ARE SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMISTS ADEQUATELY SKILLED TO FACE FUTURE CHALLENGES? / IS SUID-AFRIKAANSE LANDSOU-EKONOME TOEREIKEND OPGELEI OM TOEKOMSTIGE UITDAGINGS DIE HOOF TE BIED?

Abstract

The agricultural science establishment experiences growing pressure from an unimpressed public. Like other agricultural scientists, agricultural economists must determine how to face future challenges. The profession's playing field has changed. Agricultural economists appear not to be open minded, adaptable and willing to push the boundaries of their discipline to be able to cope with secondary activities. An increasing number of limitations hampers the effectiveness of the profession and this may signal a need for curriculum revision. Departments of Agricultural Economics should recognise the importance of producing economically literate graduates who can function and perform in external environments. Curricular change must incorporate the inclusion of imaginative ideas development that will be able to connect economic rationality with changing perceptions. Services of academic institutions should involve inter alia, focusing their traditional efforts also on non-traditional markets; this provides some challenges of its own.

Die landbouwetenskaplike professies ondewind toenemende druk van 'n onbeïndrukte publiek. Soos ander landboukundiges moet landbou-ekonome bepaal hoe hul toekomstige uitdagings sal aanspreek. Die professie se speelveld het verander. Landbou-ekonome skyn nie 'n oop gemoed te hê, aanpasbaar te wees en gavillig om hul dissiplinêre grense te verwyd teneinde sekondêre aktiwiteite aan te spreek nie. 'n Toenemende getal beperkings belemmer die effektiwiteit van die professie en dit mag 'n nodigheid vir kurrikulumveranderings aandui. Landbou-ekonomie departemente behoort erkenning te gee aan die belangrikheid daarvan om ekonomies geletterde graduandi op te lewer wat kan funksioneer en presteer in eksteme omgewings. Kurrikulêre vernadering moet die insluiting van verbeeldingstyke idee-ontwikkeling inkorporeer. wat ekonomiese rasionaliteit kan verbind met veranderende persepsies. Dienste van akademiese instellings behoort onder andere dit te behels dat hulle hul tradisionele dienste ook op nie- tradisionele marke toespits; dit stel uitdagings op sigself.