Annual Conference of the South African Society for Agricultural Extension

The 59th Annual Conference of the South African Society for Agricultural Extension (SASAE) will be co-hosted with Walter Sisulu University (WSU) at the Chiselhurst Campus in East London, South Africa. This prestigious conference invites researchers, extension practitioners, students, and policymakers from diverse sectors, including government, academia, and private organizations, to submit abstracts for consideration. The conference aims to serve as a dynamic platform for exploring innovative ideas, sharing research, and engaging in discussions that will shape the future of agricultural extension.The central theme of this year's conference is 'Towards an Inclusive, Digital, and Resilient Extension Paradigm for Sustainable Food and Agricultural Livelihoods.' It focuses on positioning agricultural extension as a crucial driver of innovation, equity, and sustainability throughout the agri-linked value chain, encompassing pre-production, production, and post-production activities across a wide spectrum including crops, livestock, forestry, game farming, and non-conventional commodities. The conference emphasizes inclusive and people-centered extension approaches that empower communities, digital transformation, and innovation in extension practices, and building resilient and climate-smart food and natural resource systems. Additionally, the conference aims to bridge indigenous and scientific knowledge to enhance sustainable practices through capacity building and training for extension practitioners, strengthening the Research-Training-Extension-Farmer Nexus.Participants are encouraged to submit extended abstracts that relate to the central theme and its sub-themes, or broader agricultural extension topics of interest. The submission process is open to various research methodologies, including experimental studies and social research methods. Abstracts should be well-structured, with clear objectives, methodologies, and significance discussed, and must adhere to specified formatting guidelines. A rigorous peer-review process will ensure that only original and high-quality abstracts are accepted for presentation. Furthermore, the conference will recognize excellence in agricultural extension and invite success stories and short communications to highlight impactful practices. This gathering will not only foster knowledge sharing but also empower farmers through enhanced market access and linkage support, contributing to sustainable livelihoods and food security within the agricultural sector.