Commercial farms census kicks off
Fieldworkers from Stats SA visited farms across the country on Monday to begin data collection for the 2017 Census of Commercial Agriculture.
Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke visited the Elandsfontein Farm in Bapsfontein in Ekurhuleni.
Maluleke said the census was prompted by the importance of agriculture to the country's economy.
He said the study, which was expected to be finalised and released in November next year, will establish the number of farms, their size, crop types in different geographic areas, among others.
It will also focus on farm ownership, although Stats SA would not enquire the names of the owners but whether a farm belonged to a trust or an individual.
Maluleke said the study would assist the country understand issues of food security and research.
"It assists us in issues of research, as you know researchers are looking for information on agriculture or any other industry in South Africa. It also assists us in terms of investment," Maluleke said.
The census will also focus on investment in the agriculture sector because the farming community spends a lot of money on local and external investors, he said.
"And as such, this information will be very critical when the report is released. Of course, the GDP benefits a lot from agriculture. As you’d know, from time to time, we release the GDP report and it tells you the figures on agriculture."