The proposed nationalisation of game farms was just as unacceptable as nationalising any other commercial farming practice, farmers' union TAU SA said on Thursday.

"Nationalisation is an option which should not exist in a healthy economy and is in direct opposition to the free market system," president Ben Marais said in a statement.

"It should be remembered that land is a resource used by farmers to conduct their business."

Beeld newspaper reported on Thursday the government considered taking game farms in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape as they did not contribute to the country's food security.

While the agricultural department's proposed strategic plan on land reform only included proposals, the government felt new ideas were needed on the issue.

Marais said nothing prevented land owners from stopping game farming and becoming stock farmers or raising crops.

Similarly, a cattle farmer unable to maintain a sustainable business due to high feed prices and low milk- and meat prices could consider something else, such as game.

Products of the game industry eventually contributed to the food chain, and to claim that game farming didn't contribute to food security indicated short-sightedness and ignorance.

"Government should cease to avoid the issue when farmers object to short-sighted political plans. We still need to hear from the policy makers whether the principle of nationalisation is at stake or not," he said.