1. Remodeling of Advisory Services in SA: Norms & Standards
Programme: Agricultural Production
Directorate: Scientific Research & Development
Mr R J Sebola
Presentation to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee
7 February 2005

2. Background Agricultural sector in the 1st decade of democracy:
Fundamental policy changes
White Paper on Agriculture (1995) guided by BATAT transformation imperatives
BATAT recognized total reorientation of agricultural advisory systems;
Amalgamation of separate services into a single system in all provinces
Lack of impact assessments of these developments on the extension services and its ability to improve agricultural production
Sector Strategic Plan (2001) … “a united and prosperous agricultural sector” - Increased agric productivity, competitiveness, agri-business information
Role of extension and advisory services?

3. From Extension to Advisory Services
Limitation of traditional concept of ‘Extension’ to few role players, mostly extension agents;
Many role players (i.e. Animal health technicians, Vets, economists, Subject matter specialist,etc);
Outcomes of commissioned study on Extension Services in RSA (2003):
Collapsed or non-existent extension services
Inadequate resources
Incompetent officials
Lack of policy guidelines at national level

4. Why norms and standards
To guide the agricultural sector in the provision of services;
To enable participants and clients to acquire the necessary skills and technologies for efficient and productive farming;
To clarify and differentiate roles and responsibilities among all role players in advisory services;
To allow for effective monitoring and evaluation of compliance to set standards for service provision in the sector

5. Objectives
To improve service delivery, the efficiency, relevance and cost effectiveness of publicly funded agricultural advisory services;
To set a uniform system for measuring the impact of service delivery through extension and advisory services,

6. Context of support
Provision of extension and advisory services should prioritize specific government programmes that respond to the urgent priority issues such as:
food security,
poverty alleviation,
food safety,
economic growth, and
environmental conservation

7. Norms and standards - Guiding Principles
The implementation of advisory services will be guided by ff principles:
Demand-driven
Relevance
Equity
Sound and cooperative governance
Effective monitoring and evaluation
Human and social capital development
Participatory
Sustainability
Priority focused
Accountability
Batho-Pele principles

8. Clients and support to farmers
Agr macrosystem within consumer economic environm
Farm & Business level activity
Household FS & Subsistence
The Hungry & Vulnerable
Agricultural Support
Information &Knowledge Management
Technical & adv. assistance
Financing mechanisms
Training & capacity bldng
Mkting & business dev.
On- & off-farm infrastructure
6 Pillars

9. Norms and Standards: Focus areas
Extension approaches
Mentorship
Funding
Human resource
Communication
Institutional mechanisms

10. District municipality Local Extension office
Institutional arrangements for service delivery in Agricultural sector
Farmer forum
Agricultural Development Centre
Local municipality
Tribal authority
Councilors
Regional Office
Farmer groups, individuals
National Farmers’ Union
DoA
MINMEC
ITCA
NARF
PDA
Provincial Farmer’s Unions
ARC, Private Sector,
Academia, Service providers, other line departments, donors, producer organizations
Agric.Dev. Institutes
SETAs, etc.
Regional forum
District municipality
Local Extension office
Line of authority
Line of farmer representation
Line of service facilitation, liaison and consultation

11. Extension Officer: Farmer Ratios
demand for advisory and /or extension services varies according to the nature of the farming practices.
figures are a rough indication and estimates of what the extension: farmer ratios should be, but the local conditions, circumstance and realities must dictate the application of these ratios.

12. Proposed Extension Officer: Farmers Ratios
Scale of operation
Nature of operation/farming
Crops
Livestock
Mixed
Subsistence and household
1:400
1:500
Semi-commercial
1:250
1:300
Market oriented and large scale commercial

13. Communication implications
Workshops (national and provincial);
Distribution of printed material through public institutions;
Accessible through the DoA’s website address

14. Thank You
for your attention!