National Department of Agriculture and Cotton SA Sign Key Partnership to Strengthen Farmer Support

The National Department of Agriculture and Cotton SA have entered a new phase of collaboration following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) last week at Cotton SA’s offices in Pretoria. The agreement marks a major step in advancing agricultural extension services across South Africa, particularly in the cotton value chain.

The partnership focuses on strengthening the Commodity Based Extension Approach (CBEA), a programme that has been in place since the 2015/16 financial year. The CBEA aims to improve how government and industry jointly deliver farmer support and promote sustainable agricultural development. Through this model, Extension Practitioners are deployed directly to commodity organisations, enabling closer alignment between technical expertise, farmer needs, and industry growth.

Under the new agreement, Cotton SA will work closely with the Department to expand technical training, mentorship, and information-sharing among cotton producers. The initiative seeks to close knowledge gaps among smallholder and emerging farmers, while promoting best practices in production, pest control, and resource management.

Dr. Fhumulani Ratshitanga, representing the Department of Agriculture, described the partnership as a critical enabler of inclusive growth. He noted that aligning public resources with private-sector knowledge would accelerate farmer productivity and strengthen the competitiveness of South Africa’s cotton sector.

Cotton SA Chairperson, Mr. Hennie Bruwer, welcomed the agreement as an important milestone in ensuring that extension services are both practical and industry-specific. He highlighted the impact of previous collaboration under the CBEA, which helped increase participation of emerging farmers and improve yields across several provinces.

The MoA also reinforces government’s commitment to the Agricultural and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP), which aims to boost employment and transform the sector through targeted partnerships. By working directly with commodity organisations, the Department can provide more tailored support and ensure that farmers access relevant technologies and market opportunities.

Since its introduction, the Commodity Based Extension Approach has been implemented with various agricultural bodies, including Grain SA, the South African Sugar Association, and the National Wool Growers Association. The inclusion of Cotton SA strengthens the Department’s effort to build a networked extension system across all major commodities.

The collaboration will focus on field-level training sessions, farm demonstrations, and information dissemination through farmer days and workshops. Both institutions have committed to monitoring progress and ensuring that lessons learned contribute to continuous improvement of the programme.

This renewed partnership positions the cotton industry for sustainable growth and aligns with national goals of food security, job creation, and rural development. With strong coordination between government and industry, the initiative promises to enhance knowledge transfer and build a more resilient agricultural economy.