Agricultural Extension and Rural Resource Management

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/10413/6536

The Agricultural Extension and Rural Resource Management (AERRM) academic programme is designed to build the capacity of extension services through the provision of training and education that is relevant to the urgent issues facing agricultural and rural development. The programme offers a powerful combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills in agricultural extension, rural development, project management, agricultural production and farm economics and management. The programme follows a challenging teaching and learning approach as well as a fresh approach to the theory and practice of agricultural extension. Agrometeo

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Aligning vision and action of a landcare ethos through systematic intervention : the case of the Farmer Support Group.
(2004) Rudd, Meghan O'Neal.; Salomon, Monique Louise.
The present context of community based natural resource management is characterized by multiple stakeholder involvement, a situation that presents challenges in aligning vision for common action. A 'systemic intervention' involved the staff and stakeholders of the Farmer Support Group, a non-profit rural development organization based in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The 'creative design of methods' guided inquiry in aligning vision of a Landcare ethos amongst the organization and their stakeholders, and in directing action toward the vision. Critical Systems Thinking is outlined as the framework in which the intervention methodology is encompassed. The importance of applying a broad range of environmental education methods to Landcare is established through drawing from present debates and contexts in environmental education and community based natural resource management. The 'organization as community' approach to organizational learning and development is highlighted as a means of creating synergy of purpose across staff and stakeholder boundaries. The intervention's methodology consisted of three phases: drawing out perspectives, forming a common vision in a mission statement, and developing action plans based on the mission statement. Outcomes included: identification of three schools of thought that drove perspectives on the role of environmental education in natural resource management strategies, formation of the FSG Landcare Ethos Mission Statement, which was inclusive of all stakeholder perspectives, and integration of the mission statement into FSG projects through action plans. The intervention found that aligning staff members and stakeholders in common vision and action towards developing a Landcare ethos could be accomplished through a blend of environmental education approaches that facilitate sustainable decision making by building capacity in individuals and communities in a participatory and locally relevant manner that is attentive to predominant perspectives and adaptive to change.
Evaluation of nutritional, chemotherapeutic and educational approaches to manage gastrointestinal nematodes and improve small-scale goat farming.
(2007) Vatta, Adriano Francis.; Rijkenberg, Fredericus Hermanus Johannes.; Worth, Steven Hugh.; Harrison, Leslie J. S.
Small-scale goat farmers from south-western KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, identified gastrointestinal helminths, dry-season feed scarcity and poor reproductive performance as major production constraints and highlighted the paucity of information on goat health and management. The research and extension processes adopted to address these problems comprised on-station experimentation, followed by on-farm validation combined with the participatory dissemination of both study findings and relevant information on goat health care. The approach included the use of the FAMACHA© system to assess anaemia, a characteristic symptom of infection with the gastrointestinal nematode, Haemonchus contortus (Rudolphi, 1803). On-station experimentation indicated that urea-molasses block supplementation during the dry, winter season was a cost-effective option. Unfortunately, when tested on-farm, the value of such supplementation proved inconclusive, possibly due to low block consumption and further research into alternative and palatable protein supplements for goats is suggested. However, tactical anthelmintic treatment with ivermectin effectively reduced faecal egg counts and is recommended, as is concurrent symptomatic anthelmintic treatment, as determined by the FAMACHA© system, since this practice appeared to improve reproductive capacity. Investigations to better adapt the FAMACHA© system to goats is, however, recommended. A flexible training framework was developed with the collaboration of the farmers, providing them with advice on goat health and management. This ‘hands-on’ approach encompassed regular meetings geared to the farmers’ current expertise and exploited the on-farm experimentation as a training vehicle. The process nurtured local farmer ‘champions’, strengthened the extension skills of researchers and technicians and incorporated the development of a Goatkeepers’ animal health care manual. Indications are that the use of such an approach has considerable potential for the development of goat farming. Moreover this process, which is relatively novel for South Africa, is equally applicable to other similar agro-ecological zones. Access to veterinary and agricultural inputs in areas where communal grazing is practised could be vastly improved and a case is made for universities, researchers, extensionists and farmers to collaborate to encourage the long-term sustainable development of these communities.
Examining of knowledge management systems applied by extension workers supportive community gardens in the uMgungundlovu District Municipality.
(2011) Ndoro, Jorine Tafadzwa.; Van der Merwe, Marietjie.
South Africa as other African countries has not been spared from the rural poverty. The South African government is trying to address this problem through various government departments. One such ministry trying to address rural poverty is the Ministry of Agriculture, working together with the provincial Ministries of Agriculture in different provinces. The provision of appropriate agricultural extension services is regarded as a tool that may be used to address rural poverty and development in South Africa’s rural areas. Appropriate extension services will depend on the knowledge management system applied by the organisation making it innovative and responsive to the needs of the farmers. The objective of this research was therefore to identify knowledge management systems applied by extension workers to support community garden farmers in the uMgungundlovu District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. To address the objective, qualitative research methods, namely focus group discussion and semi-structured interviews, were used. In this research, it was evident that the extension workers were not efficiently managing knowledge within their department, among themselves as well as among the farmers. The extension workers have potential knowledge management methods in place, such as departmental meetings. However, the extension workers’ practices do not capture the true essence of knowledge management. There is no evidence that knowledge gained by extension workers during meetings and informal discussions in the organisation is translated into learning, which could lead to the development of new knowledge by the extension workers. The extension workers claimed that they are using appropriate methods to learn from the farmers and to share knowledge with them. However, the farmers do not believe that the extension workers make use of any methods to encourage knowledge sharing and learning. It is thus evident that extension workers do not integrate knowledge gained from the farmers into the improvement of their own agricultural extension practices. Agricultural extension organisations therefore need to adopt methods that encourage learning, reflection and engagement with the knowledge gained from the organisation and the farmers for real knowledge management to take place. This, in essence, will lead to the creation, sharing, utilization, absorption and transformation of knowledge.
Investigation of marketing of small-scale peanut agribusinesses in the Vulamehlo District, Southern KwaZulu-Natal.
(2008) Sonjica, Ivy.; Green, Jannette Maryann.
The main objective of the study was to investigate the marketing strategies needed for the development of a peanut agribusiness for small-scale farmers producing peanuts in the Vulamehlo District, southern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). The study was part of the extension programme of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs (KZNDAEA). Another aim of the study was to examine the market requirements for peanuts purchased from Vulamehlo farmers in relation to the processing and sale of peanuts and whether or not market outlets for peanut products in KZN were available. In addition, current links between farmers, peanut processors, agents and retailers were to determine, if the marketing of peanut butter produced by small-scale farmers could be improved. Small-scale farmers were targeted because they play an important role in rural areas for community development and for poverty alleviation and also to generate income. There is little research on small-scale agribusinesses. Small-scale farmers have unreliable supply chains and markets. The study was conducted between May and November 2005. The data for the development of agribusiness for small-scale farmers in the Vulamehlo district were gathered from four wards of Vulamehlo: Mkhunya, Qiko, Mzimlilo and Mazabangwane. Questionnaires, a focus group discussion and observation were used to collect data from farmers and informal processors of peanut butter. Interviews were conducted with informal traders, formal traders and a formal peanut butter processor, to collect information about their marketing of peanut products. Six peanut producing farmers’ associations out of ten were randomly selected from the list of farmers’ associations in the Vulamehlo District. Details were obtained from the Department of Agriculture office. The study found that the marketing requirements needing to be met by small-scale farmers include availability of adaptable certified peanut seeds, appropriate tools and equipments for cultivation, reliable supply of raw material, grading and testing of level of aflatoxin in peanuts, knowledge of processing regulation to food safety and hygiene, proper business and management skills and relevant technology and marketing information. The study revealed that there were no seed companies around Vulamehlo sold peanut seeds and there were no commercial peanut-producing farmers in KZN to assist small-scale farmers. Farmers were using manual tools for the peanut production process. This limited production and expansion and lowered the yield. Constant supply may be a problem for the business processing enterprises. The markets for Vulamehlo peanut producing farmers were informal and insecure. The peanut butter co-operative lacked processing equipment, processing know-how, energy-saving technology and marketing information. It is recommended that developing agribusiness linkages with suppliers, traders, farmers and processors would improve the small-scale farmers’ negotiating skills. The KZNDAEA should improve links with large-scale farmers, traders, suppliers and processors, in order to obtain more information on peanut production. Contamination, especially by aflatoxin, during the processing of peanut products should be eliminated.
Provincial Department of Agriculture extension services and the needs of women's clubs in relation to departmental policies and practices in Hlanganani district, KwaZulu-Natal.
(2002) Ndlela, Rejoice Nomusa.; Green, Jannette Maryann.; Hendriks, Sheryl Lee.
The purpose of this study was to compare the needs of women's clubs to the services offered by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs (KZNDAEA) at Hlanganani district. This study forms part of extension programme planning for the districts and it should feed into the management and policy making systems of the KZNDAEA to enable appropriate extension service provision that will help improve the operation of women's clubs. The surveys were conducted between May 1999 and August 2000. Four hundred and eighty five (485) women from thirty seven (37) women's clubs in the Hlanganani district, South East region, KwaZulu-Natal were included in the study. Questionnaires, small group discussions and observations were used to collect data from the women's clubs. To assess the services offered by the KZNDAEA, documents and reports of service provision from six districts in two agricultural regions, ie. South East and South West, were studied. Departmental policies of the National Department of Agriculture (NDA) and KZNDAEA were also reviewed to give insight into the services that the KZNDAEA should provide. The services provided were compared to the needs identified by the women's clubs of Hlanganani district. There were differences in the interpretation of policies by different KZNDAEA regions. The main activity in the districts served by KZNDAEA was generally community gardens. KZNDAEA tries to reach too many women's clubs with very limited resources, resulting in few KZNDAEA visits per club. The study revealed that while the main problem facing the women's clubs was lack of empowerment, the clubs themselves perceived lack of equipment to be the main problem. Women identified their training needs as being sewing, cookery and baking courses, motivated by the desire to increase incomes. KZNDAEA service provision did not meet women's clubs expressed needs for training, organisation and empowerment. It is recommended that districts should concentrate on effectively serving fewer women's clubs. KZNDAEA needs to review its current service delivery, perhaps pilot changed service delivery on a smaller number of clubs to focus on efficient and appropriate services to meet the needs of women. This research was on the needs of women as groups in women's clubs. Further research should focus on the needs of rural women as individuals rather than groups which are the main clients of the KZNDAEA if this Department is to deliver appropriate services. Forums or workshops involving different agricultural regions should be held where departmental policies are reviewed, communicated and interpreted in order to ensure uniformity in their interpretation and implementation. It is also recommended that KZNDAEA should look at ways of providing women's clubs with equipment and materials at least on a once off basis instead of providing physical structures only.

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