Table 5 Results of the exploratory factor analysis of the effectiveness of public extension and advisory services (n = 442)
Variables | Factor | Communalities | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Factor 1 | Factor 2 | Factor 3 | ||
Promotes equity through subsistence small-scale farmers, women farmers, disabled farmers and commercial farmers | 0.80 | 0.77 | ||
Is compliant with the principles of Batho Pele when dealing with people and planning activities | 0.80 | 0.79 | ||
Offers high quality extension and advisory services | 0.67 | 0.79 | ||
Uses extension approaches that are relevant to the beneficiaries | 0.65 | 0.77 | ||
Has effective monitoring and evaluation tools | 0.65 | 0.78 | ||
Is flexible in responding to farmers’ ever-changing needs | 0.52 | 0.74 | ||
Provides and facilitates advice on skills development in agriculture | 0.74 | 0.74 | ||
Provides and facilitates access to agricultural information for improved planning and decision-making | 0.68 | 0.75 | ||
Provides and facilitates access to advice on sustainable agricultural production (including conservation of natural resources) | 0.68 | 0.76 | ||
Strengthens institutional arrangements (partnerships, restructuring, corporatisation, funding, establishment of new entity/ties) for the effective delivery of services | 0.60 | 0.63 | ||
Facilitates access to technology and where possible, provides such technologies | 0.69 | 0.74 | ||
Prioritises the needs of the beneficiaries | 0.65 | 0.78 | ||
Eigenvalue | 8.49 | 0.73 | 0.60 | 9.82 |
Cumulative variance explained (%) | 70.72 | 6.10 | 5.00 | 81.81 |