Between January and October 2022, 3,864 farms in total were sold in South Africa. This was a significant increase from the 3,133 farms sold over the same period in 2021. In terms of size, sales of farms smaller than 50 ha increased from 1,054 to 1,360, while sales of those larger than 600 ha rose from 651 to 706.
According to Johann Bornman, chairperson of Agri Development Solutions, the increase in sales of smaller farms indicated a healthy speculative market, whereas the sales of larger farms pointed to the growing trend to work remotely and buy “lifestyle farms in the Karoo”.
The average price of farmland had stabilized at around R14,900/ha (€835) this year, showing a slight upward trend. The Western Cape was the exception, with prices and sales in almost all districts, especially where intensive agricultural production was practiced, being under pressure.
In the other provinces, sales and prices were down only in the western parts of North West such as in the Delareyville, Vryburg and Coligny areas; the southern parts of the Northern Cape such as in the Colesberg, Carnarvon and Barkly West regions; most parts of the Karoo; and in the Graaff-Reinet, Tarkastad, Cradock, East London, Aberdeen and Fort Beaufort areas of the Eastern Cape.
Source: farmersweekly.co.za
