The rendering of extension and advisory services by the Northern Cape's Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to the province's farmers will come under the spotlight at an Extension Indaba of 1 and 2 October 2009, in Upington. Departmental MEC Gothatamang Shushu is to address a wide range of stakeholders who will participate in deliberations aimed at assisting the department to revolutionise its service delivery to farmers.
The participants at the Indaba include speakers from sector related non-governmental organisations, international and national professional bodies such as the International Centre for Development Orientated Research in Agriculture (ICRA) and South African Society for Agricultural Extension (SASAE). The invited farmers are expected to be very much at home with topics such as improving extension support to smallholder farmers and extension and advisory services in the new era. Lessons learned will come through case studies from Kenya and Indonesia.
Meanwhile, the MEC will also launch the Extension Green Book which will serve as a catalyst in promoting professionalism and accountability on the part of the department's extension officers. The extension officers will in their consultations utilise the Farmers Green Book which seeks of the farmer to rate the quality of service rendered to him/her.
Enquiries:
Thabo Mothibi
Cell: 083 255 8840
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
30 September 2009
