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Potatoes are increasingly seen as a cheap source of food, but South Africans can brace themselves for an increase in the price of potatoes in the coming year.
Last year load shedding led to a shocking price increase of 173% with an average long-term increase from R42,87 for a 10kg bag to R72,92 for the same bag. This price is going to rise even further.
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Less water – less potatoes
This will be the result of a decision made by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) that the water use reserves in the Sandveld of the Western Cape will be reduced by 30% in order to ensure that there is enough water for the population and environment.
Farmers will have access to 30% less water for the cultivation of potatoes, vegetables and citrus.
In the Sandveld area there are 57 potato farmers who plant 6000 ha. Dirk Uys, manager Potato SA Research and Innovation, says this decision will cause a fiasco in the potato industry. If the farmers are forced to use 30% less water, it can be expected that 30% less potatoes will be planted. This is about 2100 ha less. One can imagine the enormous price increase for the consumer it will cause.
Impact on the countryside
Dirk also says this action of DWS will have an enormous impact on the local economy and the socio-economic well-being of the towns and the residents in the Sandveld area.
The Sandveld is only one of a few areas in the country where potatoes are grown throughout the year. The farmers plant an average of 6000 hectares each year and employ 6000 workers. This decision will lead to a loss of many job opportunities and the average income per household will also shrink.
He also expects that the local government will lose tax and VAT income which can be calculated at 300 million per year.
To Dirk’ s opinion the DWS’s unfounded allegations that agriculture extracts too much water is not calculated completely scientifically. The drought from 2015 to 2002 contributed greatly to the decrease in water.
That agriculture does use a lot of water, is a fact, but after all it puts food on the table and farmers have always been responsible with the use of water, in his opinion.
Potatoes use the least amount of water
Willie Jacobs, CEO of Potatoes SA, says data from the Water Footprint Calculator shows that potatoes have the lowest water footprint of all staple crops – at as little as 34 liters per portion of 113 grams, compared to the 276 liters needed to produce the same. amount of rice, 144 liters for maize and 182 liters for a portion of bread. Potatoes therefore make a sustainable case for water allocation when considering the best use of resources to ensure food security.
Jacobs requested that DWS instead explore more effective water management strategies, integrated water resource management and the provision of training and capacity building for those involved in water management on potato farms as a solution. “These measures can achieve the desired ecological outcomes without the adverse effects on the potato industry and the wider community.” – Koos du Pisanie, Plaas Media
