Newsroom

By Tebogo Mabidilala

Mopani District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development hosted a two-day Annual Extension Officers and Advisory Services Conference at Swadini Forever Resort, under the Maruleng Local Municipality, from 29 to 30 January 2026.

The conference was well attended, with strong participation from extension officers. Their active involvement reflected the collective commitment of officials across the district’s three Agro-Ecological Zones to advancing the department’s mission, vision, and strategic goals. This commitment underscores the department’s dedication to delivering effective and responsive services to farming communities, in line with its mandate.

Addressing delegates, Acting District Director Ms. Mhani Nkuna Makhanani highlighted several critical focus areas requiring urgent attention. These include the proper classification of farmers and the need to deepen understanding of funding models, such as blended finance, which is vital for farmers seeking capital injections to expand and sustain their agricultural enterprises. She further urged officials to closely follow the proceedings of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) at the Legislature, emphasizing that the quality of their work and agricultural production has a direct impact on accountability, governance outcomes, and the overall performance of the department.

The Acting District Director reiterated the importance of unity and collaboration among officials, emphasizing that working together is essential to achieving meaningful results in the department’s core business.

She encouraged extension officers to fully engage in conference commissions and discussions, ensuring that the outcomes contribute to raising the department’s performance standards and supporting government priorities.

Ms Nkuna concluded by calling on officials to go the extra mile and ensure that the resolutions and outputs of the conference translate into tangible improvements in service delivery across the district.