Africa Report: South Africa
9 April 2012 
Field crops continue to boost South Africa’s agriculture industry, which has grown an average of 11.8% annually since 1970.
In addition, agriculture creates a significant number of jobs, according to Ellen Matsei, director of Statistics and Economic Analysis in the latest Economic Review of South African Agriculture, a publication distributed by the country’s Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries.
Main Crops and Production
Agricultural production continues to boom in South Africa. The total gross value increased to reach just over $1.9 billion in 2011, up 11.5% from about $1.7 billion in 2010.
Total gross value includes figures from animal production, horticulture and field crops. It is comprised of the quantities produced and prices received by producers, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Maize continues to be one of the country’s most prominent crops. The crop contributed about 11.3% to the total gross value of the entire industry in 2011. The newest figures for 2010/11 indicate the gross value of the crop at $197 million.
Maize is also the largest contributor to field crop value for the past five seasons at 47.2% followed by sugarcane at 13.9%, wheat at 12.2%, hay 8.7% and sunflower seed at 6.5%, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Farm Incomes/Debt
As the value of agricultural products in South Africa has increased, farm incomes have followed. South African farmers received better prices for their crops in 2011 with an especially high increase for those who grew field crops such as maize, wheat, sunflower seed and soybeans. Strong commodity pricing this year bodes well for the continued investment into agriculture.
Gross farm sector income from field crops increased to $467.8 million, up 29.8% from 2010, according to the Department of Agriculture.
GM Crop Adoption
South Africa has one of the largest adoption rates of genetically modified crops, according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA).
A recent report by the organization showed GM crop area grew to 2.3 million hectares, up from 2.2 million in 2010. Maize is the most utilized GM crop followed by soybean and cotton.
South Africa is one of the top five leading countries for adoption of biotech crops, and ranks ninth in the world for area used to grow GM crops, according to the ISAAA.
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