How Can We Use Farmer Field Schools to Complement the Training and Visit Approach in the Eastern Cape?

L. Mdiya; S. Zantsi; M. Aliber

doi:10.17159/2413-3221/2025/v53n4a17585

Authors

L. Mdiya University of the Free State https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2207-9261
S. Zantsi Agricultural Research Council https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9787-3913
Michael University of Fort Hare https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8739-0379

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3221/2025/v53n4a17585

Keywords:

Eastern Cape, Farmer Field Schools, Peer Learning, Smallholder Farmers, Climate Change Adaptation

Abstract

An efficient agricultural extension system is crucial for enhancing productivity, as farmers rely on accurate information to optimise resource utilisation. However, South Africa's public agricultural extension services have been criticised for inefficiency due to capacity constraints, among other challenges. While Farmer Field Schools have been successful in other countries and in one localised case study with smallholder vegetable farmers, their wider application has not been explored. Therefore, this article explores the potential of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) as a complementary approach to the conventional Training and Visit (T&V) system in the Eastern Cape. Drawing insights from a 15-month pilot study in Alice, involving 40 small-scale livestock farmers, this study highlights the effectiveness of FFS in enhancing farmers' knowledge of climate change and its impact on livestock farming. Thus, a longitudinal research design was applied to a purposive sample of 40 livestock farmers, whereby descriptive and narrative impact assessments were employed to analyse the results. Findings indicate that farmers who participated in FFS-based study groups better understood climate change adaptation strategies than their prior knowledge. Integrating FFS with traditional extension approaches could strengthen knowledge transfer, peer learning, and resilience among smallholder farmers.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

ALIBER, M., GWALA, L., YUSUF, F., RAHIM, A., MUSHUNJE, A., ARWARI, M., MAKHUNGA, Z. & SHILIGA, Z., 2017. Government and small-scale agriculture: Understanding the successes and failures in respect of learning, planning and implementation.

ALIBER, M., 2019. Forms of agricultural support and the “culture of dependency and entitlement”, Agrekon., 58(2): 141-153.

ANANDAJAYASEKERAM, A., DAVIS, K.E. & WORKNEH, S., 2007. Farmer field schools: An alternative to existing extension systems? Experience from Eastern and Southern Africa. J. Int. Agric. Ext. Educ., 14(1): 81-93.

APLENI, A., ALIBER, M., ZHOU, L. & ZANTSI, S., 2019. The impact of the Framer Field School approach on small-scale vegetable producers’ knowledge and production in Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa. S. Afr. J. Agric. Ext., 47(3): 70–82.

BIZIKOVA, L., NKONYA, E., MINAH, M., HANISCH, M., MOHANA, R., TURAGA, R., SPERANZA, C.I., KARTHIKEYAN, M., TANG, L., GHEZZI-KOPEL, K., KELLY, J., CELESTIN, A.C. & TIMMERS, B., 2020. A scoping review of the contributions of farmers’ organizations to smallholder agriculture. Nat. Food., 1: 620–30. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-020-00164-x

BRAUN, A., JIGGINS, J., RÖLING, N., VAN DEN BERG, H. & SNIJDERS, P., 2006. A Global survey and review of farmer field school experiences. The Netherlands: International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).

CONRADIE, B., GALLOWAY, C. & RENNER, A., 2022. Private extension delivers productivity growth in pasture-based dairy farming in the Eastern Cape, 2012–2018. Agrekon., 61(2): 109–120.

DAVIS, K., NKONYA, E., KATO, E., MEKONNEN, D.A., ODENDO, M., MIIRO, R. & NKUBA, J., 2012. Impact of farmer field schools on agricultural productivity and poverty in East Africa. World Dev., 40(2): 402–413.

FRIIS-HANSEN, E. & DUVESKOG, D., 2012. The empowerment route to well-being: An analysis of farmer field schools in East Africa. World Dev., 40(2): 414–427.

KARAAN, M. & VINK, N., 2014. Agriculture and rural development policies in the post-apartheid era. In: H. Bhorat, A. Hirsch, R. Kanbur & M. Ncube (eds.), The Oxford Companion to the Economics of South Africa. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, pp. 393–400.

KOCH, B.H. & TERBLANCHE, S., 2013. An overview of agricultural extension in South Africa. South African. J. Agric. Ext., 41(1): 107-117.

KINGIRI, A.N., 2021. Agricultural advisory and extension service approaches and inclusion in reaching out to Kenyan rural farmers. Afr. J. Sci. Technol. Innov. Dev., 13(7): 797-806.

LYNE, M.C., JONAS, N. & ORTMANN, G.F., 2017. A quantitative assessment of an outsourced agricultural extension service in the Umzimkhulu District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. J. Agric. Educ. Ext., 24(1): 51–64.

LUKHALO, T., 2017. An expenditure review of agricultural extension system in South Africa. Masters dissertation, University of Pretoria.

MWOLOLO, H., NZUMA, J. & RITHO, C., 2019. Do farmers' socio-economic characteristics influence their preference for agricultural extension methods? Dev. Pract., 29(7): 844-853.

NATIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION., 2012. The national development plan 2030: Our future - Make it work. Available from https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201409/ndp-2030-our-future-make-it-workr.pdf

NGARAVA, S., MUSHUNJE, A. & CHAMINUKA, P., 2020. Qualitative benefits of livestock development programmes. Evidence from the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo (KyD) Scheme in South Africa. Eval. Program Plan., 78: 1–12.

ROGERS, P., 2012. Introduction to impact evaluation. Available from http://www.betterevaluation.org/en/node/1543

STATISTICS SOUTH AFRICA (STATSSA)., 2012. Census 2011. Available from http://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=3839

SIHLOBO, W., 2023. A country of two agricultures: The disparities, the challenges, the solutions. South Africa: Tracey McDonald, Bryanston.

WADDINGTON, H. & WHITE, H., 2014. Farmer field schools: From agricultural extension to adult education. London: International Impact Initiative for Impact Evaluation report.

VAN DEN BERG, H., PHILLIPS, S., DICKE, M. & FREDRIX, M., 2020A. Impacts of farmer field schools in the human, social, natural and financial domain: A qualitative review. Food Sec., 12: 1443–1459.

VAN DEN BERG, H., KETELAAR, J.W., DICKE, M. & FREDRIX, M., 2020b. Is the farmer field school still relevant? Case studies from Malawi and Indonesia. NJAS Wageningen J. Life Sci., 92(1): 1-13.

ZANTSI, S., 2021. Unlocking the potential of the emerging smallholder farming sector in South African agriculture: An agent-based approach. Doctoral dissertation, Stellenbosch University.