IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total number of farms/ farming units involved in the commercial agriculture industry in 2017 was 2 291. The largest proportion of farms was in farming of animals (827 farms or 36,1% of the total), followed by mixed farming (611 or 26,6%) and growing of cereals and other crops (483 or 21,1%). The district municipality with the highest number of farms in 2017 was City of Tshwane (865 farms or 37,8% of the provincial total), followed by City of Johannesburg (404 or 17,6%) and Sedibeng (379 or 16,5%).

The total income for the commercial agriculture industry in 2017 was R32,2 billion, which was 385% higher than the R6,7 billion recorded for 2007. In 2017, the major contributor to total income was farming of animals (R20,3 billion or 63,0%), followed by mixed farming (R4,7 billion or 14,4%). The district municipality contributing the most to total income in 2017 was City of Tshwane (R11,1 billion or 34,4%), followed by Sedibeng (R7,8 billion or 24,3%) and West Rand (R7,2 billion or 22,2%).

The total number of persons employed in commercial agriculture on 30 June 2018 was 36 518, up from 24 514 on 28 February 2007 (+49,0%). In terms of employment, the major commercial agriculture activity in 2017 was farming of animals (14 769 employees or 40,5% of the total), followed by horticulture (11 044 or 30,2%) and mixed farming (5 362 or 14,7%).