Honourable Elsabé Rockman, MEC: Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environmental Affairs.

“Each one of you, as agricultural extensionists in South Africa, holds a pivotal role in delivering service to our commercial farmers and new entrants to the field. Your contribution is not just significant, but integral,” said MEC Elsabé Rockman at the official opening of the 57^th South African Society for Agricultural Extension Annual Conference held at the CUT Bloemfontein Campus.

The Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT), and the Society for Agricultural Extension (SASAE) co-hosted the 57th Annual Conference, which had the theme “Bridging collaborative initiatives for strengthening the research-training-extension-farmer nexus.” This theme holds the potential to inspire and motivate us all to work together for a stronger, more efficient agricultural sector.

The conference's purpose is to promote collaborative partnerships for effective agricultural extension, invest in human capital for sustainable agricultural extension, and foster sustainable agricultural practices through knowledge sharing and extension.

Scores of farmers, academics, and industry experts from all nine provinces attended the conference to share practical knowledge, challenges, best practices, and research papers and to devise solutions to the challenges faced by the farming community. 

In her official opening, the Free State MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Honourable Elsabé Rockman, acknowledged the challenges faced by the farming community. She said that the province had experienced the worst drought, veld fires, and an outbreak of diseases such as food and mouth (FMD), which had a negative impact on the sector. “We understand the difficulties you are facing. We are here to support and work  together with all stakeholers to overcome these challenges.

MEC Rockman added that the Free State province is proud to be the breadbasket of the country and a home for agriculture. “We feed the nation and are proud of our agricultural roots. I urge all stakeholders present to engage in constructive dialogue, share best practices, and collectively chart a course towards improving extension services. The decisions and commitments made during this conference will reverberate beyond our gathering and profoundly impact the livelihoods of millions of Africans. Let us seize this opportunity to forge partnerships, leverage innovative approaches, and advance the shared vision that will propel our country towards a future of prosperity and economic growth. We remain committed to ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity for all.”