Tomazile, L - Extension Policy Development in South Africa Presentation given at the GFRAS side event on Rural Extension Policy, Manila 2012_09_25. More info at http://www.meas-extension.org/meas-offers/best-practice/policy

1. Towards National Policy on
Extension & Advisory Services for DAFF (SA)
3rd GFRAS Annual Meeting
25 September 2012
Manila
Mr.TOZAMILE LUKHALO
DIRECTOR: NATIONAL EXTENSION REFORM
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,FORESTRY AND FISHERIES
PRIVATE BAG X250
PRETORIA
0001
TEL: +27 12 319 6524
Cell: +27 83 500 1874T
EMAIL: TozamileL@daff.gov.za

2. Outline
• Background
• Mission
• Purpose
• Objectives
• Key stakeholders
• Project phasing
• Phase 1: Research outputs
• Phase 2: Research-led Policy dialogue
• Engagement strategies
• Independent Peer Review
• Provincial policy dialogue
• Role of Provinces
• Phase 3 - 5

3. BACKGROUND
• DAFF is embarking on a consultative process of creating
a national policy on extension and advisory services,
to bring about real change in the agricultural, fishery and
forestry sectors.
• DAFF has appointed a team of consultants through funds
made available from Ford Foundation.
• Appointed consultants: Phuhlisani Solutions who have
long experience in land and rural development initiatives

4. Mission
To facilitate policy dialogue between public
sector officials, private sector actors, NGOs
and organisations representing producers in
the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors.
In order to…..
Develop a draft policy framework on extension
and advisory services…

5. Purpose
…within which services to farmers,
and incentives for them, support
wise decision-making about the
use of resources for agricultural
production, fishing and forestry.

6. Objectives
 To review and reform effectiveness of extension in terms
of delivery structures and the relevance of its advice and
support.
 To frame and shape the content, targeting & co-ordination
of extension and advisory services according to the needs
and ambitions of primary producers
 To promote and facilitate harmonised public and private
sector extension & advisory services that operate on a
common set of principles across the entire sector
 To guide and regulate the provision of extension and
advisory services in the country.

7. Key Stakeholders
 The consultative process will engage with:
 The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
(DAFF)
 The Agricultural Research Council (ARC)
 Provincial Departments of Agriculture
 Other relevant government departments - DRDLR
 Key role players in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries
sectors
▪ Organised agriculture, fisheries and forestry
▪ Private sector, NGOs, CBOs,
▪ Smallholder farmers, fishers, forestry enterprises

8. Development Organised agriculture, forestry Universities
agencies and fisheries,
co-ops, commodity
organisations, input, equipment
Research and veterinary suppliers, banks, Agricultural
institutes retailers... colleges
Climate,
SETAs ASAFA, NAFU, USAAA, land reform environment, disaster
beneficiaries, small scale forestry, risk
artisanal fishers, land NGOs,
Extension and DRDLR staff,
municipalities...
Land, health and welfare NGOs CBOs, church groups,
women’s associations, local farmers associations, micro
finance agencies, natural resource users on the commons
Extension and DRDLR staff, municipalities...

9. Phase 1: Inception Extension status quo
High level
International trends
implementation plan
Policy options
Phase 5: Phase 2:
Indicative Research led policy
implementation plan dialogue
Extension and advisory Reports of F2F and
services policy approved online dialogue on policy
Stakeholder engagement
by DEXCO options
online and f2f
Phase 4: Phase 3:
Comments and Draft policy
amendments framework

10. Phase 1: Research outputs
International trends in extension
• In depth overview of global extension trends
• Country case studies on Brazil, China, Denmark,
Ethiopia, India, Kenya and Malawi
The state of extension in South Africa
• History of the evolution of extension in South Africa
• Analysis of post 1994 trends and issues

11. Phase 1: Research outputs
 Studies on forestry and fisheries and
current extension functions/needs
 Summary discussion paper
 Captures key issues from international and
local research studies
 Identifies policy questions and options for
South African policy dialogue
 Present policy options

12. Phase 2
Research-led policy dialogue
A consultative process:
 Key objective is to engage diverse range of
stakeholders in the policy dialogue and formulation
process
 Agriculture
 Forestry
 Fisheries
 …Using the Summary Discussion Paper

13. Engagement strategies
• Online discussion forum
• Dedicated website
• Twitter stream
• Independent peer review
• Provincial policy dialogue workshops

14. Low cost media Raising the media
campaigns profile
Emails to stakeholders
Data base of 1400
individuals and
organisations
Twitter alerts,
Bulk SMS
Dedicated website www.extensionpolicy.za.net
Public front page with article comment function
Registration required to comment on policy options and participate in
online discussions

15. Dedicated website
www.extensionpolicy.za.net

16. Twitter stream

17. Independent Peer Review
Reference Group comprised of South African and
international extension experts
 Provide an oversight in the development process of
National Extension Policy for DAFF.

 Provide advice, practical direction and guidance on the
Policy Framework.

 Read and provide commentary on the discussion
document (with policy options for SA).

18. Independent Peer Review
 Reference Group comprised of South African
and international extension experts
Contribute to and monitor online discussion
forums on the National Extension Policy
website (www.extensionpolicy.za.net)
Analyse key policy issues arising from
national policy dialogue sessions.

19. Independent Peer Review
 Reference Group comprised of South African
and international extension experts
Participate in closed online discussions.
Attend reference group meetings.
Contribute to the development of the
Implementation Plan.

21. Provincial Policy dialogue workshop
Date Province City
Tuesday 2nd October Western Cape, Cape Town
Wednesday Free State Bloemfontein
3rd October
Thursday Northern Cape Kimberley
4th October
Tuesday 9th October Eastern Cape East London
Wednesday KZN Durban
10th October
Thursday Mpumalanga Nelspruit
11th October
Tuesday Limpopo Polokwane
16th October
Wednesday Gauteng Pretoria
17th October
Thursday North West Mafikeng
18th October
Provincial policy dialogue workshops

22. Provincial Policy Dialogue Workshops
Who should attend?
• Relevant Departmental Staff (especially
extension)
• Stakeholders in Agricultural, forestry and fishery
sectors in the province:
– Farmers, fishers, forest users
– Land reform beneficiaries
– Organised agriculture
– CBOs, NGOs
– Agribusiness

23. Why Provinces????
• Extension practitioners are based in the
provinces.
• Deep knowledge of local conditions and
particular challenges.
• Link to local agriculture, forestry and fisheries
stakeholders for consultative processes.
• Provincial support for and involvement in the
policy development process is essential.

24. Policy dialogue workshop agenda
• One day workshops will:
– Provide brief background to the policy
development process
– Review international trends in extension
• Discuss lessons for South Africa
– Review the state of extension in South
Africa and discuss policy options

25. Policy dialogue workshop agenda
cont…
 Review the state of extension in South Africa
and discuss key questions
▪ What should be the future role of the public sector
extension service in South Africa?
▪ What should be the priority focus of extension in the
agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors?
▪ What role should the private sector, NGOs and
producer organisations play in providing extension and
advisory services?
▪ What will extension and advisory services look like in
2030?

26. Role of the Provinces
• Inform and involve all extension staff
• Encourage them to participate in online and face to face
policy dialogue
• Select key officials to participate in provincial workshops
• Help publicise the process with key provincial stakeholders
– Organised agriculture, NGOs, smallholder farmers, land
reform beneficiaries, municipalities etc
• Assist DAFF to identify local stakeholders and ensure that
provincial workshops are well attended
• Assign a senior management official to monitor and support
the policy dialogue and development process

27. Documenting Provincial Policy dialogue
workshops
• All workshops will be documented
• Reports will be made available
through the website
• Workshops will help shape policy
agenda and identify key issues which
policy must address

28. Phase 3: Draft Policy Framework
• Based on the research reviews and the
policy dialogue workshops a draft policy
will be developed by the end of November
2012.

29. Phase 4: Comment & Finalisation
• Draft policy will be circulated for comment
from all stakeholders.
• Final policy document which incorporates
revisions will be presented to DEXCO for
discussion and approval.

30. Phase 5: Implementation plan
 High level implementation plan to roll
out the policy

31. Subject Specialists
Team member Function and focus area
Dr Stephen Turner Review of trends in international extension
Independent consultant at Stephen Turner Ltd, (4 years) formerly senior consultant at
Centre for Development Co-operation ,Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (25 years)
Dr Steve Worth The state of agricultural extension and advisory services in SA, policy options
and review
Senior Lecturer UKZN. Teaching, research and community engagement in Agricultural
Extension and Rural Resource Management (2005-present) and Community
Resource Management (2001-2007)
Assoc Prof Mafa Hara The state of fisheries extension and advisory services, policy options and
review
PLAAS, C2 rated National Research Foundation (South Africa) researcher, 30 years
focusing on rural and
coastal communities in South and Southern Africa.
Dr Moenieba Isaacs The state of fisheries extension and advisory services, policy options and
review
PLAAS, Senior Lecturer and specialist in policy making in the small scale fisheries
sector
Jeanette Clarke The state of forestry extension and advisory services, policy options and review
Independent consultant with 25 years work experience as a researcher and consultant
with a particular emphasis on forestry in the context of poverty reduction and livelihood
security, adaptive research and extension.

32. THANK YOU