South Africa: Farming in crisis (too dangerous)

[Robbien]

JOHANNESBURG - The Transvaal Agricultural Union (TAU) maintains farming in South Africa is second only to soldiering in Iraq on the list of the world’s most dangerous occupations.

This strong view came out of its recent congress on conditions currently facing the country’s agricultural fraternity. These include “crime being out of control – farm murders are not only numerous but are mind-boggling in their savagery” and “theft and burning of crops are huge problems”.

The congress said farming in South Africa was not an issue of gainful economic activity any longer – it had become one of survival.

. . .

Another said commercial agriculture was the country’s most important strategic industry. “Yet it is relentlessly harassed by government which cannot leave farmers in peace to produce the country’s food.”

http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=25285,1,22

Another victim of Global Free Trade agreements. If Africa produced its own food it wouldn't buy all that nice GM food from global producers.