The past, present and future of food production in South Africa
[{“type”:”text”,”content”:null,”position”:0,”id”:”S7HzVXMq2s9hqZXj”},{“type”:”text”,”content”:”Ownership of cattle by the indigenous people laid the foundation for active trade for fresh meat between them and the many ships passing the Cape en route to East Asia to collect spices. In 1649 the Dutch East India Company (VOC) proposed the establishment of a refreshment station at the Cape of Good Hope to produce fresh fruit and vegetables. Jan van Riebeeck was charged with establishing this refreshment station.”,”position”:1,”id”:”UNPRAUQGHwyvuRaY”},{“type”:”text”,”content”:”As a result, commercial food production as we know it today in South Africa gained incredible momentum. With the arrival of more and more European settlers, more and more farms were made available to practice wine, fruit, vegetable, and livestock farming on a commercial scale. This growth went hand in hand with increased slave labour and the dispossession of land on which the indigenous people of the Cape farmed livestock; this legacy still haunts South Africa, and the country continuously seeks just and economically viable restoration. nnBut today, the world of agriculture stands in great contrast to those early days of South African agriculture during the late 17th century. The population is estimated at 60,7 million and will reach 65,2 million in 2026. With this in mind, commercial food production is of national importance.”,”position”:2,”id”:”Eom6l4yduCilFAxi”},{“type”:”text”,”content”:”In 2020/2021 the value of agricultural production in South Africa increased by 11,6%. It was estimated at R346 035 million, compared to R310 179 million in 2019/20, in part due to the increase in values of field crops (23,9%), horticultural products (8,0%), and animal products (7,2%).”,”position”:3,”id”:”5mWQhakirRwPDCx6″},{“type”:”text”,”content”:”The South African primary agricultural sector grew by an average of 6,1% per year since 2011, while the contribution of agricultureu2019s value-added to gross domestic product (GDP) increased from 2,2% in 2011 to 2,3% in 2020.”,”position”:4,”id”:”1UJrM85L5XaiYo5S”},{“type”:”text”,”content”:”The field crop production volume for 2020/21 increased by 11,7%, mainly because of increases in the production of summer crops (maize and sorghum), winter crops (wheat, barley, canola, and oats), and oilseed crops (soya bean and groundnuts). Horticultural production for 2020/21 increased by 2,4% from the previous season. Higher deciduous and citrus fruit production led to this increase.”,”position”:5,”id”:”LsRFFEXP6igb2nvK”}]