MEC for agriculture and rural development Nandi Mayathula-Khoza said yesterday that weather conditions such as hail had a negative impact on farming communities, threatening food security.

"We have received requests from farmers for assistance because their crop was destroyed by hail. We have a long list of them," she told journalists at her Johannesburg office during a press briefing.

Mayathula-Khoza said the change in weather patterns in Gauteng showed evidence of climate change. If nothing were done, she said, the effects would lead to ever-increasing food prices. She said Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane had instructed the provincial government to institute a study in which it was asking stakeholders to come up with strategies to respond to the effects of climate change.

Mayathula-Khoza said the challenge was dealing with competing needs of a growing population, such as housing. She said the province had developed a a policy to protect high agricultural land for food production and sustainable development. She encouraged communities to plant food gardens and fruit trees.

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Wed May 23 00:26:50 SAST 2012 ::

Dec 2, 2011

Tronn

The MEC Mayathula-Khoza states that the change in weather patterns in Gauteng showed evidence of climate change. If nothing were done, she said, the effects would lead to ever-increasing food prices.
What is she imagining can be "done"? Must the government prevent hail from falling??

We must stop destoying the planet.We must stop polluting rivers with sewerage. We must stop dumping garbage.(especially plastic) We must stop cutting down all the trees. We must stop covering the ground with concrete buildings and tar roads. We must stop driving petrol and diesel cars and revert to electric cars. And we must stop having so many children!! The planet has insufficient resources for all the people.

If we do not heed the above, mankind will starve and die. It is your decision
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