Chasing a Moving Target: Creating a Policy Environment at Sub-National Level

Too often innovation, which will lead to resilience, is considered the responsibility of farmers and farming communities. In this paper it is argued that innovation should not be limited to farm level, but that it is the responsibility of the whole ecosystem surrounding farmers; even to those spheres of government with limited policy levers. In this paper the continuous learning process of a sub-national government entity, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture in South Africa, is used as a case study. The Provincial Agricultural Sector is well diversified and annually approximately 66% of its value of production gets exported with the result that more than 16% of all jobs in the Province can be linked to farming. In supporting this Sector and pursuant to the expectations of farmers and other spheres of government, the Provincial Department of Agriculture has developed causality arguments at macro and programme level. The paper accentuates the need for continuous learning and adaptation through the WCDoA's structured evaluation program, encompassing diagnostic, design, implementation, and impact assessments. A comprehensive list of completed evaluations demonstrates the breadth of topics covered, ranging from rural development to agribusiness investment and smart agriculture planning. The conclusion underscores that innovation and resilience should permeate all facets of the agricultural ecosystem, extending beyond farm-level initiatives. The WCDoA's approach, characterized by a macro-level theory of change, measurable indicators, and a systematic evaluation plan, is presented as a paradigm for staying relevant and responsive to the evolving needs of farmers and communities.