IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total number of farms/ farming units involved in the commercial agriculture industry in 2017 was 4 920. The largest proportion of farms was in mixed farming (1 946 farms or 39,5% of the total), followed by farming of animals (1 594 or 32,4%) and growing of cereals and other crops (1 157 or 23,5%). The district municipality with the highest number of farms in 2017 was Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati (1 442 farms or 29,3% of the provincial total), followed by Ngaka Modiri Molema (1 419 or 28,8%) and Dr Kenneth Kaunda (1 203 or 24,5%).

The total income for the commercial agriculture industry in 2017 was R39,7 billion, which was 298% higher than the R10,0 billion recorded for 2007. In 2017, the major contributor to total income was farming of animals (R21,6 billion or 54,3%), followed by mixed farming (R11,4 billion or 28,7%). The district municipality contributing the most to total income in 2017 was Dr Kenneth Kaunda (R13,1 billion or 33,1%), followed by Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati (R10,2 billion or 25,6%) and Bojanala (R10,0 billion or 25,1%).

The total number of persons employed in commercial agriculture on 30 June 2018 was 57 759, down from 66 096 on 28 February 2007 (-12,6%). In terms of employment, the major commercial agriculture activity in 2017 was farming of animals (21 032 employees or 36,5% of the total), followed by mixed farming (19 652 or 34,0%) and growing of cereals and other crops (10 248 or 17,7%).