Conference

FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT, CALL FOR PAPERS & REGISTRATION
"SYNERGISING AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES TOWARDS THE COMMERCIALISATION OF SMALLHOLDER PRODUCERS"

Premier Hotel East London ICC, Marine Park Complex, 22 Esplanade, Beachfront, East London, Eastern Cape.
5 – 7 JUNE 2018

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The Board of SASAE will be holding the 2018 Annual Conference in the Eastern Cape, June 5 - 7, 2018. The theme of the conference is: "Synergising agricultural extension services towards the commercialisation of smallholder producers"

South Africa like most of the Developing countries is currently faced with challenges such as poverty, unemployment and inequality. The small holder producers are the key to unlock the agricultural potential for many developing countries, therefore reducing poverty, unemployment and inequality. What role will extension play in developing small holder producers and what are our inputs in building a better extension and advisory service not only in South Africa but globally?

To facilitate this process, contributions relating to any of the following sub-themes are invited:

Partners of agricultural extension in developing the farming communities towards commercialization.

Identify these potential partners for extension which have similar vision of developing the communities and farmers.

Who are these partners that work closely with extension in the villages?

Identify them and choose those that are relevant (such as NGOs, NDA, service departments like DTI, Department of Land reform and Rural development, DAFF, etc., Parastatals, NAMC, IDC, and Farmer organizations NTAU, NAFU, AGRI- SA, and confederations, like Southern Africa Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU).

Paradigm shift for farmer development taking farmers to commercial path.

What are these paradigms that have potential of doubling the impact to economic growth through small holder farming?
What are the critical interventions in developing smallholder farming
What are some of the tested case studies that we can draw lessons from.
What are the strategic interventions which is critical in bringing dynamic inputs.?

Commercialization of small holder farmers a reality of a myth?
Is this possible, realistic, or a mere dream to implement commercial initiatives when looking at South Africa in particular or Africa in general because food security is still a challenge?

Who is willing to fund the basics of commercialization in the initial steps prior building sustainable approaches?

Applying principles of commercial business in agriculture.

CALL FOR PAPER AND POSTER SUBMISSIONS
Individuals and organisations/institutions are hereby invited to prepare proposals of papers or posters on:

Topics related to the central theme of the conference or any of the above related sub-themes.

Any other extension related proposals or submissions that are not directly related to the conference theme, but are of potential interest and value to conference participants.

Research and philosophically based papers, as well as papers based on practical experience, will be considered. However, proposals related to the central conference theme will receive preference.

All proposals will be peer reviewed and for this purpose the following is required: (If your proposal does not comply to this, it will not be accepted).

A summary of a minimum of 200 words, with clear reference to (a) Introduction (b) Purpose of the paper (c) Methods or data sources, (or reasoning used in theoretical/philosophical papers) (d) Results, (e) Conclusions and extension implications.

Separate title page with name(s) of author(s) and full contact information. E-mail address is especially important.

Submission by e-mail in Microsoft Word to the e-mail address below.

An indication whether the proposal is intended as a paper or as a poster presentation.

PROPOSALS ARE DUE NOT LATER THAN DECEMBER 15, 2017 and should be sent to, E-mail: of Dr. J A van Niekerk - vNiekerkJA@ufs.ac.za or Fax: 086 541 2166.

Presenters will be required to register for the conference and to pay the conference registration fee. If the Registration Fee is not paid, the paper will not be published in the proceedings.

The due date for completed papers and posters are 21 March 2018. If we do not receive your final paper by then, you will not be allowed to present at the conference. The paper must be in MS Word format for publication in the proceedings. MS PowerPoint presentation will not be accepted for publication. You may use MS PowerPoint for your presentation at the Conference. Posters can be in MS PowerPoint or MS Word or another appropriate poster format.

CONFERENCE VENUE
The venue for the Conference will be: Premier Hotel East London ICC, Marine Park Complex, 22 Esplanade, Beachfront, East London, Eastern Cape. GPS Coordinates: 33°01’06.13” S 27°55’07.36”

ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation for the conference period must be arranged by each delegate themselves at Premier Hotel East London ICC. They have from budget rooms to 3 and 4 Star Hotel rooms available. Details will be on the SASAE Website. There is a block booking of all the accommodation at Premier Hotel east London ICC until 1 May 2018.

Contact person for accommodation during the 2018 SASAE Conference at ICC, East London: Mrs. Cindy Hunter, Phone: 043 709 5204; Fax: 086 407 4976; email: cindy.h@elicc.co.za . They can cater any accommodation need.

REGISTRATION
The registration at the conference will start on the afternoon of 4 June 2018 and the Conference will start on 5 June 2018 at 09:00. It will end with the Gala Dinner on 7 June 2018 and everybody will depart the morning of 8 June.

The conference registration fee covers: Conference proceedings, full conference facilities, all meals (excluding breakfast), teas and coffees with pastries or biscuits, an informal braai (barbecue) and a formal dinner.

For registration, use the enclosed form but please do not mail your payment to us. Deposit your payment into the SASAE Account No.: 540 810 257, ABSA Bank, Branch Code: 335 545 (Hatfield, Pretoria), EFT Branch Code; 632 005, Swift Code for International Members: ABSA JJ ZA and fax or email a copy of your deposit slip, with clearly indicated reference information (Initials and Surname), to the Conference Secretary at Fax 086 541 2166 Email: ben@sasae.co.za to secure your registration.

You are only registered when we have received your registration form and proof of payment.

KEY DATES:
Deadline for abstracts: 15 December, 2017
Submission of papers, posters (electronically by e-mail: ben@sasae.co.za 21 March 2018
Notice of acceptance: 8 January, 2018
Early Registration: on or before 27 April 2018

ENQUIRIES CAN BE DIRECTED TO:
The SASAE Secretary (Ben Stevens) Tel. 014 5332172; Cell: 082 331 8399; Fax: 086 5412166; Email: ben@sasae.co.za
Ms. Mantombi Mbongo, Cell: 079 227 9938; Email: mantombimbongo@yahoo.com
Dr. J A van Niekerk, Cell: 083 231 7380; Email: vNiekerkJA@ufs.ac.za