Bembridge, T.J. (author), Sebotja, I. (author), and Bembridge: Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Fort Hare; Sebotja: District manager, AGRICOR, Bophuthatswana
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1992
Published:
South Africa: Pretoria, South Africa : The South African Society for Agricultural Extension
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 91 Document Number: C06651
James F. Evans Collection; See C06647 for original, A systems approach was used in comparing the three projects in terms of physical characteristics, the human potential, technology and institutional support. The importance of farmer development, participation, and motivation for sustained development is highlighted and suggestions are made for further investment in human capital (original).
16 pages, Lack of access to agricultural extension and advisory services has been identified as one of the major challenges facing emerging farmers in South Africa. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of access to these services by emerging livestock farmers in uThungulu District Municipality of KwaZulu-Natal. A survey design was used with face-to-face interviews to collect data using a semi-structured questionnaire. A sample of 1 437 was randomly selected from 4 792 emerging livestock farmers in the district. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 software. The results show that more than 90% of emerging livestock farmers in the district had high access to public extension and 14% had access to private extension, in addition. About 32% of the respondents also had access to extension and advisory services from agricultural cooperatives. There was an improvement in access to these services by emerging farmers compared to the past. The involvement of the private sector and cooperatives in rendering extension and advisory services to emerging livestock farmers shows that various stakeholders are involved in improving emerging livestock farmers in the province.
8 pages, Agricultural extension can be defined as the entire set of organisations that support and facilitate people engaged in agricultural production to solve problems and to obtain information, skills and technologies to improve their livelihoods and well-being. Extension officials should ensure that farmers are engaged and capacitated so that they can make production decisions that are not in conflict with nature, yet such decisions ensure that their well-being is improved. With 75% of the world’s poor living in rural areas, the topic of improved agriculture through agricultural extension is viewed as central to poverty reduction. There have been questions posed by stakeholders (communities, policy-makers and politicians) about the non-visibility and accountability of agricultural extension in the communities that it is supposed to help. There are however a number of factors (perceived or real) that make agricultural extension less or not visible nor accountable. Therefore, this paper investigates and proposes a theoretical framework or model to ensure that agricultural extension is visible and accountable to all stakeholders. This will in turn ensure that there are noticeable increases or improvement of the lives of the resource poor farmers and communities.
14 pages, The study assessed the agricultural extension agents' climate change training needs in Abia state. Eighty-three extension agents were chosen for the study using a simple random sampling procedure. Questionnaire was used to collect data, which was then summarized using percentages, frequency counts, and the mean. The findings indicated that male agricultural extension agents comprised a majority (53%) of the state's agricultural extension agents. The average household contained between one and five members (60%). Only 10% have a master's degree, while the majority (69%) have a bachelor's degree. The average length of employment was 15 years. The study's findings indicated that there are still extension agents who are unaware of climate change (1%). Agricultural extension agents in the study area have a limited understanding of all six climate change statements. Extension agents provide significant climate change services to farmers, including technical advice on climate change ( =2.0), the establishment of Small Plot Adaptation Techniques (SPAT) to monitor the impact of climate change (=2.1), and educating farmers on appropriate agrochemicals for climate change adaptation (weed and pest control) ( =2.2). Additionally, the results indicated that understanding fundamental climate change concepts ( =3.7), utilising cultural practises to mitigate and adapt to climate impacts ( =3.4), and environmentally friendly management practises to mitigate and adapt to climate change ( =3.4) were the primary areas of need for climate change training among extension agents. Inadequate funding for training (=3.4), a lack of financial support from organizations ( =3.3), and an inability to access financial support from funders (=3.3) were the major barriers to attending climate change training for extension agents. Regular climate change seminars and training workshops for agricultural extension agents at the federal and state levels will help to improve their overall knowledge of climate change issues. The Agricultural Development Program should utilize Forth nightly training (FNT) meetings to educate extension agents about climate change issues.
James F. Evans Collection; See C06647 for original, Avocado producer households were headed by reasonably well educated males, mainly in the productive age groups, two thirds of whom were in employment, with above average rural household incomes. The adoption of critical avocado growing cultural and management practices, as well as knowledge levels of avocado growing were considerably below optimum. There was inadequate contact with research based information sources. Suggestions are made for improving the producer knowledge base by improved communication and extension strategies reinforced by other institutional support (original).
Bembridge, T.J. (author), Tshikesho, D.R. (author), and Bembridge: Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Fort Hare; Tshikesho: Professional Agricultural Officer, Namibia Ministry of Agriculture, Owambo, Namibia
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1992
Published:
South Africa: Pretoria, South Africa : The South African Society for Agricultural Extension
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 91 Document Number: C06652
James F. Evans Collection; See C06647 for original, Owambo agricultural producers had high levels of illiteracy (44%) and 30% were over 60 years of age. Average extended family size was about 10 persons and approximately two-thirds had incomes below the minimum subsistence level, and many lacked resources for agricultural production. Communal grazing areas were overstocked and lacking in management. There was a low rate of adoption of accepted farming practices, leading to low yields and production levels. Suggestions are put forward for improving agricultural knowledge systems, including strengthening extension services and local institutions (original).
16 pages, Agricultural extension is one of the essential services that are offered by the South African Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development (DALRRD), to facilitate agricultural development in rural communities. The significance of agricultural extension is that it offers new knowledge to farmers and allows space for growth through various interventions such as agrarian transformation and improving livelihoods through the promotion of agriculture as a vehicle for ‘pro-poor’ economic growth. However, there is a concern that extension services are invisible in resource-restricted and previously marginalised rural communities. The study presented in this paper examined farmer’s experiences with extension practitioners and the impact of a lack of extension services on the development of impoverished rural communities. The researchers adopted a qualitative design wherein six focus group discussions were held to gather data from the farmers. Data were analyzed using ATLAS.ti22, a computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS). Four themes of extension services that have a direct linkage to livelihood development, namely, the impact on rural livelihoods, production challenges, marketability, and economic impact, and the invisibility of extension services, were the central point of discussion.
James F. Evans Collection, The current wind of change sweeping across in South Africa provides a unique opportunity for the new unified agricultural extension system in the country to be set up to address the needs of not only large (i.e., commercialized) farmers but also those of the numerous small (i.e., usually less commercialized) farmers, in a way that is effective, equitable and efficient. This article reviews experiences with agricultural extension during the last few decades both inside and outside Africa. Based on this review lessons are extracted that will be important to take into account in designing the appropriate agricultural extension system for South Africa. It is important for an effective agricultural extension service to have effective, interactive linkages with the other "actors" in the agricultural development process (i.e., not only farmers, but also researchers and planners). Some specific suggestions are given on how the unified agricultural extension system might be organized and implemented in the South African situation. While recognized that it is not necessarily the ideal solution, it is proposed that public agricultural extension funds should be primarily concentrated on the smaller less commercialized farmers, while the larger farmers should be primarily catered for by the private sector. (original)
James F. Evans Collection; See C06647 for original; Based on a thesis submitted to the University of Pretoria in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree M. Inst. Agrar., This study examines the influence of tribal leaders and front line extension workers on agricultural development in Swaziland. Based on a 12 percent stratified random sample including 23 chiefdomss, 46 tribal leaders and 23 front line extension workers were interviewed by using a structured interview schedule. In search of a valid measure of agricultural development, several indicators were used. The number of cattle per homestead, the saving status of homesteads and the subjective ratings by senior extension personnel were found to be invalid. Evaluated against an agricultural development index it was found that tribal leaders, although not as important as extension workers, were found to have a significant influence, especially as far as their involvement, inputs, credibility and their perceptions are concerned. These findings suggest that tribal leaders, if involved in a positive way, can contribute towards agricultural development, although more research is needed concerning, inter alia, valid criteria for measuring agricultural development and the analysis of the perceptions of subordinates (original).
15 pages, This study presents a designed ICT based extension service delivery system for the sugar industry of Eswatini. The model is an improvement of the current system and it presents a delivery system that is void of many limitations. This model emanates from findings of a survey which involved all smallholder sugarcane farmers (N=172) and their extension officers (N=17). The survey investigated how information and knowledge are currently managed within the sugar industry. Basically, the model revolves around the use of mobile phones to relay information among the sugar industry stakeholders in a timely, more organised, productive and cost-effective ways, without contravention of the COVID-19 pandemic protocols. Sugarcane stakeholders can now be able to exchange information using the model without having to meet physically, which is what most of the traditional approaches required. The exchange of information can be in a form of voiced, pre-recorded information in the form of texts, audio, or audio visuals. This would go a long way in enhancing smallholder farmer’s productivity as it has the potential of empowering more rural sugarcane farmers with crucial information for improved productivity. The model has the potential to sustain itself as the participation of the stakeholders is promoted.
Limit your search
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)✖[remove]10
