Minister Thoko Didiza launches the Country’s Farmer Register

Today the Minister of Agriculture, Land reform and Rural Development Ms Thoko Didiza launched the much awaited country’s Farmer Register.

The department decided to undertake this important task in order to understand its client base both in terms of size and scale of operation.

In 2019/20 Statistics South Africa released the Agricultural Census and it covered mainly the Commercial sector.

“While this was encouraging we were still short of data about Small holder producers in our country. The aim of the survey was to get data that will tell us where the smallholders are in the outreach, their demographics, production as well as their contribution to employment” said Minister Didiza

In order to ensure that this work meets the statistical requirement, the department had to work with Statistic South Africa on the development of the model.

The department had also to work with the Provincial Departments of Agriculture because this is where on a daily basis farmers receive their services.

In 2020 we had 95 501 registered farmers in our register. This number is further delineated in terms of Provinces.

“One interesting feature is that in some Provinces there are more female producers” said the Minister

Interms of age category we have found that during the year 2020, Kwa Zulu Natal had more young farmers followed by Eastern Cape.

With regards to operation or farmers production, what.

The register has confirmed that more small holder and subsistence are involved in Livestock production followed by crops and mixed farming.

“This tool it’s important because it will enable us as government in terms of support as well as monitoring the performance by government and farmers themselves” concludes Minister Didiza

The farmer register covers attainable Smallholder farmers across provinces and it is important to note that not all farmers were reached in this phase of the register due COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Farmer registration is ongoing as the department is still attract more farmers on its data base in all the provinces.

The data collected to some extent, include households, subsistence, medium scale and commercial farmers based on the following farming activities: Cultivation of crops and horticulture, Livestock production and a combination of the above (mixed farming).

Media Liaison Officer and Spokesperson: Mr Reggie Ngcobo, 0662980980 or MLO.Minister@dalrrd.gov.za(link sends e-mail).

Eviction Toll-free Number 0800 00

Source: Government of South Africa