African Journals Online
South African Journal of Agricultural Extension

Volume 28, 1999
Abstracts

Institutional structures for participation, empowerment and ownership in agricultural and rural development
Duvel, G.H. 1-11

Abstract: In promoting development which is consistent with the widely accepted principles of helping towards self-help, self-determination, empowerment, etc. the question of institutional structures that can facilitate this, becomes relevant. With this in mind an organisational framework is proposed which provides for an institutional linkage between the rural community and the development agent(s). Essential aspects of this organisational model are that the community or sub-communities (e.g. rural villages or farmers' associations) are represented in a single mouthpiece functioning as an overarching umbrella organisation taking responsibility for development, initiating and commissioning programs and development actions and co-ordinating them. Subordinate to the single co-ordinating body, are the various programme committees with a predominantly operational function. They are commissioned by the central council to plan and carry out, invariably with the assistance of a development agent, identified development priorities. The implementation of this model, designed for both commercial and subsistence farming situations, requires adaptations to situation-specific circumstances, especially in terms of the compromise to be found between a practical ward size and the number of sub-communities that can be effectively consolidated into a cohesive community coinciding with it. Other aspects include the degree to which existing institutions can be used, the direction of institution building and the nature of community representation and participation.

The compatibility between extension aims of staff and their organisation: implications for management
Botha, C.A.J.Stevens, J.B.Steyn, G.J. 12-31

Abstract: It is imperative for an organisation to have a basic understanding of the reasons for its existence, which describe its aims or vision. These aims must be known and shared among employees, since they give direction and meaning to them. This pilot investigation was done to investigate the compatibility between extension aims of extension staff and those of their employer. It shows that only 50 percent of respondents have an acceptable understanding of the official aims (vision), and that none of the components of the official vision has sufficient compatibility with the perceptions of staff. Furthermore it was found that the internal compatibility of respondents' aims is insufficient, and for unknown reasons there was no overlap of respondents' aims with the most important issues of the official vision. It became evident that staff members were suffering from high levels of frustration that could be linked to being unaware of and not knowing the official vision. The implications of these findings are that management should immediately give serious attention to the matter, and as a first step should investigate the causes of this problem. Secondly, management should share its vision and imprint it with all staff, after which it should empower staff to take steps to reach the vision. This may help towards breaking the unacceptable levels of frustration by staff and to align the perceptions of staff with the official aims of the organisation.

The importance of opinion leaders in agricultural production among male and female farmers of Kasenge Parish in the Mukono District of Uganda
Adupa, J.Duvel, G.H. 32-44

Abstract: The paper makes an assessment of the importance of opinion leaders in farming in three rural villages of Uganda. The basic premise is that peasant farmers in Uganda, particularly the women farmers do not have adequate access to extension services due to, amongst others, the wide change agent to client ratio. In view of these problems, the role of opinion leaders is important and justifies being investigated. Using different ways of assessment this paper compares opinion leaders, who were sometimes referred to as fellow farmers, with other sources of information. The fellow farmer is identified to be a relatively more important source of information than the radio and the extension agent for both the male and female farmers. The female farmers were found to attach relatively more importance to the male opinion leader than the female opinion leader.

Accountability of extension education in the global arena
Richardson, J.G. 45-61

Abstract: Multiple facets of an accountability system are addressed. Demands by the public and users for extension program relevance is now required. The primary focus is on program impacts that have a positive influence on people's lives. Cost effectiveness and strategic planning for accountability is described as a must. Targeting audiences for accountability information with significant emphasis on using success stories for conveying program impacts is explained. Viable accountability systems are required for collecting and storing appropriate data. The development of an electronic reporting system is explained. Ultimately, a focus on the critical issues of appropriate client involvement in planning, implementing and evaluating extension programs must be combined with adequately planned and proactive accountability functions to assure that needed support for extension programs remains viable.

A comparative study of two agricultural extension approaches in Dodoma Region, Tanzania
Mollel, N.Antipas, U. 62-76

Abstract: The study compares two extension approaches; Sasakawa Global 2000 and the Training and Visit (T & V) as implemented in the field in Dodoma region Tanzania. Salient features of each approach are described and their strengths and weaknesses are revealed including the implications of having two extension approaches in one area. It is recommended that the successful elements of the approaches be combined to optimize program effectiveness and efficiency and beneficiaries should be involved in program decisions.

Intentions regarding fencing of communal grazing areas for facilitating better management
Sebina, N.V.Duvel, G.H. 77-92

Abstract: There is a belief in Botswana that fencing of the current communal grazing areas as advocated by the national policy on agricultural development (1991) can be a step towards addressing the environmental and economic problems associated with the degradation of natural rangelands. Findings from the survey conducted amongst a random sample of 132 stock farmers on different types of ranches in the Southern Region of Botswana indicate that various perceptions and needs represent significant constraints in the fencing of the current communal grazing areas. The incompatibility of fencing and the resulting ranch types and associated management possibilities with respondent's culturally conditioned needs, is probably the major obstacle.

Small-scale farming and extension in South Africa's Northern Province
Hedden-Dunkhorst, B.Mollel, N.M. 93-107

Abstract: Small-scale agriculture in South Africa's Northern Province varies significantly. Farmers have different objectives, they face different environments, and are involved in various farm enterprises. This situation issues challenges to institutions which offer support services to smallholders, particularly the extension service. The paper provides an entry point to discuss extension for small scale farmers in the Northern Province by (1) offering a descriptive analysis of small scale farming system and (2) by trying to quantify the impact of support services on farmer's performance using statistical analyses. The results show that credit and grants seem to contribute to agricultural performance in some areas, while no significant coefficients could be estimated for extension. The latter finding corresponds with a more qualitative assessment of government extension by other authors. However, in the Northern Province new approaches to smallholder extension are currently developed, tested and implemented. With their focus on improving the relevance of extension advice through farmer's participation and staff training, these approaches could contribute to a significant improvement of the impact of extension. Yet, the introduction of an appropriate monitoring and evaluation component to assure impact assessment and the necessary adaptation of the new system is strongly recommended.

The need for changes in veld management technology generation and dissemination
Botha, C.A.J.Stevens, J.B. 108-126

Abstract: Veld deterioration in South Africa has been reported since 1775. Agricultural researchers and extension workers have since tried a variety of ways to address this problem and they came up with different explanations for veld deterioration and reasons for the non-adoption by farmers of recommended veld management practices. Social science in general has gone through several phases that represent three distinct paradigm shifts. This paper shows that similar trends are apparent in veld management research and extension. Veld management technologies are firstly shown to be inappropriate for the needs of farmers. For all practical purposes farmers cannot implement those technologies. It has also become evident that veld management technologies have not been scientifically verified. Both veld management research and extension are at cross roads and more participatory approaches by both fields are recommended to address the problem. Veld management extension workers and researchers and farmers must unify their efforts in addressing the complex issues concerning veld deterioration.