Livestock production the biggest earner in SA farming sector

According to the 2017 Census of Commercial Agriculture by Statistics South Africa, the livestock sector accounted for more than a third of all income earned in the commercial farming sector.

The results of the 2017 Census of Commercial Agriculture (CoCA), which was conducted by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), revealed that the total income for the commercial agriculture sector in 2017 was R332,8 billion, almost a threefold increase from the R85,9 billion in earnings recorded for 2007.

Contribution by sector

The results, which were officially announced by the StatisticianGeneral on 24 March 2020, also showed that in 2017 the major contributor to total farm income was livestock production, which accounted for R120,8 billion, or 36,2%, of all earnings. This was followed by mixed farming (R95 billion or 28,6%), horticulture (R65,7 billion or 19,8%) and field crops (R45 billion or 13,5%).

These trends were mirrored in the results capturing the number of farms engaged in the various types of farming. In line with its contribution to total farming income, livestock farming made up the largest proportion of farming operations at 33,9%, while farms combining animal production and field crops were on the rise, making up 31%, up more than 8% from 2007. Crops contributed 21% to the total, decreasing by

13% over the past decade.

In terms of area planted, the major field crops in both 2007 and 2017 were maize, soya bean, sunflower seed, wheat and sugar cane. From 2007 to 2017, the area planted increased in three cases, namely maize, soya bean and sunflower seed.

Farm sizes

The census showed that commercial agriculture took up 38% of South Africa’s land area, and most of this was used for commercial grazing. Large farms with an average annual income greater than R22,5 million made up 6,5% of all farms, but contributed 51,4% to total employment and 67% to total income. In contrast, the vast majority of farms, making up over 46%, were micro farms with an average annual income of less than R1 million and employing 6% of the agricultural labour force.

The total number of people employed in commercial agriculture on 30 June 2018 was 757 628, down 1,6% from 769 594 in February 2007. Horticulture contributed the greatest to the employment profile.

The Western Cape was by far the largest provincial employer, accounting for 24,7% of all agricultural employees. It was followed by Limpopo (12,9%), KwaZulu-Natal (12,7%), the Free State (9,9%) and Mpumalanga (9,7%).

The Western Cape was also the province contributing the most to total agricultural income in 2017 (R64,3 billion or 19,3%), followed by the Free State (R46,9 billion or 14,1%), North West (R39,7 billion or 11,9%), Mpumalanga (R38,4 billion or 11,6%), and KwaZulu-Natal (R34 billion or 10,2%).

young farmers

Perhaps one of the most encouraging results of the census was that the average age of South Africa’s farmers was lower than was the case in many other regions, such as the US and European Union, where the ageing farm population is a serious problem. According to the census, a large number of younger people were active as operators or managers of farms. Thirty-three percent of these people were younger than 45, while 58% were younger than 55. • To read the full CoCA reports, visit statssa.gov.za/?s=11-02-01&sitem =publications.