Evaluation of South Africa's public agricultural extension in the context of sustainable agriculture

Abstract

South Africa's public agricultural extension services evolved from as early as the beginning of 1900. Agricultural extension is now recognised as a science by the South African Council of Natural Science Profession (SACNASP). This paper presents a philosophical argument that the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices should remain the domain of public extension and advisory services. To provide context, the paper firstly defines agricultural extension and the role extension could play in promoting the five pillars of sustainable agriculture. Secondly, it evaluates the national policy on extension and advisory services to determine the extent to which it addresses the framework of the five pillars for sustainable agriculture. Thirdly, the paper evaluates the Extension Recovery Plan (ERP), norms and standards for agricultural extension and the National Development Plan (NDP) against the framework of sustainable agriculture. The evaluation indicates that only three pillars of sustainability are emphasised. There is a need to subdivide the traditional pillars to align with the full framework for sustainability. The initial findings suggest that, while South Africa's agricultural extension policy often refers to sustainability and even to sustainable agriculture, they do so using the traditional three-pillared framework of economic, environmental and social sustainability, and thus fall short on key elements essential to sustainable agriculture, namely maintaining and increasing biological productivity, decreasing the level of risk to ensure larger security, protecting the quality of natural resources, ensuring agricultural production is economically viable, and ensuring agricultural production is socially acceptable. The paper also explores government initiatives to support extension and advisory services. Finally, this paper concludes by emphasising that the national policy on extension and advisory services should be amended to suit the five pillars of sustainable agriculture.

Nexus between the invisibility of agricultural extension services and rural livelihoods development: Assertions from rural farming communities

“…Within the framework of sustainable agriculture, agricultural production must be economically viable and socially acceptable (Khwidzhili & Worth, 2019). However, as a result of a lack of support from government and non-government institutions, rural communities face the S. Afr.…”

Knowledge of extension officers on pest management in Horticulture in Thulamela Local Municipality in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province

“…According to De Klerk, Drimie, Aliber, Mini, Mokoena, Randela, Modiselle, Vogel, De Swardt, and Kirsten (2004) agricultural extension ranges from narrow technology transfer to advisory services that widely address farming and related practices. Khwidzhili and Worth (2019)…”

“…In South Africa (SA), the agricultural extension evolution dates back to 1902 when agricultural scientists were imported from England (Khwidzhili & Worth, 2019). Agricultural extension in SA was supported by the then National Ministry of Agriculture and began to take shape around 1925.…”

“…The knowledge and skills in the agricultural extension system should be regularly assessed and updated to ensure that extension services stay relevant to the ever-changing agricultural landscape (Khwidzhili & Worth, 2019). According to Worth (2006), the learning-based model emphasizes the need to build capacity for learning throughout the extension system but most importantly among the farmers.…”

Promotion of sustainable agriculture by mpumalanga agricultural extension services: perspective of public extension pratictioners

“…The study assessed the respondents' knowledge with regards to the concept of sustainable agriculture. It became somewhat clear that their knowledge was especially based on three pillars of sustainable agriculture, namely social, environmental and economic viability (Khwidzhili & Worth, 2019;Tey et al, 2012) instead of the total five pillared framework (Khwidzhili & Worth, 2016). The study provides a perspective of the respondents towards promoting sustainable agriculture in Mpumalanga Province.…”