IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total number of farms/ farming units involved in the commercial agriculture industry in 2017 was 4 214. The largest proportion of farms was in farming of animals (2 291 farms or 54,4% of the total), followed by growing of cereals and other crops (752 or 17,8%) and mixed farming (713 or 16,9%). The district municipality with the highest number of farms in 2017 was Sarah Baartman (1 640 farms or 38,9% of the provincial total), followed by Chris Hani (900 or 21,4%) and Joe Gqabi (611 or 14,5%).

The total income for the commercial agriculture industry in 2017 was R27,0 billion, which was 380% higher than the R5,6 billion recorded for 2007. In 2017, the major contributor to total income was farming of animals (R15,0 billion or 55,6%), followed by horticulture (R6,1 billion or 22,7%). The district municipality contributing the most to total income in 2017 was Sarah Baartman (R12,8 billion or 47,5%), followed by Nelson Mandela Bay (R3,8 billion or 14,1%) and Chris Hani (R3,4 billion or 12,6%).

The total number of persons employed in commercial agriculture on 30 June 2018 was 65 151, up from 58 837 on 28 February 2007 (+10,7%). In terms of employment, the major commercial agriculture activity in 2017 was horticulture (24 661 employees or 38,0% of the total), followed by farming of animals (23 872 or 36,6%) and mixed farming (9 997 or 15,3%).