South Africa Has Rich Commercial Farmers And Poor Subsistence-Based Farmers

South Africa has a dual agricultural economy, withused for agriculture, with about 1.3-million hectares
both well-developed commercial farming and moreunder irrigation.
subsistence-based production in the deep ruralToday, South Africa is not only self-sufficient in
areas.virtually all major agricultural products, but is also a
Covering 1.2-million square kilometres of land,net food exporter. Farming remains vitally
South Africa is one-eighth the size of the Unitedimportant to the economy and development of
States and has seven climatic regions, fromthe southern African region. Since 1994, the
Mediterranean to subtropical to semi-desert.government has been working to develop
This biodiversity, together with a coastline 3 000small-scale farming to boost job creation.
kilometres long and served by seven commercialSouth Africa's field crops and horticulture farming
ports, favours the cultivation of a highly diverseagriculture sectors:
range of marine and agricultural products, fromSouth Africa is divided into a number of farming
deciduous, citrus and subtropical fruit to grain,regions according to climate, natural vegetation,
wool, cut flowers, livestock and game.soil type and farming practices. Agricultural
Agricultural activities range from intensive cropactivities range from intensive crop production and
production and mixed farming in winter rainfall andmixed farming in winter rainfall and high summer
high summer rainfall areas to cattle ranching in therainfall areas, to cattle ranching in the bushveld
bushveld and sheep farming in the arid regions.and sheep farming in more arid regions.
Maize is most widely grown, followed by wheat,The total gross value of South Africa's agricultural
oats, sugar cane and sunflowers.production for 2003 was estimated at R68.7-billion,
While 13% of South Africa's land can be used forwith farmers' income amounting to R70-billion.
crop production, only 22% of this is high-potentialThe indigenous Afrikaner Beef Cattel Breeds are
arable land. The most important limiting factor ispopular with European Farmers. African Goats and
water availability. Rainfall is distributed unevenlysheep breeds like the Afrino (wool and mutton)
across the country, with some areas prone toadapted to arid conditions is very popular with
drought. Almost 50% of South Africa's water ispoor subsistence-based farmers.