The Council highlighted the sharp fall in primary agricultural employment in the past decade. Employment in primary agriculture has declined from 2.5 million workers in 2000 to less than a million in 2011. In terms of state support, small farm households do appear to have access to state sponsored Agricultural Development Support (ADS). However, the Council had concerns with reported beneficiary numbers and could not ascertain the impact that ADS is having on the livelihoods of small farm households.