Perceptions of smallholder vegetable farmers and extension officers regarding the extension service in the Hhohho region Swaziland

Abstract

The inefficiency of smallholder production in Swaziland renders the country a net importer of horticultural products, yet the geographic and climatic conditions are suitable for sufficient crop production to achieve food security. Development agencies suggest that the country can indeed rely on smallholder farmers to address rural poverty and food insecurity. However, they all suggest that efficient extension services are central to achieving this goal. Therefore, this study was set to discuss the perceptions of smallholders and extension officers (EOs) regarding the extension programme in Swaziland, since perceptions are the main driver of behaviour. A sample of 13 horticultural EOs participated by completing a questionnaire, while a snowball sample of 82 farmers participated in one-to-one interviews. The data was supplemented by ad hoc group discussions with farmers and EOs that were used to explain some of the perceptions. The SPSS program was used for analysis. The administration of the extension system has been centralised and services were extended to farmers through regional centres called RDAs. The EOs were generally young men with agricultural Bachelor’s degrees, but without training in agricultural extension, while the farmers were usually aged women and were mostly full-time farmers. They perceived themselves as being relatively neglected by the government because of poor remuneration and poor working conditions of EOs. The EOs nevertheless had good relations with farmers, and the farmers believed that EOs were pivotal to the success of their businesses. The farmers were generally members of farmer groups that had broken down though conflicts, hence the members operated individually. They also had small pieces of land, and generally lacked access to finance and markets. The analysis suggested that grouped farmers were more likely to access local market and extension services. Therefore, it was recommended that EOs should assist farmers to establish and manage strong formal groups (i.e. cooperatives), as such organisations better align smallholders to markets and also enable EOs to better deliver their services to farmers. To accomplish this task, EOs need training in extension and agribusiness management.