Table 2 Perceived effectiveness of public extension and advisory services in the Gauteng province (n = 442)
Variable (Item) | Proportion of the participants (%) | Median (IQR) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very ineffective | Ineffective | Average | Effective | Very effective | ||
Renders high quality extension and advisory services | 8.8 | 9.3 | 31.4 | 38.9 | 11.5 | 4 (3.3–3.5) |
Uses extension approaches that are relevant to the beneficiaries | 9.0 | 8.8 | 31.2 | 38.5 | 12.4 | 4 (3.3–3.5) |
Is demand driven | 8.6 | 13.1 | 29.6 | 36.9 | 11.8 | 3 (3.2–3.4) |
Is compliant with the principles of Batho Pele when dealing with people and planning activities | 8.8 | 7.0 | 29.2 | 39.8 | 15.2 | 4 (3.3–3.6) |
Promotes equity through subsistence small-scale farmers, women farmers, disabled farmers and commercial farmers | 10.0 | 10.9 | 25.6 | 37.3 | 16.3 | 4 (3.3–3.5) |
Is flexible in responding to farmers’ ever-changing needs | 11.1 | 13.6 | 28.7 | 35.7 | 10.9 | 3 (3.1–3.3) |
Has effective monitoring and evaluation tools | 10.6 | 11.1 | 31.7 | 36.0 | 10.6 | 3 (3.1–3.4) |
Prioritises the needs of the beneficiaries | 10.4 | 13.6 | 30.1 | 36.9 | 9.0 | 3 (3.1–3.3) |
Focuses on human and social capital development | 10.0 | 12.9 | 29.4 | 35.1 | 12.7 | 3 (3.2–3.4) |
Uses participatory approaches in planning, implementation and evaluation of their projects/programmes | 12.2 | 8.4 | 29.4 | 36.0 | 14.0 | 3.5 (3.2–3.4) |
Facilitates access to extension and advisory services that lead to sustainable income generation by clients | 10.2 | 13.1 | 30.8 | 34.8 | 11.1 | 3 (3.1–3.3) |
Provides and facilitates access to agricultural information for improved planning and decision-making | 8.8 | 10.2 | 29.4 | 41.2 | 10.4 | 4 (3.2–3.4) |
Facilitates access to technology and where possible, provides such technologies | 11.8 | 14.7 | 32.1 | 32.1 | 9.3 | 3 (3.0–3.2) |
Provides and facilitates access to advice on sustainable agricultural production (including conservation of natural resources) | 10.2 | 9.0 | 30.8 | 36.2 | 13.8 | 3.5 (3.2–3.5) |
Provides and facilitates advice on skills development in agriculture | 11.1 | 7.2 | 28.3 | 37.8 | 15.6 | 4 (3.3–3.5) |
Strengthens institutional arrangements (partnerships, restructuring, corporatisation, funding, establishment of new entity/ties) for the effective delivery of services | 12.9 | 13.1 | 25.1 | 35.5 | 13.3 | 3 (3.1–3.4) |
Average | 10.3 | 11.0 | 29.6 | 36.8 | 12.4 | – |