With a constantly changing environment in the South African farming sector, many commercial farm investors are looking to diversify into different regions and away from core farming activities.
That's according to Wayne Rubidge, the manager of Pam Golding's Karoo region.
Rubidge told Algoa FM News that added to the mix, are urban professionals who are seeking to enter the farming sector, as they perceive farming as a sustainable or profitable investment with highly appealing "lifestyle attributes."
He says one of the categories ripe for such diversification is extensive, quality Karoo livestock farm land.
"Besides the key criteria of good location, infrastructure and quality of water, an important consideration is the quality of the natural grazing available on a farm or in an identified area," he said.
Rubidge says since 2010 activity in the marketplace has seen a number of good farms changing hands - as have the few rare top farms that have come onto the market.
Buyers are prepared to pay a sizeable premium for one of the Karoo’s top farms, as opposed to a high price for a good farm.
He says premium farms, whether for livestock or game farming, are in high demand.
Rubidge says with regard to cattle farms, "buyers are looking at well grassed high rainfall areas such as those found in certain parts of the Eastern Cape and in the north eastern region of the Northern Cape."
