Supervisory skills of extension managers in Sekhukhune district of Limpopo Province in South Africa

Abstract

The background problem to this research is the reported inefficiency of extension delivery the Limpopo Province, which is a region plagued by problems of large-scale poverty, unemployment, a decline in food production and degradation of natural resources. With extension management being a key issue in this regard, particularly because of its tremendous potential impact and multiplication effect, the purpose was to evaluate the management and leadership skill of extension managers in one of the five districts of the province. All levels of management were involved in the study and in every case assessments were made by subordinates, which involved 107 frontline extension workers (30 percent) at the lowest level. The general findings confirm the low level of leadership skills but also that managers tend to overrate their management skills and underrate the management problem, and are thus not likely to address it. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that this misperception regarding the management of extension is worst in the most critical management categories, namely at the supervisory level and the senior management level. Skills training evolves as a high priority, but indications are that so-called neutrally trained managers who have no good knowledge and understanding of extension will not be a solution.