Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has reaffirmed government’s unwavering commitment to agricultural extension services, highlighting their pivotal role in fostering inclusive rural development, ensuring food security, and facilitating vital knowledge transfer.
Steenhuisen made the commitment at the centenary celebration of the establishment of formal agricultural extension services in the country.
The Minister also officially opened the 58th annual conference of the South African Society for Agricultural Extension (SASAE) and Agricultural Extension Week, currently underway in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.
This historic centenary coincides with the inaugural South African Agricultural Extension Week and the 58 Conference of the South African Society for Agricultural Extension.
The annual conference of SASAE aims to address critical issues in agricultural extension and development.
This year’s conference is held under the theme: “Leveraging innovation and technology to enhance Extension and Advisory Services for sustainable agriculture, improved livelihoods and food security.”
The week-long event includes field visits to eight diverse agricultural projects, ranging from rooftop urban farming at Morningside Mall, to hemp farming, egg production, and both crop and livestock farming, amongst others.
During the conference, delegates will also engage with scientific presentations delivered by extension practitioners, professors, and doctoral researchers from top South African universities, to further enhance agricultural production and intensify the national fight against hunger and food insecurity.
In his keynote address on Monday, Steenhuisen said the centenary marks not only a historic achievement since the establishment of formal extension services in South Africa in 1925, but also a “renewed commitment to ensuring that agricultural extension remains at the heart of inclusive rural development, food security, and knowledge transfer in our country.”.”
“Agriculture is the bedrock of South Africa’s economy and society. It ensures food security, supports rural livelihoods, and drives employment. However, it is the work of our extension practitioners that truly unlocks the potential of our producers, particularly smallholders who depend on support, advice, and innovation,” Steenhuisen said.
He also emphasised that extension practitioners provide practical, tailored advice that helps producers improve productivity, adopt sustainable practices, manage risks, and access markets.
The Minister underscored the critical role extension practitioners play in providing practical, tailored advice that helps producers improve productivity, adopt sustainable practices, manage risks, and access markets.
“Their role underpins the entire agricultural value chain, which contributes about 12% to the national gross domestic product (GDP). Notably, the agricultural sector grew by 15,8% in the first quarter of 2025 – a growth driven in no small part by the work done by extension practitioners.”
Support for smallholders
To enhance support for producers, particularly smallholders, Steenhuisen announced the rollout of the Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) approach, implemented in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
“This “market-oriented agriculture” model is already bearing fruit, with 18 extension officers trained in Japan last year and another 20 scheduled to depart this October. The department will also prioritise assistance to women, youth, and persons with disabilities in the agricultural sector as these groups often face the greatest barriers.
“To support this, the department will employ 260 assistant agricultural practitioners this year, strengthening its capacity to deliver extension services. The department’s Farmer Field School (FFS) initiative, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is also being expanded from its current base in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and Northern Cape,” the Minister said.
He further emphasised the need to make agriculture a career of choice for young people by showing them its breadth, “from agritech and agro-processing to entrepreneurship and policy.” – SAnews.gov.za