It was imperative for South Africa to be self-reliant in order to survive the crippling global economic crisis and address issues such as unemployment and poverty, the ANC Alliance partners said at a media briefing in Johannesburg on Sunday.

This followed a two-day Economic Summit between the ANC, Cosatu, SACP and Sanco.

"South Africa has grown from being a net exporter to being an importer of food and this needs to be addressed. Policy must be geared to increase food production and safeguard food security so that we rely less on imports."

This, they said, will help make food affordable and address the growing starvation in the country.

Sapa