INTRODUCTION
Agriculture is a significant component of most African economies. However, the South African economy is atypical within Africa in that agriculture is declining in importance.
Agriculture contributes under 4% to South Africa's Gross Domestic Product (Statistics South Africa, 2000, Stats in Brief 57). Almost 54% of the South African population is located in urban areas (Statistics South Africa, 2000, 9). However, agriculture remains crucially important to the rural population. It is estimated that 70% of the rural population are poor or very poor (May, Woolard and Klasen, 2000). Agricultural production therefore is vital to rural people, especially women. It is estimated that agricultural production is the third most important form of livelihood strategy in rural areas, after wage labour and state pensions (May et al, 2000, 234). From this point of view, women farmers' access to a range of benefits and services, including extension services, that will assist them and their families to survive and develop productive capacity is vital.
In South Africa, men dominate commercial farming and women are active in smaller scale farming. Even where women area active in farming, they often do not have the final control.
When land becomes commercialised, control is often taken away from women (Advisory Group Meeting, May 2004). However, in numerical terms the majority of those active in farming are women (Advisory Group Meeting, September 2004), although they tend to earn less than men (Gender Status Index, page 37 of this Report).
Activities directed at women in the National Department of Agriculture tend to focus primarily on access to capital and credit, access to markets, access to land and water and the issue of skills development and mentorship and training. Within this package of services, agricultural extension is one important component. However, this measure only captures a proportion of the services available to women, and hence this reveals only a small part of what is being done for women in agriculture in South Africa.
AGDI Scoreboard
Agricultural extension services are often directed primarily at men as beneficiaries. Prevailing gender ideologies shape the sexual division of labour in which women and men carry out different tasks in agriculture. Extension services need to take these differences into account.
Among the factors to be considered are the accessibility of meetings and training
programmes.
This indicator measures whether or not the specific barriers women face in relation to access to agricultural extension services are measured in a policy document and to what extent proposed measures are being implemented.
RATIFICATION *
NOT APPLICABLE
REPORTING x
NOT APPLICABLE
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The African Women's Progress Report Economic Power South Africa
POLICY 1
There is no specific policy on women's access to agricultural extension services, although an overall policy on gender in agriculture is in the process of being developed. The Human Resources Development Strategy aims to develop the skills of employees in agriculture and to encourage workers to participate in learnerships and other training programmes; this strategy emphasises the importance of equality of opportunity. The Discussion Document on Agricultural Policy in South Africa states that 'all programmes will be examined to ensure that women at least have equal access and that programmes are targeted at them (Department of Land and Agriculture, Discussion Document on Agricultural Policy in SA, 1998, 10).
Agricultural Development is one of six programmes in the Department of Agriculture. It aims to promote access for historically disadvantaged groups and individuals and includes farmer settlement, agribusiness, institutional and human resource support and agricultural communication. However none of these areas specify women as historically disadvantaged and no policy for outreach to women can be found.
Existing policy objectives on extension are:
1. review nature and demand for extension services and assess current training of extension ists
2. improve linkages between research institutions and field level extensionists
3. investigate more effective ways of delivering extension under varying circumstances (these circumstances are not gender specific; show no understanding of particular problems faced by women farmers)
4. improve farmers' access to knowledge through contact extension, publications, mass media, agricultural shows; ensure these are cost effective and properly co-ordinated (Department of Land and Agriculture, 1998, 10).
There is no evidence of gender mainstreaming in this discussion document. However, under the section on requirements for effective extension management, document notes that
'Significant proportions of small scale farmers, possibly the majority, are women.
The vast majority of public extension agents are men. Experience in other countries suggests that, in general, women farmers are less often visited than men farmers. The gender issue will receive special attention in the design and implementation of research and extension programmes' (Department of Land and Agriculture, 1998 42).
However, there is no mention ofwomen's specific needs in any ofthe department's literature.
Score is T for some policy commitments, but no specific policy on women's access to agricultural extension services.
LAW X
Not applicable.
DEVELOPMENT OF A PLAN 0
We have not identified any plan that enhances women's access to extension services. The Medium Term Expenditure Framework for Agriculture cites the production of a National Extension Strategy as a departmental target and this strategy was finalised in 2003. Gender is not specifically addressed. A total sum of R7 970 616.82 was allocated for this Strategy.
Score is 0 because there is no specific plan that relates to women.
TARGETS 0
None. Score is 0 because there are no gender specific targets set.
INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISM 0
There is no institutional mechanism to deal with gender, nor is there a Gender Focal point.
Score '0'.
BUDGET 0
The 2003 Medium Term Expenditure Framework for Agriculture allocates R7 970 616.82 for the National Extension Strategy as a departmental target. However gender is not specifically addressed and it is impossible to disaggregate what was set aside of women.
Score is 0 because there is no specific budget visible for women's extension services in agriculture.
HUMAN RESOURCES 1
According to the Discussion Document the number of actual extension officers is sufficient (over 5000 students at tertiary agricultural institutions, 60% of students are white and about 50% are women). A commissioned paper on an appropriate agricultural extension approach (Duvel, 2003) noted the need for further training and capacity building, but does not specifically mention how this might address the needs of women farmers or may be made gender aware.
We have thus found no evidence of the need for gender-aware training of extension agents.
Thus although there is an adequate number of women extension agents, there seems to be little attention to the mainstreaming of gender into extension programmes.
Score is 1 because while there are sufficient personnel there does not seem to be any attention to gender mainstreaming.
RESEARCH 0
The Department commissioned a study to look at Extension Officers. This study concluded that there were sufficient Extension Officers, but they were not accessible. We are not aware on any gender dimensions to this study. A study has also been concluded on 'Towards an Appropriate Extension Approach for South Africa'. This does not address the question of
women.
Score is 0 because no research that included gender considerations could be identified.
INVOLVEMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY 1
The Department of Land and Agriculture is undergoing a process to 'mobilise previous female farmer winners into three agricultural related business forums' (email, Senior
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The African Women's Progress Report Economic Power South Africa
Manager: Agri-business Promotion and Industry Relations, Department of Land and Agriculture).
Score * 1' for civil society involvement.
INFORMATION AND DISSEMINATION l
We have found no evidence of information dissemination on agricultural extension that was specifically targeted at women. However, the 'Female Farmer' Competition coordinated by the national department, in collaboration with the nine provincial departments of Agriculture, involves an 'increased promotional campaign and activities to encourage and extend extension support to women in agriculture' (email, Senior Manager: Agri-business Promotion and Industry Relations, Department of Land and Agriculture). The Department of Land and Agriculture also has a website for Emerging Farmers.
Score is T because there has been some publicity on women farmers.
MONITORING AND EVALUATION 0
Research was commissioned to evaluate the government's approach to agricultural extension and to make recommendations. However this did not address the issue of women fanners.
Score '0' because there is no evidence of gendered monitoring and evaluation.