6 December 2017
Agriculture saved the day once again by being the largest contributor to the growth in South Africa’s economy in the third quarter of 2017. In addition, the sector achieved the largest rise in agricultural production in more than 20 years. The economy grew by 2.0% in the third quarter, slowing from the revised second quarter growth of 2.8%. Growth was supported by a robust performance from agriculture, contributing 0.9 of a percentage point to GDP growth. Agriculture expanded by 44,2% in the third quarter. This is the largest rise in agricultural production since the second quarter of 1996. Production growth of field crops and horticultural products were the main contributors to agriculture’s growth. This was the third consecutive quarter of growth by the agricultural sector in 2017, after recording revised growth of 38.7% in second quarter and 23.1% in the first quarter. Agri SA is pleased with the positive performance of the agricultural sector despite all of the challenges confronting the industry. Issued by Agri SA, Directorate: Corporate Liaison
LANDBOU ONDERSTEUN STEEDS GROEI
Die landbousektor het tot die ekonomie se redding gekom as die grootste bydraer tot groei in die derde kwartaal van 2017. Dié sektor het ook die grootste groei in landbouproduksie in meer as 20 jaar aangeteken. Die ekonomie het met 2,0% in die derde kwartaal gegroei teenoor die vorige kwartaal se hersiene syfer van 2,8%. Die landbousektor se sterk vertoning, wat 0,9 van `n persentasiepunt tot die groei in die BBP bygedra het, het die ekonomiese groei ondersteun. Landbouproduksie het met 44,2% in die derde kwartaal vermeerder – die grootste styging in landbouproduksie sedert die tweede kwartaal in 1996. Die grootste bydraers was die groei in saaigewas- en tuinbouprodukte. Dit is die derde agtereenvolgende kwartaal van groei in die landbousektor in 2017, ná ‘n hersiene groeisyfer van 38,7% in die tweede kwartaal en 23,1% in die eerste kwartaal. Agri SA is verheug oor die positiewe prestasie van die landbousektor ten spyte van al die uitdagings wat die bedryf in die gesig staar. Uitgereik deur Agri SA, Direktoraat: Korporatiewe Skakeling