Towards developing a pluralistic agricultural extension system: the case of Vhembe district of Limpopo province, South Africa.
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Date
2022
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Abstract
Agricultural extension is a crucial component of agricultural development, food security
improvement and rural livelihood enhancement. However, many farmers are constrained by
extension systems that are difficult to access or lack quality services that utilise modern
approaches, technologies and training methods. The rationale of this study is to look at the efforts
to define and disseminate good practices, strategies and approaches to establish efficient
agricultural extension services. This study used a quantitative research design to collect data from
319 respondents. A multiple linear regression model analysed factors influencing smallholder
farmers’ performance under pluralistic and non-pluralistic settings. The study findings indicated
that credit access (p<0.05), access to public extension (p<0.1), extension feedback (p<0.01) and
transparency and accountability (p<0.05) negatively influenced the performance of the
smallholder farmers in the study area. A binary probit regression model was used to analyse factors
influencing the perception of implementing a pluralistic extension service providers system among
smallholder farmers. The findings from the study indicated that age (p<0.05) negatively influenced
the probability of implementing a pluralistic extension system among smallholder farmers in the
study area. The binary probit regression model was used to analyse the determinants of smallholder
farmers’ willingness to pay for extension services. The study's findings indicated that marital status
(p<0.1) negatively influenced the probability of smallholder farmers’ willingness to pay for
extension services in the study area. The multinomial logistic regression model was used to analyse
factors influencing a sustainable extension service system among smallholder farmers. The farm
size (p<0.1), extension feedback length (p<0.01), and effectiveness of extension (p<0.1) negatively
influenced a sustainable extension service system among smallholder farmers in the study area.
Gender (p<0.1), household size (p<0.1), willing to pay for extension service (p<0.01), the
difference in output (p<0.1) and annual income (p<0.01) positively influenced a sustainable
extension service system among smallholder farmers in the study area. The study encourages
collaborations among public and private stakeholders, researchers, extension officers and rural
development agencies to implement a cost-effective pluralistic extension system that meets the
end users' or clients' (smallholder farmers) agricultural/ farming needs.
Description
Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.