Abstract:
Public Extension services remain the repository and main source of agricultural
information for smallholder farmers in developing countries. Their role includes
linking farmers to relevant institutes and disseminating research-based knowledge
and technology to rural people with the aim of improving their livelihoods.
Extension officers disseminate information about new innovative techniques to
crop and livestock farmers and related production and management practices
leading to the improved socio-economic status of the rural communities. Despite
this and farmers having access to extension services, smallholder farming appears
to be struggling to meet the rural population's daily food and employment needs.
Moreover, empirical and detailed evidence of the contribution and effect of
extension services toward sustainable farmer livelihoods remains scanty in the
Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Therefore, the study sought to investigate
the contribution and impact of extension services toward sustainable livelihoods
and self-reliance in Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. The study used a multistage sampling procedure to collect data from 258 smallholder farmers using a
semi-structured questionnaire. Binary Logistic regression and Propensity score
matching was used for analysis. The study results showed that most respondents
were females with an average age of 47 years and twelve years of farming
experience. Moreover, the results show that farmers had ten years of schooling
and operated on average farm sizes of 3 ha. The findings also indicated that
farmers had access to extension services and were members of farm organizations
contributing to their farming and building self-resilience. Farmers also indicated that
financial support, distance to market outlets, and lack of transportation were
among the challenges threatening their livelihood. Binary logistic regression
showed that age, years spent in school, off-farm income, and farm size affected
farmers’ access to extension services. Propensity Score Matching results showed
that farmers with access to extension services had better sustainable livelihoods
and self-reliance than farmers without access. The study concludes that extension
services have a positive effect on the sustainable livelihood of farmers. The study
recommends that governments and NGOs invest more in agricultural extension
officers for farmers to reach their farming potential and ensure sustained
livelihoods and self-reliance.
