IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total number of farms/ farming units involved in the commercial agriculture industry in 2017 was 4 829. The largest proportion of farms was in farming of animals (2 641 farms or 54,6% of the total), followed by growing of cereals and other crops (1 157 or 24,0%). The district municipality with the highest number of farms in 2017 was Pixley ka Seme (1 460 farms or 30,2% of the provincial total), followed by Z F Mgcawu (1 370 or 28,4%) and Namakwa (838 or 17,4%).

The total income for the commercial agriculture industry in 2017 was R18,7 billion, which was 261% higher than the R5,2 billion recorded for 2007. In 2017, the major contributor to total income was farming of animals (R6,4 billion or 34,0%), followed by horticulture (R4,1 billion or 22,1%) and mixed farming (R3,9 billion or 20,8%). The district municipality contributing the most to total income in 2017 was Z F Mgcawu (R6,9 billion or 37,0%), followed by Pixley ka Seme (R5,3 billion or 28,6%) and Frances Baard (R4,1 billion or 22,0%).

The total number of persons employed in commercial agriculture on 30 June 2018 was 69 070, down from 70 319 on 28 February 2007 (-1,8%). In terms of employment, the major commercial agriculture activity in 2017 was horticulture (28 089 employees or 40,7% of the total), followed by farming of animals (17 004 or 24,6%).