THE FUSE

KwaZulu-Natal’s agricultural extension practitioners have gathered at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban for a focused two-day conference aimed at strengthening the backbone of the province’s farming support system. The event brings together field officers, agricultural experts, policymakers and senior government officials to address urgent challenges affecting farmers across rural and peri-urban communities. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development describes extension practitioners as the lifeblood of the sector because they connect policy with day-to-day farming realities. The conference is designed to assess current gaps in service delivery and build practical solutions that can be implemented on the ground. It comes at a time when farmers face increasing pressure from climate change, resource constraints and rising food insecurity.