Digitalise Your Farm for Better Productivity
Whether you’re a subsistence farmer simply looking to keep up with your small-scale plot, or a commercial farmer with lots of hectares to cover and profit to maximise, it is always worth considering investing in automated tools to improve your productivity and efficiency. Farming is a source of food security, nourishment, income and employment for many South Africans, so it is worthwhile determining the best possible ways to refine your farming practices. If you’d like to learn more about the value of a ride on mower in South Africa’s diverse agricultural sector, as well as many other interesting facts about farming in this country, then read this article.
The Prevalence of Agriculture in South Africa
The agricultural industry contributes approximately 2.8% to the country’s gross domestic product. While this is not the largest contributor (comparatively to industry and services), the agricultural sector along with the manufacturing and mining sectors have seen major growth between 2019 and 2022. In fact, the commercial farming sector experienced 13.1% growth in 2020, advancing past any other economic sector.
According to the International Trade Administration, there are 32 000 commercial farms in South Africa. South Africa’s diverse market-orientated agricultural economy produces and exports a wide variety of products. For example, the farming and export of major grains, subtropical fruits, sugar, citrus, wine, vegetables, livestock and dairy are all important value-added products that channel money into the country.
Compared to the rest of Africa, South Africa has the most modern and productive agricultural landscape. The range between subtropical, Mediterranean and semi-arid climates means that there are diverse farming opportunities everywhere. South Africa is also the third most biodiverse state in the world, with many biomes, forests, estuaries, deserts and marine systems. Together, these conditions can present ample farming opportunities for many different kinds of farming.
Different Types of Agriculture
Livestock Production
Livestock farming is the largest agricultural sector in South Africa. This is due to the fact that the majority of the country’s climate is semi-arid, with low precipitation levels, which means there is less land available for crops that rely on rain. Most of South Africa’s land is, therefore, more suitable for grazing and hence livestock.
According to Business Wire’s 2020 market report, livestock production in South Africa accounted for 40% of the total agricultural industry’s output in 2020. Livestock production was also shown to occupy 80% of South Africa’s available farming land. Livestock farming is also an important source of job creation, employing more than 4% of the total number of employees in South Africa in 2020, according to Trading Economics and the World Bank.
Mixed Farming
Mixed farming is the farming of food, cash crops, feed crops and livestock all on the same farm. Mixed farming is seen as advantageous because it enhances the productivity of the land and allows the farmer to create, consume and sell a more diverse range of products. Per capita profitability is also greater in cases of mixed farming.
Cultivating a variety of crops alongside each other, while raising livestock and manufacturing dairy can be a good way to insource all of the products that a farmer may need for their own survival. Simultaneously, the farmer can sell products commercially, allowing the production of crops and livestock to work symbiotically. For example, the cattle could serve to fertilise the cereal crops, while the crops would be a good source of nutrients for the cattle.
Crop Production
Crop production is a vital part of national food security, as cereals and grains are the staple part of any human’s diet. South Africans are highly dependent on crop production not only as a source of stable food supply, but also as a source of livelihood. More than 70% of South Africa’s rural population depends on crop agriculture for employment, and it is a vital source of economic growth that can help with poverty reduction.
Arable land in South Africa is typically used for the cultivation of 5 important crops: maize, wheat, soybeans, sugarcane and potatoes (in that order). Maize is vital as a staple grain and a major feeding grain, meaning that it is used to nourish both humans and livestock. Potatoes are also particularly important for South Africa. South Africa produces 11% of the total potatoes in the whole of Africa, and these potatoes make up 45% of the gross value of South Africa’s vegetable market.
South African Exports in Each Province
South African provinces export a large variety of food products to international export markets. Our top 10 export markets are China, followed by the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, Netherlands, Botswana, India, Mozambique, and Namibia. The value of exports to China in 2020 was $9.79 Billion.
South Africa’s top 5 most valuable export products include iron and steel, mineral products, precious metals, base metals, and chemical and allied industries products. South Africa’s 6th most valuable export is vegetable products, which brought in R8184 million in March 2022. South Africa’s top agricultural exports are citrus, wine, corn, grapes and seafood. The province with the most valuable exports is the Western Cape.
Provincial Exports
- Western Cape: Seafood, citrus, deciduous fruits
- Free State: Feed, cattle, grains
- Northern Cape: Raisins, Sheep, table grapes
- North West: Cattle, feed, grains
- Eastern Cape: Wool, Sheep, Citrus
- Limpopo: Vegetables, avocados, nuts, citrus
- Mpumalanga: Grains, sugar, nuts, citrus, avocado
- KwaZulu-Natal: Grains, lumber, sugar, nuts
- Gauteng: Vegetables, poultry
Different Kinds of Crops
When it comes to crop farming, there are many options. Depending on the climate, farmers can discern whether the conditions are right for annual crops, perennial crops, biennial crops or horticulture. Below is an explanation of the different types of crops.
Annual crops
An annual crop is a kind of plant that completes its life cycle in one year or growing season. This means that they germinate, bear fruit and then die within the year. Examples of annual crops are maize, rice, sorghum and sweet potato.
Perennial crops
Perennial plants regenerate every Spring. Unlike annual crops that grow throughout one season and then die, perennial crops bloom faster over a shorter period. Perennial crops, therefore, do not need to be replanted – they simply begin to grow again themselves. Examples of perennial crops include tomatoes, ginger, banana, coconut and mango.
Biennial crops
These kinds of crops complete their life cycles over two years. For example, members of the onion family are biennial crops. This includes leeks, cabbage, and carrots.
Horticulture
There are many branches of horticultural plants. For example, pomology refers to fruit and olericulture refers to vegetables. Floriculture refers to flowers, and plantation crops refer to things like rubber and coffee. Finally, spice crops refer to spices such as cardamom, nutmeg and pepper, and medicinal or aromatic crops refer to the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants.
Different Animal Farms
Beef cattle are considered to be the best source of profit when it comes to the farming of livestock. They also hold value in South Africa as social capital. For example, labola refers to the payment of a bride through the exchange of cattle. This simply reflects that livestock can be a source of income and wealth, much like with any of the other livestock production options listed below.
- Poultry Farming
- Cattle Farming
- Pig Farming
- Goat Farming
- Sheep Farming
- Rabbit Farming
- Ostrich Farming
- Duck Farming
- Beekeeping
- Fish farming
Different Farming Methods
Farmers have the freedom to pick between a variety of different farming methods. Depending on their final goal, they can choose between some of the options below. When making a decision, a farmer must consider the type of land available to them, the market opportunities available, whether they require survival or profit, and which specific audience they are targeting.
Commercial Farming
Commercial farming refers to large-scale production, where agriculture is treated as a business and the output is for sale. Commercial farming is done for the purpose of gaining profits. Commercial farming is associated with exports, and it usually requires large plots of land dedicated to a singular type of crop or livestock. In scenarios like this, it would be useful to make use of heavy-duty machinery such as a ride on mower.
Subsistence Farming
Subsistence farming is the practice of cultivating crops and livestock for your own personal needs, without the intention of selling your products. This means that you would only produce enough to sustain yourself and your family. There is no need to create a surplus of products. Generally, subsistence farmers practice permaculture, also known as mixed farming.
Free Range Farming
This style of farming refers to a method of livestock farming where the animal husbandry is allowed to roam freely outdoors without being confined to a singular space. Offering the animals more freedom of movement is considered a beneficial way to improve animal welfare. It is also considered to be a more politically-correct practice based on animal rights discourse.
Organic Farming
This kind of farming is focused on cultivating products and crops in an environmentally-friendly manner. This method protects soil health and ensures that all of the practices are sustainable for the land and for humans. For example, organic farmers will not use chemical fertilizers or herbicides. They will also likely follow the principles of permaculture in order to encourage biodiversity and facilitate a balanced ecosystem.
Different Farm Equipment
Farmers require many different pieces of equipment in order to work effectively. Equipment needs are dependent on the farming style and scale. Some examples of equipment needed for farming include the following:
- Ride on Mower
- Balers
- Irrigation Equipment
- Soil Testing Equipment
- Sprayers
- Drones
- Planters
- Combiners
- Rippers
- Grain trailers
- Seeders
- Loading equipment
- Agregat Uprawowy
- Harrows
- Wagons
- Tractor Attachments
- Fertiliser spreaders
Available Ride on Mowers
If you work as a commercial farmer, and you find that your scope and workload is too extensive for you to manage with manual labour alone, then it is worth considering investing in power tools. Digitalisation in the commercial agriculture sector presents a unique opportunity to boost your output and it will likely encourage investors to finance your work. Moreover, with digital technologies and mechanisation, you are likely to see the alleviation of crop and livestock vulnerability. BS Power offers a wide variety of power tools that can assist any farmer who is looking to automate his work.
By using advanced technology, farmers will be able to yield better results at a faster speed. For example, ride on mowers are manoeuvrable machines that allow farmers and labourers to cut grass while seated. This can be particularly useful if you have many hectares of land to cover and only so many hours in the day. Depending on the size of your plot of land, you can pick between some of the following ride on mowers:
- HUSQVARNA TS138L RIDE ON MOWER (R40,960)
- HUSQVARNA TS142 RIDE ON MOWER (R47,690)
- HUSQVARNA TS148 RIDE ON MOWER (R52,150)
- HUSQVARNA TS242D RIDE ON MOWER (R56,730)
Trust BS Power
BS Power offers quality products that will guarantee any farmer an improved level of work and efficiency. With a ride on mower, farmers can expect better harvests and reduce some of the strain on themselves and their employees. By digitalising farming methods, farmers can cultivate healthier produce and minimise their time spent working.