South African extension agent competencies and attitudes for the future: Results of a survey
Extension and advisory services are key to sustainable agriculture, resilient livelihoods, and inclusive growth. In South Africa, there is need for new training, skills, and attitudes by extension staff to meet the demands of the changing sector. The purpose was to find out South African extension a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Informe técnico |
| Language: | Inglés |
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International Food Policy Research Institute
2021
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143080 |
| _version_ | 1855532001391542272 |
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| author | Davis, Kristin E. von Maltitz, Lindie de Bruyn, Melanie Van Niekerk, Johan Ngomane, Tsakani |
| author_browse | Davis, Kristin E. Ngomane, Tsakani Van Niekerk, Johan de Bruyn, Melanie von Maltitz, Lindie |
| author_facet | Davis, Kristin E. von Maltitz, Lindie de Bruyn, Melanie Van Niekerk, Johan Ngomane, Tsakani |
| author_sort | Davis, Kristin E. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Extension and advisory services are key to sustainable agriculture, resilient livelihoods, and inclusive growth. In South Africa, there is need for new training, skills, and attitudes by extension staff to meet the demands of the changing sector. The purpose was to find out South African extension agent competency levels, attitudes and mindsets, especially toward digital extension, to be relevant for the future. Using a population survey, we targeted all public and non-public extension staff from every province using an online and paper-based questionnaire. We examined existing competencies, new needs, and differences in attitudes and competencies by factors such as education, employer, age, and gender. We created an index of “digital readiness” and an index of “technological readiness” based on technology use and attitudes and compared by various factors such as sector, age, and gender. We find that while extension officers tend to have a good arsenal of technical skills, they are less equipped with functional skills. Several competencies and attitudes necessary for the new norms and standards for extension officers are lacking in a good proportion of respondents, such as inclusivity and empowerment. While extension staff recognize the importance of digital literacy for the future, only about half have received any training on the use of digital tools. We recommend that extension role players take a systems view to revitalize extension. For extension to perform effectively, we must go beyond skills and training. Extension departments and organizations also need a certain level of competencies, and the enabling environment should be conducive. We recommend that, in addition to rounding out the technical and functional expertise of South African extension and advisory services staff that adequate incentives and rewards are in place to ensure professionalism and motivation. |
| format | Informe técnico |
| id | CGSpace143080 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publishDateRange | 2021 |
| publishDateSort | 2021 |
| publisher | International Food Policy Research Institute |
| publisherStr | International Food Policy Research Institute |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1430802025-11-06T06:55:25Z South African extension agent competencies and attitudes for the future: Results of a survey Davis, Kristin E. von Maltitz, Lindie de Bruyn, Melanie Van Niekerk, Johan Ngomane, Tsakani advisory services attitudes agricultural extension training technology Extension and advisory services are key to sustainable agriculture, resilient livelihoods, and inclusive growth. In South Africa, there is need for new training, skills, and attitudes by extension staff to meet the demands of the changing sector. The purpose was to find out South African extension agent competency levels, attitudes and mindsets, especially toward digital extension, to be relevant for the future. Using a population survey, we targeted all public and non-public extension staff from every province using an online and paper-based questionnaire. We examined existing competencies, new needs, and differences in attitudes and competencies by factors such as education, employer, age, and gender. We created an index of “digital readiness” and an index of “technological readiness” based on technology use and attitudes and compared by various factors such as sector, age, and gender. We find that while extension officers tend to have a good arsenal of technical skills, they are less equipped with functional skills. Several competencies and attitudes necessary for the new norms and standards for extension officers are lacking in a good proportion of respondents, such as inclusivity and empowerment. While extension staff recognize the importance of digital literacy for the future, only about half have received any training on the use of digital tools. We recommend that extension role players take a systems view to revitalize extension. For extension to perform effectively, we must go beyond skills and training. Extension departments and organizations also need a certain level of competencies, and the enabling environment should be conducive. We recommend that, in addition to rounding out the technical and functional expertise of South African extension and advisory services staff that adequate incentives and rewards are in place to ensure professionalism and motivation. 2021-11-30 2024-05-22T12:11:48Z 2024-05-22T12:11:48Z Report https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143080 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Davis, Kristin E.; von Maltitz, Lindie; de Bruyn, Melanie; van Niekerk, Johan; and Ngomane, Tsakani. 2021. South African extension agent competencies and attitudes for the future: Results of a survey. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.134855. |
| spellingShingle | advisory services attitudes agricultural extension training technology Davis, Kristin E. von Maltitz, Lindie de Bruyn, Melanie Van Niekerk, Johan Ngomane, Tsakani South African extension agent competencies and attitudes for the future: Results of a survey |
| title | South African extension agent competencies and attitudes for the future: Results of a survey |
| title_full | South African extension agent competencies and attitudes for the future: Results of a survey |
| title_fullStr | South African extension agent competencies and attitudes for the future: Results of a survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | South African extension agent competencies and attitudes for the future: Results of a survey |
| title_short | South African extension agent competencies and attitudes for the future: Results of a survey |
| title_sort | south african extension agent competencies and attitudes for the future results of a survey |
| topic | advisory services attitudes agricultural extension training technology |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143080 |
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