IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total number of farms/ farming units involved in the commercial agriculture industry in 2017 was 3 103. The largest proportion of farms was in farming of animals (1 056 farms or 34,0% of the total), followed by growing of cereals and other crops (969 or 31,2%). The district municipality with the highest number of farms in 2017 was Umgungundlovu (686 farms or 22,1% of the provincial total), followed by Uthukela (364 or 11,7%) and Zululand (358 or 11,5%).

The total income for the commercial agriculture industry in 2017 was R34,0 billion, which was 237% higher than the R10,1 billion recorded for 2007. In 2017, the major contributor to total income was farming of animals (R15,4 billion or 45,2%), followed by growing of cereals and other crops (R9,2 billion or 27,0%) and mixed farming (R6,3 billion or 18,6%). The district municipality contributing the most to total income in 2017 was Umgungundlovu (R8,2 billion or 24,2%), followed by eThekwini (R4,3 billion or 12,7%) and Umzinyathi (R3,9 billion or 11,5%).

The total number of persons employed in commercial agriculture on 30 June 2018 was 96 206, down from 98 087 on 28 February 2007 (-1,9%). In terms of employment, the major commercial agriculture activity in 2017 was growing of cereals and other crops (37 848 employees or 39,4% of the total), followed by farming of animals (28 167 or 29,3%).