The Karoo, that vast arid plain occupying a large portion of South Africa, is astoundingly rich in flora. This flora
can be regarded as the is base of the economy of the area. The only way farmers can make a living is by grazing their
animals on the veld. The rainfall is too low for any artificial or commercial grazing with the exception of a few places
that has sufficient underground water for irrigation. Grazing pressures vary from 1 to about 2.5 sheep per 10 hectare.
Annual average rainfall in the Karoo is about 450mm in the east and it decreases to about 150mm in the west. A drought is
when rainfall is less than 60% of average. The Karoo is subject to such droughts for up to 50% of the time.
Most of the farming in this arid environment is with sheep (wool & meat), game and ostrich. Along the rivers of the
Little Karoo fruit and wine is also produced.
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AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRY