By Tshifhiwa Muifha
A Re-focus Planning Workshop takes centre stage with the aim at sharpening service delivery, strengthening accountability, and improving performance across the sector.
A total of 114 Agricultural Advisors from across the Vhembe District convened at Vhembe TVET College for a focused two-day Re-focus Planning Workshop aimed at sharpening service delivery, strengthening accountability, and improving performance across the sector.
The workshop follows key resolutions to empower advisors under Programme 3 with a clearer understanding of the Annual Performance Plan (APP) and its targets. It also directly addresses departmental priorities, including improving audit outcomes, ensuring credible farmer registration systems, and driving measurable impact in farmer support programmes.
Setting the tone, Acting Chief Director for Extension Services, Masaka Mabilo, delivered a firm call to action, reminding advisors of their core mandate. He emphasised that farmer registration must be treated as a critical tool to eliminate wasteful expenditure and promote fairness in resource allocation. Mabilo urged advisors to return to the fundamentals of extension services, anchored in the Constitution’s commitment to ensuring access to food and strengthening national food security.
Accountability remained a central theme throughout the workshop. Vhembe District Director, Mr Masindi Mariba, presented a detailed overview of audit findings, highlighting concerns around misappropriation of agricultural inputs, challenges within the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP), and issues related to disaster and transport management. Advisors were encouraged to uphold compliance, strengthen reporting, and execute their duties with diligence to avoid negative audit outcomes.
Day one featured a range of strategic presentations, including the 2026/27 APP targets, a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) session on Survey123, a report-back from the MinMEC meeting, SHEP programme insights, food security planning, LDARD reporting templates, and the Producer Support Policy.
The workshop not only equipped advisors with practical tools and knowledge, but also reignited a shared commitment to excellence, transparency, and dedicated service to farmers.
Vhembe District Director, Mr Masindi Mariba (right), presented a detailed overview of audit findings, highlighting concerns around misappropriation of agricultural inputs, challenges within the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP), and issues related to disaster and transport management.
