AGRICULTURE EXPERTS TO GATHER AT WALTER SISULU FOR SASAE CONFERENCE

iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu (Walter Sisulu) will place the Eastern Cape at the heart of global conversations on agriculture when it hosts the 59th Annual Conference of the South African Society for Agricultural Extension (SASAE) at its Potsdam site at kuGompo City from 29 June to 2 July.

The conference will  explore innovative and inclusive approaches to strengthening rural livelihoods and building resilient food systems alongside leading agricultural researchers, policymakers, farmers, extension practitioners and development experts from South Africa and across the globe.

.According to SASAE President Mzomninzi Mdladlamba, the conference comes at a time when extension services need to play a greater role in addressing food security, sustainability and inequality.

"This 59th Conference is more than a gathering; it is a call to action. Extension must be at the forefront of transformation if we are to achieve food security, equity, and sustainability,” he said.

“By bringing together researchers, practitioners, and farmers under one roof, we are positioning agricultural extension as the critical link between innovation and rural livelihoods," He added. Mdladlamba said the Eastern Cape was a fitting host for these discussions because of both its agricultural potential and the challenges faced by many rural communities.

"The Eastern Cape, with its rich agricultural heritage and challenges, is the right place to shape this new paradigm, andexplore a range of issues affecting the future of agriculture, including community-based extension approaches, gender and youth inclusion, strengthening farmer organisations and cooperatives, digital transformation in agriculture, and improving access to markets and resources for producers.” he said.

Delegates will also examine how technology is reshaping agricultural support systems through digital platforms, information and communication technologies, data-driven decision-making and precision agriculture.

Walter Sisulu Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandi Mgwebi, said hosting the conference aligns with the university's commitment to serving communities and advancing sustainable development.

"Walter Sisulu is proud to host SASAE's flagship conference. Our institution is deeply rooted in the communities of the Eastern Cape, and we understand that resilient rural livelihoods depend on strong, inclusive, and digitally enabled extension services," said Mgwebi.

She added that the conference formed part of the university's broader vision of contributing to sustainable food systems and rural innovation.

"This conference aligns with and forms part of Walter Sisulu's Food Futures signature theme, positioning the University as a leader in sustainable food systems and rural innovation to drive change that improves lives," she said.

Delegates will deliberate on issues and innovations under the theme: "Towards an Inclusive, Digital, and Resilient Extension Paradigm for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: Positioning Agricultural Extension as a Driver of Innovation, Equity, and Sustainability in Crops, Livestock, Forestry, Game Farming, Environment, and People."