James F. Evans Collection; Based on parts of an MSc (Agric) thesis by the senior author at the University of Pretoria, Farmers who are financially successful differ from their unsuccessful counterparts in management approach and decision making. Successful farmers use records for planning, they employ cash flow budgeting and analyse costs. They also avoid overtrading and are financially realistic. Unsuccessful farmers exhibit opposite traits. Successful farmers are also better decision-makers: They gather more information, use it better, re-evaluate decisions and are able to change these if necessary. Unsuccessful farmers evaluate decisions incompletely or not at all. There is not much difference in the implementation of decisions. Extensionists should concentrate in teaching farmers a frame of mind conducive to sound management (original).
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)
Botha, C.A.J. (author / Faculty of Biological and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Agricultural Economics Extension and Rural Development, University of Pretoria)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1994
Published:
South Africa
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 100 Document Number: C08425
James F. Evans Collection, Institutional restructuring of agricultural services in South Africa has become essential because of (1) significant political changes (2)the unacceptable dualistic nature of extension servicing (3) changed views on development and extension. There are several ways to describe the practice of agricultural extension. In this article the view of Axinn (1988) on the alternative approaches to extension is used to show the applicability of each approach for different extension institutions, the probability of each approach being adopted by the institutions as well as the type of farmer that each institution is likely to service. (original)
