GDP 4th quarter results demonstrate agriculture's resilience

Following the release of the GDP fourth-quarter results by Stats SA, I welcome the news that Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries sector showed an overall economic growth of 1.5% and an annualised growth rate of 6.3% in the fourth quarter following strong growth in the third quarter. The sector was one of only two sectors to record growth in 2020, growing at a real annual rate of 13,1%.

The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries sector's growth was due to vastly improved weather conditions for the 2019/2020 harvest on the back of two years of negative growth in 2018 (-4.8%) and 2019 (-6.9%) because of the drought.

The impressive growth in the agricultural sector in 2020 comes off a low base.  But to achieve such a high growth rate during the significant disruptions caused by COVID-19 shows the sector's strength and resilience.

Agriculture's performance bodes well for economic recovery and maintaining food security in the Western Cape. And it is why the Western Cape Government will continue to treat this sector as a priority for job creation in the year ahead.