Professionalising Agricultural Extension in Limpopo, South Africa: Challenges, Progress and Key Competencies | Chapter 1 | Agricultural Sciences: Techniques and Innovations Vol. 3

 

The journey towards professionalism in South Africa was championed by not a single person but a collective, each one doing a part in the process. The South African Society for Agricultural Extension made some efforts by participating in the Standard Generating Body, and it further developed an extension landscape which categorised its members towards professionalism. The paper argues that professionalism also affects agricultural extension in service delivery by creating demotivated cadres in agriculture. It also provides clarification of the concept of professionalism. It draws data from researchers who did extensive work in the area of professionalism and the registration of profession, the paper seeks to achieve the following: 1) provide concrete principles of professionalism, 2) identify critical obstacles associated with professionalism, 3) review progress on efforts done to date in South Africa about professionalism in extension, 4) and highlight the qualities extensionists are expected to possess. Only three districts in Limpopo, namely Capricorn, Vhembe and Sekhukhune, participated in a sample of 30 extension officers. They were interviewed on their opinions about the skills requirements of the extension profession. The majority of the respondents were male, constituting 70 per cent and 30 per cent female.

 

The results revealed that certain skills are important to be possessed by the extension practitioners as seen by their rating: public speaking 86%, writing 72%, listening 69%, research linkages 83%, leadership,76.6%, critical thinking 63%, supervisory 70% and communication planning 83.3%. But when respondents were asked to judge themselves on the functionality of those skills, it was found wanting. The study concluded that professionalising extension and advisory practitioners in South Africa should be considered highly by all stakeholders interested in agricultural development. The study recommended that an action plan needs to be developed in order to bring or maintain a variety of competences among the extension practitioners, who should strive for excellence in order to improve service delivery.

Author(s) Details

E. M. Zwane
Centre for Rural Community Empowerment, School of Agriculture, University of Limpopo, South Africa.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/asti/v3/4902