The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Senior Programme officer ÔÇô Food Security, Bentry Chaura has said the speculated threats to world food security can adversely affect the SADC region.
“The production decline faced by the main cereal producers Russia, India, Australia, Brazil and Vietnam are bound to affect the region negatively as it will lead to increased prices of these commodities,” Chaura said.
He added that the ongoing fuel crisis is likely to affect the smooth running of the economy as it has seen the fuel prices going up to $100 a barrel.
Citing the example of the 2008, Chaura said the food crisis was partly blamed on the fuel crisis as it led to increase in the cost of food production by producers and reduced demand by consumers as the prices of commodities also rose.
In addition, he said the large dependence on imports from outside the region for some foods as a major factor is likely to contribute to the food crisis in the region.
“The magnitude of the price increase will, of course, depend on the food production within the region, especially for maize, which in recent years, has seen the region producing in surplus. The effect will also depend on whether our Governments are able to plan in advance.”
Chaura said to curtail this crisis in the region SADC is currently working on a financial reserve, which, if established, could help Member States in emergency cases.
At the same time a number of countries have Strategic Food Reserve (SFR), which is aimed at cushioning the effect of unexpected food insecurities. He added that the SADC Early warning system is of importance as it will help the Government and other planners to plan and implement in advance so that we do not have these unexpected upswings in prices.
He, however, urged individual countries to keep food reserve or financial reserve to at least reduce the upswings or prevent them.    
Chaura said Botswana is likely to continue depending on imports to cover its food deficit.
“What is important is that Botswana has the financial muscle to import what it cannot produce,” he said.
Chaura said if the 2010 cereal production figures are anything to go by, Botswana is on a good path to improving the agriculture sector but the country could hardly be expected to produce enough to feed itself due to its climatic conditions.
He added that the extent of the food crisis, which the region may face, will depend on production within the Region as food deficit member states are able to procure the main staple food from within the Region.
“Due to good production in 2010, prices of staple coarse grain, especially maize in the region, have been stable even decreasing in some cases compared to 2008, while elsewhere, especially in Asia, prices have been increasing.”
Chaura said what is important is that Botswana put aside financial resources that can be used to import food from its neighbouring countries, such as South Africa, Zambia and Malawi, which normally produce surplus maize.
