ABSTRACT
Agricultural productivity in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is currently undermined by a structural "inverted skills pyramid" resulting from "academicization"—the systematic phasing out of certificate and diploma programs in favour of university degrees. This review employs a Systematic Narrative Synthesis (SNS) of literature and institutional reports from 2021–2025 to evaluate the consequences of this shift across all 16 SADC member states. The findings reveal that while the region produces an oversupply of theoretically grounded degree holders, it faces a critical shortage of field-ready technicians capable of managing irrigation, mechanization, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies. In the absence of formal technical pathways, the "technical cadre" has been replaced by fragmented industry-led academies, donor-funded stop-gap programs, and an aging experiential workforce. Comparative analysis with dual-track models in Germany and Brazil suggests that SADC’s current trajectory limits 4IR adoption and food security. The paper recommends an immediate restoration of autonomous technical colleges and the institutionalization of industry- Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) co-governance to bridge the widening skills gap.
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