2027/28 Extension and Advisory Services Planning Puts Farmers at the Centre of Better Agricultural Support

The 2027/28 Extension and Advisory Services Strategic Planning Session is drawing to a close, with participants turning their attention to the lessons gathered from project visits and discussions with farmers and other agricultural stakeholders. The planning process has focused on understanding what farmers need from extension and advisory services and how agricultural support can become more practical and responsive. Field visits have provided an opportunity to see farming conditions first-hand, listen to producers and identify challenges that may not always be visible during office-based planning. These experiences are now helping participants consider ways to improve the information, technical advice and solutions available to farmers. The central goal is to ensure that agricultural support reaches farmers in ways that can make a practical difference on their farms.

For farmers, access to reliable agricultural advice can influence many of the decisions made throughout a production season. Producers need information that can help them choose appropriate farming practices, respond to production challenges, manage risks and improve the efficiency of their operations. Extension and advisory officers can play an important role by connecting farmers with technical knowledge and helping them understand how that knowledge applies to their specific circumstances. The project visits have helped bring these needs into sharper focus by allowing participants to engage directly with farmers and observe the realities they face. This direct engagement can help shape services that respond to actual conditions instead of relying only on assumptions about what farmers require.

Listening to farmers is one of the most important elements of building effective agricultural support services. Farmers have first-hand knowledge of the challenges affecting their production, from input costs and changing weather conditions to pests, diseases, access to markets and limited technical resources. Their experiences can help extension service providers identify where existing support is working and where improvements are needed. Direct conversations with producers can also reveal practical solutions that farmers have already developed through experience and local knowledge. Bringing these insights into strategic planning can help create extension services that are more relevant to the people they are intended to serve.

The project visits have also highlighted the value of learning from what is happening in farming communities. Seeing agricultural projects in operation gives extension and advisory service planners an opportunity to examine production methods, challenges and opportunities in real working environments. It can also help identify approaches that could benefit other farmers if they are adapted to local conditions. Practical demonstrations and farmer-to-farmer learning can be particularly useful because producers often want to see how a recommendation works before adopting it on their own farms. Strengthening the connection between field experience and agricultural advice can therefore help make extension services more useful and easier for farmers to apply.

Collaboration will remain important as the 2027/28 extension and advisory services strategy takes shape. Farmers cannot be supported effectively by one organisation or group working alone, particularly when agricultural challenges involve production, finance, markets, infrastructure, technology and environmental conditions. Extension officers, agricultural specialists, government departments, farmer organisations, researchers and other stakeholders each have different knowledge and resources that can contribute to better outcomes. Bringing these groups together can make it easier to identify gaps in support and develop coordinated responses. Stronger collaboration can ultimately help farmers access the right information and assistance without having to navigate disconnected services.

The planning discussions are also focused on identifying practical solutions that can improve the delivery of extension and advisory services. Farmers need advice that is timely, understandable and suited to the resources available to them. Recommendations that ignore the realities of a farmer’s operation can be difficult to implement, even when the technical information itself is sound. Extension services therefore need to consider factors such as farm size, production systems, local conditions and the specific challenges facing different farming communities. A more practical approach can help ensure that agricultural advice leads to decisions and actions that farmers can use in their daily operations.

Access to knowledge will continue to be an important part of helping farmers improve productivity and build more resilient businesses. Farmers need information on production techniques, soil management, pest and disease control, livestock management, climate risks, markets and other issues that affect their operations. However, simply providing information is not enough if farmers cannot access it at the right time or understand how to apply it. Effective extension services should combine technical knowledge with regular engagement, demonstrations, follow-up support and feedback from producers. The 2027/28 planning process provides an opportunity to strengthen these areas and improve the way information reaches farmers.

Technology can also support the future delivery of agricultural extension services, particularly when it complements direct contact between farmers and extension professionals. Digital communication can help distribute production information, alerts, training materials and other resources to farmers more quickly. At the same time, digital tools should not replace personal engagement, especially in farming communities where producers may require practical demonstrations or individual advice. A balanced approach can combine face-to-face support with digital communication to expand access to agricultural knowledge. The effectiveness of these tools will depend on whether they address real farmer needs and remain accessible to the communities they are intended to serve.

The final stage of the strategic planning session is therefore about more than reviewing discussions and field visits. It is about turning the lessons gathered into clear priorities and practical actions for the 2027/28 period. Participants must consider how identified challenges can be addressed, how responsibilities can be coordinated and how progress can be measured once plans move into implementation. Keeping farmers involved throughout this process will be important because their feedback can show whether planned interventions are delivering the intended results. Continued engagement can also help extension services adjust their approach when new challenges or opportunities emerge.

For farmers, the success of the 2027/28 Extension and Advisory Services strategy will ultimately be measured by the support they experience on the ground. Better planning should translate into more accessible knowledge, stronger technical guidance, improved problem solving and services that respond to the realities of agricultural production. The lessons gathered from producers and project visits provide an important foundation for achieving this goal. By listening to farmers, strengthening collaboration and turning field lessons into action, stakeholders can work towards an extension system that provides practical value throughout the farming cycle. The focus now shifts from planning to implementation, with the opportunity to build stronger support systems that help farmers grow productive, sustainable and successful agricultural enterprises.