Farmers keep an important role to develop the agricultural sector in many countries. In South Africa, their exported fruits, vegetables and wine sent overseas has contributed billions of dollars for this country’s whole gross export. Right now, South Africa administrators want to reform their land which gets this country’s economy into trouble, and white farmers might get kicked off their land when this country passes the bill. In the article “Thousands Sign Petition Asking Trump to Let White Farmers in South Africa Migrate to U.S. After Country Votes to Force Them Off Land,” Chantal da Silva explains that the government wants to change their land possession system which is ruled and controlled mostly by white farmers by coercing them out …show more content…
Da-Silva explains that these white farmers were not more likely to be killed is not a real emergency issue in South Africa. “Protesters claimed that farmers were more likely to be murdered than the average South African, with some claiming that the attacks were racially motivated” (Silva 3). White farmers claim that these murders have been because they were white, but it has not been proven. In another report is shown; violence against white farmers was not a racial issue. Silva says,” The country’s police service says 74 people were murdered on farms between April 2016 and March 2017, compared with 58 in the previous year. Those numbers, however, reflect the number of murdered farmers, farmworkers and visitors to farms regardless of race, the BBC notes” (3). White farmers have been worried and frighten to be killed, but it is the same as with other South Africa residents. People were killed, but not because they were white farmers. In addition, petitions have not proven there is a problem, yet they cannot point out who petition supporters stand for. In Change.org, da-Silva describes that readers should research more about this problem before they share or vote to let white farmers come to the United States. The warning of Change.org confuse people that the information which is …show more content…
CGTA says “As we address the land issue, we’ll ensure that equitable land is distributed to our poor people in a way that will ensure continued stability” (3). These white farmers are concerned that they would be forced to give up their land after all the things they contributed to this country’s economy. Immigrating to the United States might help these white farmers have a better environment to work and live; however, the government has not yet decided. Right now, it is just a bill which lawmakers must pay close attention to. The South Africa’s Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs Department says, “This is a serious matter. It’ll be handled through dialogue and in a stable manner. No need for beating war drums and creating unnecessary panic! South Africa belongs to all who live in it” (3). By learning from what happens with Zimbabwe’s economy when this country tried to reform their land, so South Africa will not take a step back to a failed the economy. Lawmakers must make a careful verdict to balance this issue. CGTA says, “We’ll continue to help improve the lives of South Africans through making tough decisions” (3). These farmers should not have anxiety about the expropriation of their land in causing bad future. The
Even with these faults, this society appreciates the hard work of farming compared to the easy way of living today. One point of Berry’s argument is that he believes that the land is falling more and more into the hands of speculators and professional people from the cities, who, in spite of all the scientific agricultural miracles, still have more money than farmers. Big technology and large economies have caused more abandonment of land in the country than ever before. Many of the great farmers are clearly becoming different because they lack manpower and money to maintain properly. The number of part-time farmers and ex-farmers increases every year due to the problems with money and resources.
Agriculture fixates more on the production of food instead of stewardship, caring and protecting the land. Berry indicates, “Once one’s farm and one’s thoughts have been sufficiently mechanized, industrial agriculture’s focus on production, as opposed to maintenance or stewardship…” (Berry, 2005, para. 11). When farmers direct their attention on producing crops for the corporation, the farmers forget the reason why they farm in the first place. The farmers mislead thoughts on production create agricultural distress because they lack stewardship. Stewardship involves an intimate relationship with nature, but farmers focus more on the efficiency of production, neglecting the farm. Berry emphasizes that production steers the way of farming instead of the actual farm and community. Berry claims, “…emphasis on production permits the way of working to be determined not by the nature and character of the farm in its ecosystem and in its human community” (Berry, 2005, para. 11). Corporations control the farming industry, mistreating the farms and the farming communities. Production disregards the environment of the farm and demands more than the farm can produce, resulting in damage to the
...struggling to earn any income at all and sometimes do not even get the opportunity to eat. Another issue that Raj Patel did not touch on is the lack of care consumers have for the farmers. It seems that consumers care about farmers about as much as the corporations do, which, in my opinion, is not a lot. When consumers only care about low prices and large corporations only care about making a profit, the farmers are left out to dry. Many consumers believe “food should be available at a bargain price, a belief that relies on labor exploitation and environmental exhaustion at multiple points along the commodity chain.” (Wright, 95) Corporations as well as consumers generally tend to be selfish and I think Raj Patel is afraid to mention this. If only these people cared a little bit more about each other I believe the hourglass of the food system will begin to even out.
South Africa was positively affected in the way that before the Dutch and British, South Africa had been split up into many different tribes, who though they were free were not united. Through the centuries of hardship South Africa came out of apartheid very strong and the ANC has maintained a popularity of 60% popularity for all the elections since 1994. Economically South Africa has blossomed and is the 2nd largest economy in all of Africa and has managed to triple its GDP even though it has been less than 30 years since it has left apartheid, established democracy and freed itself from many international sanctions. South Africa’s economy still has many issues though for it is still an underdeveloped country which suffers from lack of education, employment, and crime. Socially South Africa remains strong as it is united under one goal of making its nation once again great, and it has maintained its heritage and culture. In fact, a quick look at a South African site will show many articles and memorials, of days in the past remembering the struggle for freedom. Politically, South Africa has remained strong and united with the ANC still carrying the vast majority of the votes and uses a governmental system quite similar to ours with a separation of powers and a thriving democratic system. Luckily, political diversity has also started to appear with many other groups appearing making the most out of South Africa’s democracy and all of which pledge freedom and are led by native
...farmers and black farmers. ughs believes the dislocation of white farmers was an inevitable consequence of their environmental and cultural tunnel vision and decades of disconnect from both local and wider black society. Hugh claims that white ZImbabweannes did not have any entitlements through indigenieity. The land reforms “recast[ed] Zibabwean whites as European settlers - minus colonial power! (p. 109).”
Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies, anthropologist Seth Homes writes about how the global market, migration and racism intersect and affect farmworkers and their health. Farmworkers are caught in the web of the global market which involves not only the undocumented worker, but the consumer whom wants low prices, the farmers whom hire undocumented workers for low-wages, and farmworkers whom suffer and accept the work. He studies Triqui Indian farm workers lives and migration from Oaxaca, Mexico to agricultural production in California and Washington. The global economy and attitudes of those that hire them, due to their “illegality”, create the harsh working and living conditions farmworkers experience. They sacrifice their health for the consumers,
Farmers are essentially the back-bone of the entire food system. Large-scale family farms account for 10% of all farms, but 75% of overall food production, (CSS statistics). Without farmers, there would be no food for us to consume. Big business picked up on this right away and began to control the farmers profits and products. When farmers buy their land, they take out a loan in order to pay for their land and farm house and for the livestock, crops, and machinery that are involved in the farming process. Today, the loans are paid off through contracts with big business corporations. Since big business has such a hold over the farmers, they take advantage of this and capitalize on their crops, commodities, and profits. Farmers are life-long slaves to these b...
Farms contribute in a big way to the American Dream and the quality of life people assume when they say they want to “ move out the country”.
Bureau of African Affairs. (2011). Background Note: South Africa. Retrieved March 28, 2011, from http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2898.html
...ellent policies, 5) the Constitution had come into existence through the working together of various groups that had composed South Africa, 6) South Africa's political and economic institutions are well established, 7) and that South Africa is by far the most developed country in Africa. However, there are still avenues that can impede further progress, more so economically then politically. Primarily the lack of foreign investment, especially when South Africa's gold and diamond reserves are emptied as other parts of economy are not as developed. Secondly, the economic gap between whites and blacks that was stretched during the time of apartheid needs to be tightened or else it could become dangerous to the stability of the political system. However, due to the leadership of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s current government structure exists to solve these issues.
on him or her. Unless it was stamped on their pass, they were not allowed to
Envision a farm with an abundance of animals and crops. The farm that most likely comes to mind is not one of giant machinery and smokestacks of pollution, but a vision of the old red barn and cows grazing freely. Sadly, these types of farms are mostly gone in the United States. These ‘family farms’ are being replaced every day by bigger, more industrialized farms. It is sad to see such a staple of the American culture being washed away by a type of farm that is being used purely for economic reasons. Family farming is slowly disappearing from the American landscape. We, as Americans, need to realize the importance of family farming because it produces high quality foods and helps economically for the local community.
Overall Central Africa’s dependence on agriculture could improve the wellbeing of the people but a long history of corruption, violence, and prevalent transportation issues have hindered an improvement in the economy resulting in poverty among the region. Poverty will not subside unless these issues are dealt with and improved.
-South Africa is considered a mixed economy and implementing mine nationalization will bind the government to change its economic policies to that of a socialist economic system as it promotes government intervention and public interest.
However, South Africa is not rich in agricultural resources; rather it has low rainfall, impoverishment and greater susceptibility of vegetation to drought, resulting in soil degradation. Soil degradation is also caused by excessive fuel wood collection, inappropriate land use, population density and overgrazing. Rural areas lack good roads and bridges, small-scale irrigation systems, post-harvest storage facilities, processing and market facilities, clinics, electricity and telecommunication facilities, and also have poor financial markets. As a result, the poor find it difficult to cope with risks of various sorts and cannot afford to purchase important inputs such as fertilizer, chemicals and farm machinery. Globalization There is an increased competition for South Africa’s agricultural products both on export markets and locally.