IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total number of farms/ farming units involved in the commercial agriculture industry in 2017 was 2 823. The largest proportion of farms was in mixed farming (1 211 farms or 43,0% of the total), followed by farming of animals (661 or 23,4%) and growing of cereals and other crops (628 or 22,2%). The district municipality with the highest number of farms in 2017 was Gert Sibande (1 524 farms or 54,0% of the provincial total), followed by Ehlanzeli (655 or 23,2%) and Nkangala (644 or 22,8%).

The total income for the commercial agriculture industry in 2017 was R38,4 billion, which was 256% higher than the R10,8 billion recorded for 2007. In 2017, the major contributor to total income was mixed farming (R15,3 billion or 40,0%), followed by farming of animals (R11,6 billion or 30,2%). The district municipality contributing the most to total income in 2017 was Gert Sibande (R18,5 billion or 48,2%), followed by Nkangala (R11,7 billion or 30,3%) and Ehlanzeli (R8,3 billion or 21,5%).

The total number of persons employed in commercial agriculture on 30 June 2018 was 73 319, down from 86 890 on 28 February 2007 (‑15,6%). In terms of employment, the major commercial agriculture activity in 2017 was horticulture (27 485 employees or 37,4% of the total), followed by mixed farming (20 540 or 28,0%) and growing of cereals and other crops (13 175 or 18,0%).