South Africa has recorded a large increase in the number of people employed in the agriculture sector during the first quarter of 2022.
This was revealed during an Economic Sectors, Investment, Employment and Infrastructure Development (ESIEID) Cluster briefing held in Johannesburg last week.
The Economic Sectors, Investment, Employment and Infrastructure Development Cluster, led by Human Settlements Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, and Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe, briefed the media on the country’s progress of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP).
The ERRP is a collaborative initiative between government and social partners, aimed at boosting post-pandemic economic recovery.
South Africa is the largest economy in Africa.
According to the report presented by Kubayi, the number of people employed in the agricultural sector increased by 6.6% in the first quarter of 2022, from 792 000 people in the first quarter of 2021 to 844 000 people in the same quarter of 2022.
The report shows that of the 52 000 jobs created, 31 000 and 21 000 jobs were created for males and females, respectively, between the two quarters.
“During the same period in total, the agricultural sector had 249 000 females and 595 000 males, compared to 228 000 females and 564 000 males,” Kubayi said.
The minister added that a total of 37 414 out of 300 000 smallholder farmers were supported in the first quarter of 2022.
Kubayi emphasised that while the South African government had made progress in implementing what was agreed, “the full impact of the implementation can only materialise if all the social partners play their role”.
Early this year, there were running battles pitting hundreds of migrant farm workers from Lesotho and Zimbabwe as they fought for work at grape farms in the Western Cape.
The bloody disturbances only ended following the intervention of the police, farmers, and local government officials.
