@article{Antrobus:267446,
      recid = {267446},
      author = {Antrobus, G. G.},
      title = {THE COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY OF THE EAST CAPE},
      journal = {Agrekon},
      address = {1991-12},
      number = {346-2018-548},
      year = {1991},
      abstract = {The East Cape, and in particular the Smaldeel area, is  used to exemplify some of the characteristics and problems  of commercial farming over a period of about three decades  to serve as a backdrop for the broader theme of normalising  South African agriculture. The regional economy is  dominated by Port Elizabeth-Uitenhage and East London which  account for most of the population and threefourths of the  Gross Geographic Product (GGP). Agriculture accounts for  only 10% of GGP, but is one of the most labour intensive  sectors in a region with 24% of its population unemployed.  The agricultural economy of the region is very diversified,  but livestock farming plays the most important part in all  areas contributing 72% of gross income. The chief changes  which have occured in East Cape farming, as elsewhere, have  been the decline in the number of farms and increase in  farm size, greater capital investment, increased  specialisation and declining employment. There are also  indications, though based on limited information, of an  apparent decline in the real returns to capital investment  from livestock farming in the Smaldeel area. The causes  are, inter alia, rising interest rates, inflation and a  decade of below average rainfall. The implications for  prospective commercial farmers is that the industry will  continue to be difficult to enter because of the relatively  large capital requirements and low short-term returns.  Several possibilities, especially in direct sales and  alternative labour arrangements may nevertheless enable  successful competition.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/267446},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.267446},
}