IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total number of farms/ farming units involved in the commercial agriculture industry in 2017 was 3 054. The largest proportion of farms was in farming of animals (930 farms or 30,5% of the total), followed by mixed farming (852 or 27,9%) and growing of cereals and other crops (630 or 20,6%). The district municipality with the highest number of farms in 2017 was Waterberg (1 362 farms or 44,8% of the provincial total), followed by Capricorn  and Mopani (both 464 or 15,2%).

The total income for the commercial agriculture industry in 2017 was R31,4 billion, which was 393% higher than the R6,4 billion recorded for 2007. In 2017, the major contributor to total income was horticulture (R13,3 billion or 42,3%), followed by mixed farming (R7,6 billion or 24,3%) and farming of animals (R5,8 billion or 18,5%). The district municipality contributing the most to total income in 2017 was Mopani (R8,7 billion or 27,6%), followed by Waterberg (R7,5 billion or 23,7%) and Vhembe (R5,4 billion or 17,1%).

The total number of persons employed in commercial agriculture on 30 June 2018 was 97 478, up from 74 878 on 28 February 2007 (+30,2%). In terms of employment, the major commercial agriculture activity in 2017 was horticulture (48 079 employees or 49,4% of the total), followed by mixed farming (24 881 or 25,5%).