By OBAKENG MAJE
The South African Food Sovereignty Campaign (SAFSC) calls for solidarity with International Day of Peasant Struggle. The SAFSC coordinator, Qhawekazi Mahlalela said in support of agro-ecology and food sovereignty against the corporate food system’s expansion, their organisation joins the International Day of Peasant Struggle, a worldwide mobilisation of farmers and their allies.
Mahlalela said SAFSC re-confirmed its dedication to community-led solutions and grassroots activity in the face of difficulties posed by corporate dominance in food systems, having emerged from ten years of campaigning, notably during the greatest drought in South Africa’s history.
She further said at the heart of the movement are the voices of peasants and small-scale farmers, often marginalized and overlooked.
“We recognize their vital role in the fight for food sovereignty and climate justice. The corporate conquest of agriculture, which aims to commercialise and dominate every facet of food production, is something that SAFSC vehemently opposes.
“We oppose the digitalization of farming methods because we know it will negatively affect farmers’ independence and expertise. Under the pretext of innovation, digital agriculture advances the goals of large agri-business corporations at the expense of local authority over food production, commerce, and consumption,” said Mahlalela.
She added that, to support this cause, they invite individuals to engage with their resources, such as the food sovereignty activist guide, which aims to equip activists with a comprehensive understanding of hunger’s societal roots, connecting it to broader injustices and wealth disparities. Mahlalela said this will happen, while empowering them to build alternative food systems grounded in solidarity, food sovereignty, and agro-ecology.
“We also have a comprehensive water tool, which functions as an educational tool for communities and grassroots activists, empowering them to comprehend the complexities of the water crisis and its associated power dynamics.
“It equips them with foundational knowledge of water resources, practical techniques for water conservation, and the capacity to organise responses to water policies, while promoting the protection and celebration of local and indigenous water science,” she said.
Mahlalela said they also stand with peasant struggles to protect the ocean commons and advance the rights of small-scale fishers. She said in addition, they recently hosted a webinar titled “The Ocean Commons: Risks and Challenges for Food Sovereignty”, which individuals can find linked to them.
“Together, let us amplify the voices of peasants and small-scale farmers, defend agro-ecology and food sovereignty and build a future, where communities have control over their food systems,” said Mahlalela.
TaungDailyNews 