The effect of food safety compliance on emerging farmers and sustainable farming in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa

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.