South Africa's farming sectors
South Africa is divided into a number of farming regions according to climate, natural vegetation, soil type and farming practices. Agricultural activities range from intensive crop production and mixed farming in winter rainfall and high summer rainfall areas, to cattle ranching in the bushveld and sheep farming in more arid regions.The total gross value of South Africa's agricultural production for 2003 was estimated at R68.7-billion, with farmers' income amounting to R70-billion.
FIELD CROPS AND HORTICULTURE
Grain and oilseeds
The grain industry is one of the largest in South Africa, producing between 25% and 33% of the total gross agricultural production and with a value of some R12-billion. The largest area of farmland is planted with maize, followed by wheat and, to a lesser extent, sugarcane and sunflowers.
Maize is the largest locally produced field crop, and the most important source of carbohydrates in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. South Africa is the main maize producer in the SADC, with an average annual production of about 8.8-million tons over the past 10 years.
More than 9 000 commercial maize producers are responsible for the major part of the South African crop, while the rest is produced by thousands of small-scale producers. Maize is produced mainly in North West province, the Free State, the Mpumalanga Highveld and the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Local consumption of maize amounts to about 8mt, and the surplus is exported.
Wheat is produced in the winter rainfall areas of the Western Cape and the eastern parts of the Free State. Barley is produced mainly on the southern coastal plains of the Western Cape. The Oudtshoorn district is responsible for about 90% of the lucerne seed produced in South Africa. Sorghum is cultivated in the drier parts of summer rainfall areas such as Mpumalanga, the Free State, Limpopo, North West and Gauteng.
Sunflower farm near Rustenburg in North West (Image: South African Tourism)
South Africa is the world's 10th largest producer of sunflower seed, which is produced in the Free State, North West, the Mpumalanga Highveld and Limpopo province. Groundnuts are grown mainly in the Free State, North West and the Northern Cape.
Sugar
South Africa is the world's 13th largest sugar producer. Sugarcane is grown in 15 areas extending from northern Pondoland in the Eastern Cape through the coastal belt and Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal to the Mpumalanga Lowveld. An estimated 2.5mt of sugar is produced each season. Some 50% is marketed in southern Africa, with the rest exported to Africa, the Middle East, North America and Asia. The South African sugar industry contributes
R1.7-billion to the country's foreign exchange earnings.
Established sugar farmers aim to redistribute at least 78 000ha of sugar-producing land to black farmers by 2015, with the government committing R6-million towards the first phase of the programme.
Fruit
Deciduous fruit is grown mainly in the Western Cape and in the Langkloof Valley in the Eastern Cape. Smaller production areas are found along the Orange River and in the Free State, Mpumalanga and Gauteng. This industry's export earnings represent 12% of South Africa's total earnings from agricultural exports.
Citrus is produced in the irrigation areas of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Pineapples are grown in the Eastern Cape and northern KwaZulu-Natal. Other subtropical crops - avocados, mangoes, bananas, litchis, guavas, pawpaws, granadillas, and macadamia and pecan nuts - are produced in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and in the subtropical coastal areas of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
Wine
South Africa is the 10th largest wine producer in the world. About 110 200ha of land are under cultivation with about 317 million vines. About 84% of wines are produced by cooperatives. Some 4 435 primary wine producers employ about 67 000 people. Wine exports increased from 20-million litres in 1992 to a phenomenal 239-million litres in 2003.
Vegetables
About 40% of South Africa's potato crop is grown in the high-lying areas of the Free State and Mpumalanga. Limpopo, the Eastern, Western and Northern Cape, and the high-lying areas of KwaZulu-Natal are also important production areas. Of the total crop, 50% is delivered to fresh produce markets and a further 18% processed, with the South African potato processing industry having grown tremendously over the past few years.
Potatoes make up 40% of vegetable farmers' gross income, with tomatoes, onions, green mealies and sweetcorn contributing 38%.
Tomatoes are mainly produced in Limpopo, the Mpumalanga Lowveld and Middleveld, the Pongola area of KwaZulu-Natal, the southern parts of the Eastern Cape, and the Western Cape. Onions are grown in Mpumalanga, in the Western Cape and the southern Free State. Cabbage production is concentrated in Mpumalanga and the Camperdown and Greytown districts of KwaZulu-Natal.
Cotton
Cotton is cultivated in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and North West. It constitutes 74% of natural fibre and 42% of all fibre processed in South Africa. Cotton is grown under irrigation as well as in dryland conditions. Seventy-five percent of local production is harvested by hand. Emerging black farmers are being helped to grow cotton on 9 000 ha of land in four provinces.
Tobacco
Virginia tobacco is produced mainly in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, with smaller quantities of Oriental tobacco grown in the Western and Eastern Cape. There are more than 1 000
growers in the country, producing some 34-million kilograms every year on about 24 000ha of land.
Tea
Honeybush tea grows mainly in the coastal and mountainous areas of the Western Cape and in certain areas of the Eastern Cape. Honeybush has become a commercial crop, with the production of more than 100 tons of processed tea per year. South Africa's industry has seen an improvement in the quality of tea and the establishment of export standards, the construction of a large processing and packaging facility in Mossel Bay, increased consumer awareness, the appearance of several brand names on supermarket shelves, and a growing overseas market.
Rooibos tea is an indigenous herb produced mainly in the Cedarberg area of the Western Cape. In 2003 the demand for rooibos was estimated to be 3 800 tons, grown by 320 small- and large-scale producers.
Ornamental plants and cut flowers
Ornamental plants are produced throughout South Africa, but
production for export is concentrated in the central parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Gauteng province. The crop includes nursery plants, cut flowers and pot plants. The country's most important plant export products are gladioli, proteas, bulbs, chrysanthemum cuttings and roses. Amaryllis bulbs are a lucrative export product to the US.
The fynbos industry is being transformed from wild harvesting to cultivation, with an array of cultivars planted. Further fynbos species have potential for development as crops, provided the necessary research funding can be secured. Dried flowers form an important component of the fynbos industry. A large variety of proteas, conebushes and other products are well established in the marketplace.
LIVESTOCK FARMING
Livestock is the largest agricultural sector in South Africa, with a population of some 13.8-million cattle and 28.8-million sheep. Stock breeders concentrate on the development of breeds that are well adapted to diverse climatic and environmental conditions.
Dairy farming
Dairy is produced throughout South Africa, with most farms in the eastern and northern Free State, North West, the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, the Eastern and Western Cape, Gauteng and the southern parts of Mpumalanga. The four major dairy breeds in South Africa are the Holstein, Jersey, Guernsey and Ayrshire.
The dairy industry is important to South Africa's job market, with some 4 300 milk producers employing about 60 000 farmworkers and indirectly providing jobs to 40 000 people. Milk production for 2003/04 was estimated at 2-billion litres.
Beef farming
South Africa produces 85% of its meat requirements, with 15% is imported from Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Australia, New Zealand and the EU. Local demand generally outstrips production, even though there are untapped reserves in the communal farming areas.
Cattle ranches are found mainly in the Eastern Cape, parts of the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and the Northern Cape. Popular beef breeds include the indigenous Afrikaner and Nguni and locally developed Bonsmara and Drakensberger. European and American breeds such as Charolais, Hereford, Angus, Simmentaler, Sussex, Brahman and Santa Gertrudis are maintained as pure breeds or used in cross-breeding.
Sheep and goat farming
South African sheep farming is concentrated in the Northern and Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Free State and Mpumalanga, with Ermelo in Mpumalanga being one of the largest wool-producing districts. Fifty percent of sheep are fine-woolled Merinos. Other breeds include the locally developed Afrino, a woolled mutton breed adapted to arid conditions, the South African Mutton Merino, the Dohne and the Merino Landrace. South Africa's mutton is produced from the Dorper - a highly productive and locally developed mutton breed for arid regions - and the woolled Merino.
Karakul sheep are farmed in the more arid areas, with some 20 173 pelts with a gross value of R3-million produced in 2002/03. The indigenous meat-producing Boer goat accounts for about 30% of all commercial goats. The Angora goat is used for mohair production.
Poultry and pig farming
South Africa's poultry and pig farms are more intensive than the extensive sheep and cattle production, and are found near the metropolitan areas of Gauteng, Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. The predominant pig breeds are the South African Landrace, the Large White, the Duroc and the Pietrain.
South Africa's annual poultry meat production is 960 000 tons. Broiler production contributes about 82% to total poultry meat production, with the rest made up of mature chicken slaughter (culls), small-scale and backyard poultry production, ducks, geese, turkeys and other specialised white meat products. Income from poultry and egg production amounted to R11.3-billion in 2002/03.
South Africa accounts for 67% of world sales of ostrich products - leather, meat and feathers. The gross value for ostrich feathers and products during 2002/03 was R276.5-million.
Game farming
South Africa has more game and a wider variety of game species than most countries. Game farming has grown over the years, and today is a viable industry with great economic potential. The country's main game areas are in Limpopo province, North West, Mpumalanga, the Free State, the Eastern Cape, the Karoo, the Kalahari in the Northern Cape and the thorn scrub of KwaZulu-Natal.
A descriptive game-production model has been developed for optimising intensive animal production on game farms, with the potential to increase the global produce of the game industry by between 8% and 15%.
Aquaculture
The aquaculture industry in South Africa continues to make meaningful progress in cultivation technology, marketing strategy, marketing practice and scientific
innovation. Mussels, trout, tilapia, catfish, oysters and waterblommetjies (Cape pondweed) are the major aquaculture species. Mussel farming occurs mainly at Saldanha Bay.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
