THE FUSE

Government-funded agricultural projects play an important role in supporting farmers, strengthening rural businesses and creating opportunities for economic development in South Africa. However, providing financial support is only one part of successful agricultural development. Projects must also deliver meaningful results, overcome operational challenges and contribute to sustainable economic activity within their communities. As part of efforts to assess the impact of government agricultural funding, members of the National Assessment Panel for the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) recently visited two CASP-funded projects in the Nkangala District of Mpumalanga. The visits form part of the panel’s ongoing monitoring, evaluation and knowledge-sharing activities aimed at ensuring that government investments achieve their intended objectives.