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BL Premium reports that SA’s agricultural sector is likely to be spared from the heavy job losses anticipated in most sectors due to the economic shock of Covid-19 because it mostly remained open during the lockdown and expects a bumper grain harvest.
SA’s agriculture, which is export-orientated, contributes about 3% to GDP and employs close to 900,000 people. Wandile Sihlobo of the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) observed that there could be some resilience in agriculture compared to other sectors because of two major reasons. Firstly, the sector was largely operational even during the strict level 5 lockdown, except for a few subsectors that have subsequently opened. Secondly, SA expects its second-largest grains harvest in the 2019/2020 season. Also, there is an expectation of a record citrus harvest, general improvement in output in other fruits following drought years, and also a recovery in wine grapes output. “In a nutshell, we expect the agricultural sector to show some level of resilience from a jobs perspective this year as the expected large output will mean labour will be required in the fields,” Sihlobo indicated.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bekezela Phakathi at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page