Abstract:
Agriculture is the foundation of every country’s economy and is the cornerstone for rural
and economic development, both in South Africa and internationally. Given the right
technical support, emerging commercial farmers have the ability to produce fresh, quality
produce, which complies with food safety standards and requirements. The challenge to
meet the demand for food has led to an increase of the use of chemicals during all stages
of production. Consumers’ health is at risk consuming this food and feed products. Food
safety legislation is mainly influenced by consumers worldwide, thus impacting all farmers
daily with new laws and legislation. Compliance with food safety laws would provide
emerging commercial farmers access to local and international markets. Food safety compliance has an impact on the lifespan of emerging commercial farmers
and sustainable farming, locally and in global agriculture. Food safety includes
phytosanitary requirements; safety of food for human consumption; acceptable maximum
and minimum residue levels; recall procedures of contaminated food; global market food
safety requirements; origin of food safety policies and the financial effect of food safety
non-compliance on farmers. Agriculture, rural and economic development are in direct
correlation with food safety compliance during all stages of production of fresh fruit and
vegetables.
The importance of this research is to demonstrate the effect food safety criteria has on
emerging commercial farmers and sustainable farming. Emerging commercial farmers
should not only focus on production of commodities, but more attention should be given
to food safety legislation and the compliance thereof in order to promote market access.
The role of current and future extension advisory services is crucial to the existence of
emerging commercial farmers, both in South Africa and internationally. Extension
advisory services should place more focus on compliance with food safety compliance
criteria in order to provide emerging commercial farmers and smallholder farmers’ access
to markets. Consumer trends with regards to food safety should be a priority when
extension services are rendered, with the efficient communication thereof. Extension
advisory officials need to ensure emerging commercial farmers understand the content
and context of food safety legislation and the effect on their farming systems. The main
objective of the study was reached by means of observing that emerging commercial
farmers’ need to register their farms at Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
(DAFF) for traceability of any food safety related issues. The high cost of food safety
compliance, implementation challenges of food safety systems in farming operations and
lack of knowledge prevents emerging commercial farmers from trade in local and export
markets.
The study was conducted in four provinces within South Africa namely: Western Cape,
Eastern Cape, Gauteng and Northern Cape. In total, 80 respondents took part in the
study.
