To what extent do South African smallholder agricultural households understand the role of agricultural extension? A perspective

Agricultural extension is widely recognized as a cornerstone of farmer development, playing a critical role in transferring knowledge that enables farmers to make informed decisions and address production challenges. Its effectiveness, however, hinges on mutual understanding between farmers and extension agents regarding their respective roles. This perspective article reflects on our extensive field experience engaging with more than 500 smallholder farmers across South Africa. We examine farmers' understanding of extension services and juxtapose our insights with existing literature suggesting that smallholders increasingly perceive extension officers primarily as providers of inputs rather than sources of advisory support. We argue that this misinterpretation may contribute to persistent criticisms of the extension system's performance. By highlighting gaps in farmer understanding and the implications for evaluating extension effectiveness, this article calls for renewed attention to the alignment of expectations, communication strategies, and the underlying socio-institutional dynamics influencing extension-farmer relations.