Why Study Community Extension?
By studying Community Extension, you are not looking for a career as a farmer, but for a career as someone who helps farmers. A Community Extension officer deals mostly with rural or subsistence food security – how to help a farmer become more effective and cost-efficient in producing healthy and nutritious food. This means becoming proficient in all aspects of farming, but also with skills beyond farming, such as community engagement, food and nutrition, sustainable community development, and most importantly the technology and support structures that will assist farmers to yield bigger and better crops.
Career Opportunities
There are not only jobs available in the Department of Agriculture, but most companies connected with agriculture also employ extension officers, as well as pest control companies, corn chandlers and agricultural co-ops. You can also become an independent consultant.
About This Course
Diploma in Community Extension
NQF Level: 6
HEQSF Qualification Type: 63
SAQA Qualification ID: 72288
SAQA Credits: Minimum 360
Rationale for Qualification
Diploma in Community Extension addresses issues related to food security. Food security is one of the challenges faced by South Africa whereby the majority of the people within society do not have access to safe, adequate and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active healthy life. The urgent challenges of food security require professionals that are competent in fields of agriculture, extension, food & nutrition and community development.
Statement of Purpose
To provide the learners with knowledge and skills within agricultural field in product production, processing, extension and marketing so that the learner will be competent in the fields of agriculture, food & nutrition, and sustainable community development.
Admission Requirements
National Senior Certificate with rating codes:
- English First Additional Language (4)
- English Home Language (4)
- Agricultural Science (4)
- Consumer Studies (4)
- Life Sciences & Geography (4)
- or Life Sciences & Economics (4)
Senior Certificate (or equivalent) with a minimum of:
- English E (HG) or D (SG)
- Home Economics E (HG) or D (SG)
- Agricultural Science E (HG) or D (SG)
A pass mark in Biology and Geography and/or Biology and any commercial subject with a minimum of “E” symbol on the Higher Grade or “D” symbol on the Standard Grade is compulsory. People with relevant work experience on Agriculture/Home Economics or Community Development are also given a preference.
Duration of Study
The duration of the course is a minimum of six semesters (three years) of study at the University, interspersed with regular work integrated learning opportunities in the communities.
Advanced Diploma in Agricultural Extension and Community Development
NQF Level: 7
SAQA Qualification ID: 101894
SAQA Credits: Minimum 120
CESM Code: 010106
Rationale for Qualification
The Advanced Diploma programme in Agricultural Extension and Community Development will provide access to Post Graduate Diploma qualifications by the students. It is stated clearly in the Norms and Standards for Extension and Advisory Services in Agriculture (Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries- which is a major stakeholder for the programme in addition to other industries) that there is an urgent need to improve the human resource capacity of Extension Personnel in terms of competence and skills and qualifications to render high quality extension service to clients which are farmers, communities. Extension and advisory services therefore need a cadre of well-trained, dedicated and motivated staff skilled in agricultural production (scientific and technical expertise), business (economics, marketing and financial management expertise), extension and communication technique.
The provision of effective training through development programmes is therefore in the long term interest of the agricultural extension and advisory service. Therefore, this statement from the Norms and Standards for Extension affirms the needs for advanced programmes in Agricultural Extension related qualifications and this Advanced Diploma in Agricultural Extension and Community Development address such needs. The programme will also provide agricultural industry, food processing industry, public sector with competent agricultural extension officer/advisors or community development officers. The proposed Agricultural Extension and Community Development programme addresses issues related to food security. Food security is one of the challenges faced by South Africa whereby the majority of the people within society do not have access to safe, adequate and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active healthy life. Food security is part of the vision of the Integrated Food Security Strategy for South Africa whereby the vision is to attain universal physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food by all South Africans at all times.
Food security is part of the Section 27 Constitutional rights in South Africa where the Constitution states that every citizen has the right to have access to sufficient food and water and the State must by legislation and other measures, within its available resources, avail to progressive realization of the right to sufficient food. The urgent challenge of food security requires professionals that are competent in fields of agriculture, agro processing, food processing, extension and community development in ensuring that food security and sustainable development exist in the country.
Therefore, the programme contributes to national priorities.
Statement of Purpose
The programme is designed to provide the learner with knowledge, skills and competencies within the agricultural field in product production, processing, extension and marketing. The learner will be competent in the fields of agriculture, extension and sustainable community development as part of ensuring physical, economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food at all times. Therefore, this programme will provide agricultural industry, food processing industry, public sector with competent agricultural extension officers/advisors or community development officers. The research skills to be acquired will equip the learners to be able to do Advanced Diploma Programme in terms of writing mini research projects.
Admission Requirements
The general entrance requirements to Advanced Diploma (NQF Level 7) is a final pass mark of at least 60% in Agronomy III/Field Crop Production III and Food Processing III.
Duration of Study
Minimum One year
