Towards Decolonizing Agricultural Education in South Africa: A Systematic Literature Review

Towards Decolonizing Agricultural Education in South Africa: A Systematic Literature Review

Shadreck Muchaku , Hlekani M. Kabiti & Bernard N.Nthambeleni

Issue: Vol. 7 No.1 2026 Article 23 pp.298 – 310
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267123| Published online 27th February 2026

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ABSTRACT

Given South Africa’s colonial legacy, which has displaced communities and restricted agricultural development, decolonising agricultural education is critical to promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Higher education institutions have a key role to play in reorienting agricultural education to equip graduates with contextualised knowledge and skills. While broader debates on the decolonisation of higher education are well established, agricultural education remains under-researched in this regard. Recognising the disciplinary diversity within universities, this study undertook a systematic review to identify practical strategies for decolonising agricultural education in South African higher education institutions. It explored how teaching, learning and research can be reconceptualised to reflect and respond to local realities, particularly the lived experiences of historically marginalised communities. The review was primarily based on literature from the Scopus database, supplemented by targeted, accredited articles selected according to a predefined screening strategy. The findings provide actionable insights for educators and policymakers that support the development of curricula and pedagogies that are both socially relevant and transformative. In doing so, the study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on decolonisation and provides a basis for rethinking agricultural education in a way that restores indigenous knowledge and promotes inclusive development.

Keywords: Decolonization, Agricultural Education, University Responsiveness, Africanisation

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ABOUT AUTHOR(S)

Shadreck Muchaku is a Researcher and Adjunct Professor at the University of Venda. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, a Master of Public Management, and a PhD in Rural Development, all from the University of Venda, South Africa. His research work at the University of Fort Hare spans several interdisciplinary areas, including climate change, community engagement, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), rural development, entrepreneurship education, conflict resolution, and governance.

Dr. Hlekani M. Kabiti is a researcher at the Centre of Global Change at Walter Sisulu University, South Africa. She holds training in Agribusiness Management, Agricultural Economics and Rural Development. Dr Hlekani Kabiti is recognized as a Y2 (emerging researcher) by the South African National Research Foundation. Her current research interests are multidisciplinary, encompassing small-scale farming dynamics, rural livelihoods, socio-economic aspects of food security and the impact of climate change on these.

Prof. Bernard Nthambeleni is the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Venda situated in Limpopo Province, Republic of South Africa. Prof Nthambeleni is an accomplished and successful executive with more than 26 years’ experience in the higher education sector relating to teaching, management, research management & research administration, capacity building programmes, research and development. He possesses a wealth of experience and a breadth of knowledge and pertinent experience in the higher education sector. He has authored a number of papers in a peer reviewed and occasional journals.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Muchaku, Shadreck, Hlekani M. Kabiti, and Bernard N.Nthambeleni. “Towards Decolonizing Agricultural Education in South Africa: A Systematic Literature Review.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.1 (2026): 298 – 310. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267123