The cost of mechanisation
The proliferation of machines in some industries has had a huge effect on employment numbers
The World Economic Forum ranks SA as the second-most difficult country to operate in when it comes to labour relations. This sad reality drives an ineluctable move to mechanise in an economy suffering chronic unemployment. Agriculture presents a particularly bleak picture. “Over the past 20 years half a million jobs have been lost in [the sector],” says Jim Rankin, secretary of the SA Agricultural Machinery Association. The jobs are being done by machines. Mechanisation has been especially aggressive in maize and wheat farming. “SA is now up there with countries such as the US,” says Johan Pienaar, Agri SA deputy executive director. The pace of mechanisation is not slowing. A rising trend in tractor sales, most of them to maize farmers, reflects this. “Between 1997 and 2010 average annual tractor sales ran at about 5,000,” says Rankin. “The norm now appears to be 5,500-6,500.” It is not only a case of more tractors being sold. “Tractor sizes are increasing,” says Arnold Goldstone, e...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.