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Admin reporting unit name changes occurred between 1994 and 2003. However, there were no changes in boundaries. Thus, we have only created 1 admin boundary set which is dated as 1994.

Crop Data

Context

Historical ag data were re-compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture Ag Stat office to match the 1994 boundaries. Most of the ag data here concerns “commercial” production, often from large farms with irrigation, commercial credit, and resource-intensive practices. It is responsive to a well-developed national farming, banking, export and marketing infrastructure.

The “developing sector” was is how official ag stats refer to all small-holder (or “non-commercial”) ag production. Except for a few scattered years, there is no way to break it down by location. 

FEWS NET accessed the official RSA Statistics Directorate database, with their help, on 3/22/16.  The "FEWS NET correction", notation reflects a Source Doc error corrected in the FEWS data. The error was confirmed with the Head of the RSA Statistics Directorate, Rona Beuk esBeukes. She acknowledged it but said they can't change the official record because there is no official procedure to do so. 

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FYI: For each crop, there are multiple (5-8) estimates throughout the year. Summer crop estimates are generally finalized in the Sept-November period, and Winter crops in the Feb or -May of the next year. FEWS NET generally only records the final estimate for each season and year.

Historical data were re-compiled by the RSA/ZA Ag Stat office to fit the new 1994 boundaries. The "developing sector" was how they tabulated all small-holder ag production prior to 1994. There is no way to break it down by location. To have a record of boundaries before that, the actual changes in old admin/political boundaries are mapped out in the Admin Evolution tab.

The RSA Statistics Directorate database source was accessed 3/22/16, in dialogue with the AgStat office.

"FEWS NET correction", as a Source, was confirmed with RSA Statistics Directorate. They acknowledge the error, but can't change the official record.

For each crop, there are multiple (5-7) official estimates throughout the year. Summer crop estimates are generally finalized in Sept-November period, and Winter crops in Feb or May of the next year.

Dominant Livelihood Zone = "Commercial", most large farms in SA, and "Developing" which are generally small, subsistence-based farms.