This was revealed during an Economic Sectors, Investment, Employment and Infrastructure Development (ESIEID) Cluster briefing held on Thursday.

The Economic Sectors, Investment, Employment and Infrastructure Development Cluster, led by Human Settlements Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, and Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe, briefed the media on Thursday on the progress of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP).

The ERRP is a collaborative initiative between government and social partners, aimed at boosting post-pandemic economic recovery.

The report focused on eight pillars implemented by various government departments from 2020 up to the end of June 2022.

According to the report presented by Kubayi, the number of people employed in the agricultural sector increased by 6.6% in the first quarter of 2022, from 792,000 people in the first quarter of 2021 to 844,000 people in the same quarter of 2022.

The report shows that of the 52 000 jobs created, 31,000 and 21,000 jobs were created for males and females, respectively, between the two quarters.

“During the same period in total, the agricultural sector has 249,000 females and 595,000 males, compared to 228 000 females and 564,000 males,” Kubayi said.

A total of 37,414 out of 300,000 smallholder farmers (SHF) were supported by the first quarter of 2022/23.

Courtesy of Bizcommunity – read full article here.