The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development successfully convened a two-day Strategic Planning session to assess progress toward its strategic goals and objectives, as well as to identify challenges that the Department may encounter and provide mitigating responses. This session kicked off on Thursday, 10 October 2024 and concluded on Friday, 11 October 2024 in Newcastle under Amajuba District.

During this session, the Honorable MEC urged officials to continue working with dedication to achieve the Department's objectives.

Addressing the session, MEC KaMadlopha-Mthethwa outlined the importance of transforming the sector and putting agrarian revolution at the forefront of curbing food insecurity and poverty alleviation in KwaZulu-Natal.

The strategic planning session concluded with a series of practical suggestions that will form the basis for the department's work over the coming years.

"While service delivery will be provided to all citizens of the province, we will prioritize vulnerable groups such as women, youth and people with disabilities. "Three main properties include dipping chemicals and materials, strengthening the mechanization initiative and intensifying the 'One Home, One Garden' programme.

We will need to establish an office to ensure that all of these plans are implemented and accomplished. This office will be responsible for monitoring these programmes to ensure their success,” said MEC KaMadlopha-Mthethwa.

The session brought together MEC Thembeni KaMadlopha-Mthethwa, the Department's EXCO and MANCO members and Department Entities to collaborate on new solutions to address the province's challenges and possibilities.