The gross income earned from the farming sector during the financial year ended 28 February 2007 was R79,6 billion. The main income came from the sales of animals and animal products. Buying of stock and poultry feed, the purchase of animals, fuel and fertilisers were the leading current expenditure items (excluding salaries and wages). These are some of the key findings contained in the report of the Census of Commercial Agriculture published by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) today.
The census covered 39 966 commercial farming units that were active during this financial year. There was a decrease of 13% compared to the 45 818 farming units active in the last census of commercial agriculture of 2002. The report contains aggregated figures on financial information, as well as information on farming products.
Other interesting findings are:
Maize remained the largest income earner in field crops, contributing R8 253 million in 2007. Sugar cane and wheat were the second and third largest contributors and contributed R2 831 million and R2 410 million respectively.
The dominant production sales in the horticultural sector were grapes and potatoes with an income of R4 315 million and R2 591 million respectively. Oranges were the third largest contributors in this sector with an income of R2 077 million.
Income earned from the sales of beef cattle (R13 595 million) and chicken sales (R12 700 million) were the leading income earners amongst in the livestock sector. Sheep sales recorded an income of R3 370 million and were the third highest earners in this sector.
The largest debt in the sector was owed to commercial banks (R17 144 million) followed by loans from private persons (R10 306 million). Government departments extended the lowest loans to the sector at R391 million. The highest farming losses as incurred as a result of farming activities (e.g. theft) were experienced in Free State (R384 million), followed by Mpumalanga (R367 million). The sector in Gauteng recorded the lowest loss of R100 million.
Census of commercial Agriculture: Financial and production statistics, 2007
For further information, please contact
Mr Moses Mnyaka
Tel: 012 310 8984
E-mail: mosesmn@statssa.gov.za
Source: Statistics South Africa
