By: Samson Mabunda & Obed Makgoale
The Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has plans to appoint 10 000 Assistant Agricultural Practitioners (AAPs) to boost the economy through the Agricultural sector.
Therefore, the (DALRRD) with the Provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development have hosted a capacity building workshop in Polokwane on 25 – 27 January 2022 to find the way forward in the matter. Suitable requirements for the AAPs were discussed intensely. It emerged that university agricultural graduates were best suited for appointment.
However, qualifications only were not enough, but they should be coupled with needed practical knowledge. It is hoped this would assist farmers produce accordingly. Representatives from Universities of Limpopo, North West, Fort Hare as well as Universities of Technology; Mangosuthu and Tshwane have committed to help train required AAPs. If necessary, they would design appropriate syllabuses thereof.
For post graduate practical training, collaboration would be made with important role-players in the sector like the Association of Veterinary and Crop Associations of South Africa (AVCASA), Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and others. Grain SA, the South African Sugar Industry and South African Poultry Association also participated in the workshop.
This step was driven by DALRRD Minister Thoko Didiza in her 2021/22 Department Budget speech on strengthening Extension and Advisory services by employing capable individual officers.
“The importance of extension services in agricultural development cannot be underplayed. In the seminars that I conducted in the nine provinces in April and May 2021, I was able to meet over 2 000 farmers and agribusiness people, and in all these seminars, there was an emphasis on the importance of extension services and the visibility of these officers. As committed by the Minister of Finance, the Department and the provinces have crafted a Strategy on the Employment of Extension Officers…,” she indicated.
North West University Professor Simon Letsoalo has welcomed the workshop as an effort of gathering institutions together to respond to the actual needs of the Agricultural Extension practice in the country.
Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development: Chief Director Lesetja Kola addressing the DALRRD AAPs capacity building workshop in Polokwane on 27 January 2022
“It gets us express our stance on the Extension deployment. It gets these institutions to pledge contribution towards uplifting Agricultural Extension practice. Farmers will get appropriate service, which is according to their needs towards optimal production and profit,” he indicated in an interview.
The AAPs recruits is also a succession plan for the mostly ageing Agricultural Extension Practitioners within the DALRRD.
Tompi Seleka College Principal: Lesley Mashiloane makes an input during the DALRRD AAPs capacity building workshop in Polokwane on 25 January 2022. |
DALRRD officials at the DALRRD AAPs capacity building workshop in Polokwane on 27 January 2022 |
Seated: 1st from left to right: Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Extension and Advisory Services Director: Melidah Makwaana with participants the DALRRD AAPs capacity building workshop in Polokwane on 27 January 2022 |
Limpopo based DALRRD Chief Director: Julius Mashapu addressing the DALRRD AAPs capacity building workshop in Polokwane on 27 January 2022. |
