North West Agriculture Department Sets Strategic Priorities for 2027/28 to Strengthen Farmer Support

The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has commenced its two-day Departmental Strategic Planning Review Lekgotla for the 2027/28 financial year at Mmabatho Palms. The meeting provides an opportunity for departmental leadership and officials to reflect on current priorities, assess institutional performance and strengthen planning for the year ahead. For farmers and rural communities, effective agricultural planning is important because departmental programmes can influence access to support, agricultural development and rural livelihoods. The Lekgotla is intended to ensure that the department’s plans remain aligned with its mandate and respond to the needs of people across the North West Province. Its discussions form part of the broader process of setting priorities and guiding the delivery of agricultural and rural development programmes.

The first day opened with an address by Head of Department Ms Lebogang Diale, who outlined the purpose of the strategic review and the principles guiding engagement during the session. Her opening remarks established the context for discussions about departmental planning, performance and priorities for the 2027/28 financial year. Strategic planning reviews provide institutions with an opportunity to consider whether their programmes remain aligned with their responsibilities and intended outcomes. They also create space to identify areas that require closer attention and improve coordination across different parts of an organisation. For the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, this process is relevant to ensuring that its work remains focused on agricultural development and the needs of farmers and communities.

MEC Madoda Sambatha also addressed the Lekgotla, setting out key policy directives, the department’s political mandate, expectations and strategic direction. These priorities provide guidance for the department as it considers how to organise its work and translate its responsibilities into programmes and activities. Policy direction and departmental planning need to work together so that broad objectives can be reflected in practical plans. Clear priorities can also help officials understand their responsibilities and coordinate their efforts towards shared outcomes. As the department prepares for the 2027/28 financial year, aligning its plans with the stated mandate will be an important part of the review process.

For farmers across the North West Province, departmental planning matters because agricultural development depends on coordinated support that responds to conditions on the ground. Farmers operate in different circumstances and may need assistance with production, farming skills, infrastructure, livestock management or access to markets. The specific support required can vary according to the type of farming operation, location and resources available. A strategic review gives the department an opportunity to consider how its programmes can respond to these varied needs within its mandate and available resources. By keeping farmers and rural communities in focus, planning can help connect institutional priorities with the practical realities of agricultural production.

The Lekgotla also provides a platform for reflection and strategic dialogue about institutional performance. Reviewing performance allows a department to consider progress against its plans and identify areas where implementation may require greater attention. This process is important because effective agricultural programmes depend not only on setting objectives but also on carrying them out and assessing their results. Clear planning, defined responsibilities and regular monitoring can help improve accountability and the use of public resources. These considerations are particularly relevant when programmes are intended to support farmers, strengthen rural communities and contribute to agricultural development across the province.

Alignment is another central purpose of the strategic planning review. When departmental priorities, programmes and responsibilities are clearly connected, officials can work towards common objectives and reduce the risk of fragmented implementation. Better coordination can also help the department consider how different areas of agricultural and rural development relate to one another. For example, efforts to support farming businesses may need to take account of infrastructure, skills development and the conditions affecting rural communities. Strategic dialogue provides an opportunity to examine these connections and consider how departmental activities can work together more effectively. The review therefore offers a setting for discussing how plans can be organised around shared priorities and practical outcomes.

The two-day meeting comes as the department prepares its direction for the 2027/28 financial year. This planning period is an opportunity to consider the challenges facing farmers and the role that public agricultural services can play in supporting the sector. Effective planning must take account of departmental responsibilities while remaining responsive to the changing needs of farming communities. It also requires a clear understanding of what programmes are intended to achieve and how progress will be assessed. Although the opening of the Lekgotla established the purpose and strategic direction of the engagement, the specific outcomes and commitments arising from the review will depend on the discussions and decisions made during the process.

For the agricultural sector in the North West, the value of the Lekgotla will ultimately be reflected in how departmental priorities translate into action. Farmers need programmes that are relevant to their circumstances, delivered with accountability and aligned with the department’s responsibilities. Rural communities also depend on development efforts that recognise the relationship between agriculture, livelihoods and local economic activity. Continued attention to planning, institutional performance and coordination can help the department assess how best to direct its work towards these needs. Clear communication of priorities and progress can further help stakeholders understand the department’s plans and how they relate to agricultural development.

The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s 2027/28 Strategic Planning Review Lekgotla marks an important stage in preparing for the year ahead. Through the opening contributions of Head of Department Ms Lebogang Diale and MEC Madoda Sambatha, the session established a focus on the department’s mandate, policy direction and principles for engagement. The review creates space to reflect on performance, strengthen alignment and consider how programmes can respond to farmers and communities across the province. Its importance lies not only in the plans discussed during the meeting but also in the department’s ability to turn agreed priorities into effective implementation. For North West agriculture, consistent planning and accountable delivery remain essential to supporting farmers, advancing rural development and building a more resilient agricultural sector.