ABSTRACT
Ecologically and economically resilient farms are essential to supply expanding local food systems and to support household food security in the face of climate and market changes. Resilience of resource-limited smallholder farmers is underpinned by personal agency, relevant social networks, access to education and training, personal motivation, anticipatory planning and active risk management. Smallholder farmers in SADC face challenges in production, marketing, technology adoption, entrepreneurship, business development and institutional linkages. Dynamic and engaging educational approaches, policies and evaluation are critical to support smallholder farmers to anticipate and adapt to change and become more resilient. The service providers themselves require expanded capacity, skills and approaches that complement their traditional academic training. These skills will help map local knowledge, community infrastructure and needs to spur agricultural transformation. Participatory approaches that integrate local knowledge and farmer lived experiences and research-based information following co-owned processes and problem solving will foster transformation. Educators require appropriate skills and astute planning for successful implementation of participatory approaches. The evolution from serving as a technical service provider to spawning transformation will demand new skills, confidence and programme design.
