Key findings: P1101 - Agricultural survey, 2009

All major indicators in the commercial farming sector reflected an increase in 2009 compared to 2008. Gross farming income (GFI) earned by the commercial farming sector was R95 224 million in 2008 and R119 355 million in 2009. The GFI figures reflect a growth of 25,3% between 2008 and 2009.

Current expenditure in the commercial farming sector showed a 31,6% increase, from R65 827 million in 2008 to R86 616 million in 2009. The total capital expenditure in the commercial farming sector amounted to R7 839 million in 2008 and R10 485 million in 2009. This amounted to an increase of 33,7% between the two years.

The total farming debt among the operators in the commercial farming sector in 2009 was estimated at R63 473 million, an increase of 24,7% compared with 2008. The number of people employed in the commercial farming sector increased by 4,3%, from 814 524 in 2008 to 849 782 in 2009.