By Tebogo Mabidilala
Mopani District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is hosting its 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 is well attended, and the high level of participation by extension officers reflects the collective commitment of officials from the district’s three Agro-Ecological Zones to advance the mission, vision, and strategic goals of the department.
This commitment underscores the department’s dedication to fulfilling its mandate of effective and responsive service delivery to farming communities.
Addressing delegates, Acting District Director Ms Mhani Nkuna Makhanani highlighted several critical focus areas that require urgent attention.
These include the proper classification of farmers and the need to deepen understanding of funding models such as blended finance, which is essential for farmers who require capital injections to expand and sustain their agricultural enterprises.
She further urged officials to closely follow 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, stressing that working in unison is key 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.
