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Remodeling of Advisory Services in SA: Norms & Standards

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. Background. Agricultural sector in the 1 st decade of democracy:

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Remodeling of Advisory Services in SA: Norms & Standards

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

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

  10. Institutional arrangements for service delivery in Agricultural sector Regional Office Agricultural Development Centre Local municipality Farmer forum Tribal authority Councilors Farmer groups, individuals DoA National Farmers’ Union 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. District municipality Regional forum 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

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

  14. Thank You for your attention!

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