South African agriculture in the 1980s

Abstract

The paper gives an overview of the political, economic and agricultural environment in South Africa during the 1980s. This review points out that vital changes took place during this period in general growth, farming costs, farm income, profits, yields and related variables. There were also changes in natural factors (climate, disease, disasters). Changes in agricultural policy made farming more market orientated and somewhat weakened the power of the monopolistic marketing boards, while paving the way to end the traditional division along racial lines.