Agriculture Extension Service for Smallholder Livestock Farmers in Communal Land of Mopani District in Limpopo Province

Abstract

Limited access to agriculture-led livestock extension officers remains a major constraint for smallholder livestock farmers in Mopani District, South Africa. Consequently, agricultural extension services often fail to priorities direct and context-specific approaches that could meaningfully improve the livelihoods of livestock farmers operating on communal land. This article critically examines and repositions the effectiveness of agricultural extension services for smallholder livestock farmers within communal farming systems. A comprehensive literature review methodology was adopted, drawing on 28 peer-reviewed journal articles, 15 government reports, and six university thesis repositories. Published literature from 2009 to 2025 was retrieved using multiple scientific search engines. The review reveals that the effectiveness of livestock extension in communal systems depends less on government delivery capacity and more on policymakers’ understanding of communal livestock production systems and their commitment to addressing farmers’ needs. The findings highlight the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge, climate-smart livestock practices, and participatory knowledge-sharing mechanisms to strengthen linkages between research, policy, and practice. The study recommends repositioning extension services through enhanced stakeholder engagement, continuous professional development of extension agents, stronger collaboration with non-governmental organizations and private sector actors, and the strategic use of digital tools to improve information dissemination. In conclusion, the sustainable transformation of communal livestock agriculture in South Africa depends on extension services that empower smallholder farmers as co-creators of knowledge and responsible custodians of communal resources.

Res. Agric. Livest. Fish. Vol. 12, No. 3, December 2025: 415-426