24 July 2007
Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) will conduct a comprehensive commercial
agriculture census from no less than 60 000 farming units in the formal
agricultural business sector.
Information will be collected by means of a questionnaire, which will be
posted to respondents.
The Stats SA business register has been updated in conjunction with other
role players in the industry and it will be used as the population frame within
the sector. This postal survey will commence in August and the preliminary
results will be made available in June 2009. All farming units registered for
Value Added Tax (VAT) and/or Income Tax (IT) will be included in the
census.
The agricultural sector remains one of the key contributors of economic
growth of the country and the data collected will be effective in identifying
areas of challenge within the farming fraternity which may assist in managing
the interests of agriculture and of farmers at national and provincial level.
The information generated will among others lay a basis for evaluation on the
current status of production, labour, farming, expenditure, farming debt, etc.
It will additionally give indication on the developmental needs relating to
infrastructure and resource capacity.
Stats SA collects process, analyses and disseminates agricultural statistics
which assist stakeholders in key areas of policy formulation to amongst
others:
* determine food security
* measure the productive use of the land
* measure contribution of the agricultural sector in the economy
* calculate the gross domestic product (GDP) estimates
* assess the level of farming debt
* address job security.
Additionally, the information will assist users to plan, monitor and
evaluate their work to enhance decision making and policy formulation.
As an agency responsible for collection, processing and dissemination of
official statistics, Stats SA, works under the umbrella of the Statistics Act,
(Act No 6 of 1999).
The collected data is based on size and use of the land, production,
demographics, employment and financial statistics. The information is collected
and handled under section 17 of the Statistics Act where the supplied
information remains confidential to Stats SA and may therefore not be disclosed
to any individual, household, organ of state, business or any other
organisation. This information may be disclosed by the Statistician General for
statistical purposes. Also:
* the name, address or any other means by which the respondents may be
identified is deleted
* any person who is involved in the collection of, or who, may use, that
information or data, must first take an oath of confidentiality irrespective of
whether he or she has taken an oath of confidentiality in terms of any other
law and the Statistician-General is satisfied that the confidentiality of that
information or data will not be impaired.
On successful completion of the survey, the size and contribution of the
formal agricultural business sector to the South African economy will be
determined.
Furthermore, provincial information on agricultural activity of farm
businesses operation in the business sector will be at the disposal of
stakeholders who require it to advance their plans.
Enquiries
Solly Kganyago
Cell: 082 568 6122
Issued by: Statistics South Africa
24 July 2007
Source: Statistics South Africa (http://www.statssa.gov.za/)
