THE ROLE OF EXTENSION IN AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT IN LIMPOPO

Abstract

Agricultural Extension is rarely understood by many practitioners who belong outside the development ambit, as well as those who are in other professions other than community development. This paper discusses the various facets of extension in an attempt to clarify some of the concepts such as; meaning of extension, extension principles and extension functions. Agricultural development is not a once off activity or giving hand-out, hence the paper brings in a dimension of agricultural extension programme planning process and links it to agricultural cooperatives. Since agricultural cooperatives are not special, and that they are not immune to problems, some of the challenges are identified and discussed with a hope that if these challenges could be avoided, cooperatives could become sustainable. An innovative approach and some criteria for successful cooperatives are proposed together with new strategies to mobilize farmers interested in agricultural cooperatives. The paper concludes with few recommendations such as using the bottom up approach, empowerment of the committees, active participation, and sensitization of the leaders, encouraging ownership and working on needs driven approach.