange constraints, and the country is not landlocked. The innovative constitution entrenches the right to adequate nutrition, and this is the basis of the national Integrated Food Security Strategy (IFSS). Taking these features into account, one could conclude that food security in South Africa is ensured at all times. However, the reality is that despite all the favourable indicators and South Africa’s national ’food-secure’ status, about 14 per cent of the population is estimated to be vulnerable to food insecurity, and 25 per cent of children under the age of six have had their development stunted by malnutrition (HSRC, 2004). Against this backdrop of contradictions between positive macro trends and indicators and the challenging reality on the ground, this report further explores the IFSS in order to deepen understanding of policy directions and priorities on food security. The analysis in this report leads to an overall conclusion that the IFSS is an adequate strategy on paper and a relevant framework for different stakeholders, but in reality it lacks implementing power and is therefore not used to its full potential.