Extension policy dialogue workshop in Mpumalanga a great success
5 November 2012
The Mpumalanga leg of the Extension Policy Dialogue Workshops held at Badplaas Aventura on 12 October 2012 turned out to be a great success. The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) in partnership with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) are visiting all the provinces to gather inputs and contributions from the agriculture, forestry and fisheries stakeholders as part of developing a new national policy on extension and advisory services.
The workshop, with a theme: “Towards a new policy on extension for agriculture, forestry and fisheries”, was attended by representatives from organised agriculture, senior officials from the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Administration, Extension Officers, officials from the sectors of Fisheries and Forestry, DAFF, ARC, Veterinary Services and other stakeholders in the agriculture industry.
Unpacking the aims and objectives of the workshop including the policy dialogue process to delegates, DAFF’s Director for National Extension Reform, Mr Thozamile Lukhalo started by applauding Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Administration MEC Mrs KC Mashego-Dlamini’s presence, and went on to say that other Agriculture departments from the five provinces they have already visited, were unable to secure the presence of their MECs to the same workshops. Mr Lukhalo said the new policy is aimed at shaping and changing the current state of agriculture, forestry and fisheries extension in South Africa. He also announced that Phuhlisani Solutions is a service provider tasked with facilitating the development of the new policy through a research-led national policy dialogue.
Mr Lukhalo said “We are aiming at a Draft Policy Framework by the end of November 2012, that would be after we visited all nine provinces and solicited their inputs. Thereafter, we can look forward to an Extension Indaba that would be graced by the presence of DAFF Minister Tina Joemat-Peterson”. Presentations at the workshop included one from Ms Jeanette Clarke, an expert on International Extension Services, who summarised key trends that are shaping the changing extension policies and practices internationally. She focused on the diverse experiences of Brazil, India, Kenya, Denmark, China, Ethiopia and Malawi. “China for example, has the largest extension system in the world, with over a million trained staff. Over the last two decades, public sector extension there has been increasingly complemented by private sector services”. Clarke lamented.
In her keynote address, MEC Mrs KC Mashego-Dlamini called on DAFF, the ARC and Phuhlisano Solutions to ensure that the policy workshops are fruitful. “I have no doubt that this will surely bring about real change in the agriculture, fishery and forestry sectors. It is up to all of us here to ensure that this gathering is not one of those so called “talk-shops”. We are obviously willing to be part of such an initiative that is aimed at shaping the future of extension and advisory services in our country. However, I must emphasise that let us all make sure that the Policy document is realistic and its content implementable”.
It was noted at the workshop that before and after the 1994 democratic elections, the dominant perception of South African agriculture had been one of duality. The farming community was generally divided into two broad categories: the well-established large-scale farmers; and the less formal smaller-scale farmers, the majority of whom are black and materially poor. Dedicated websites www.extensionservices.za.net and www.extensionpolicy.org.za have since been established to report on the policy development process, and to provide space for people to identify and discuss key policy and implementation priorities.
Issued by: Mpumalanga Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Administration
