Co-operative Overview
Ekhasa Projects Primary Co-operative Limited is a community-based agricultural co-operative operating from approximately 12 hectares of land at Mpandela Location in the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality, Eastern Cape. The co-operative is focused on developing an integrated farming enterprise combining poultry, piggery and crop production, with the long-term objective of strengthening local food production, creating employment and developing sustainable agricultural opportunities for its members and surrounding community.
- Current Agricultural Activities
Ekhasa is already undertaking agricultural production at a small but active operational level.
The poultry operation currently consists of approximately 59 chickens and 67 chicks, with the chicks currently approximately two weeks old. Poultry sales have already taken place, particularly to customers within the local community.
Crop production is also currently underway on approximately 0.5 hectare of the available land. Crops currently planted include cabbage, spinach, potatoes, beetroot, carrots and pumpkins. Ekhasa has already sold some of its vegetables to local customers, including spinach, potatoes, cabbage and pumpkins.
The co-operative also currently has six pigs, consisting of one male and five females, establishing the foundation for the development of its piggery operation.
Farming services are not yet being offered commercially. However, as the agricultural enterprise grows, Ekhasa intends to develop agricultural services, practical skills development and training opportunities. The co-operative plans to explore collaboration with agricultural training centres to provide practical agricultural experience and field-based learning.
2. Current Customers and Market
Ekhasa currently serves local customers within the surrounding village and community, particularly customers purchasing chickens and fresh vegetables.
The co-operative has already generated agricultural sales from its poultry and crop production activities. This initial local market activity provides an early foundation for expanding production and developing more structured market opportunities.
As production capacity increases, Ekhasa intends to expand its customer base to include surrounding communities, local businesses, institutions, retailers, fresh-produce buyers and other agricultural markets within the Eastern Cape.
3. Current Scale and Traction
Ekhasa currently has five members actively involved in the operations of the co-operative.
The approximately 12-hectare landholding provides significant scope for expansion beyond the approximately 0.5 hectare currently being utilised for crop production. Current poultry, piggery and crop activities demonstrate that the enterprise has moved beyond the planning stage and has begun producing and selling agricultural products.
Ekhasa has not yet secured formal agricultural contracts, partnerships or external support programmes. The co-operative is therefore seeking opportunities to strengthen its production capacity, establish strategic partnerships and gain access to markets, equipment, infrastructure, technical support and appropriate funding.
4. Growth Opportunity
The next stage of growth is to increase the scale and consistency of poultry, piggery and crop production while developing the infrastructure required to utilise the available land more effectively.
Priority growth areas include improved fencing and land security, water supply and irrigation, poultry and piggery infrastructure, agricultural machinery and implements, production inputs, farm infrastructure, working capital, technical support and market development.
Over time, Ekhasa also intends to develop value-added agricultural activities, practical agricultural training and skills-development opportunities, while creating additional employment and economic opportunities within the local community.
5. Funding and Support Requirement
Ekhasa is seeking funding and appropriate development support to strengthen its existing agricultural operations and move from small-scale production towards a more productive and sustainable integrated farming enterprise.
Funding and support will be directed towards priority requirements including water and irrigation infrastructure, fencing, poultry and piggery facilities, livestock and poultry production inputs, crop inputs, agricultural machinery and implements, farm infrastructure, working capital, technical assistance, training and market development.
The expected outcome is increased production capacity, improved productivity, better utilisation of the available land, increased local food supply, expanded market access and the creation of sustainable employment and income-generating opportunities.
6. Integrated Farming and Innovation
Ekhasa's development model is based on an integrated farming approach, bringing poultry, piggery and crop production together within one agricultural enterprise.
The intention is to develop a more efficient farming system in which different agricultural activities complement one another, while improving the utilisation of available land and agricultural resources. As the enterprise develops, Ekhasa aims to strengthen resource efficiency, sustainable production practices, practical knowledge transfer and skills development.
The co-operative also intends to work with appropriate agricultural training centres in the future to create opportunities for practical agricultural training and field experience. This combination of production, practical learning and community-based agricultural development forms an important part of Ekhasa's longer-term business model.
7. Geographic Reach
Ekhasa's current operations are based in Mpandela Location, King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality, Eastern Cape, with its current customer base primarily located within the surrounding local community.
The immediate market focus is local, where Ekhasa can build reliable production and customer relationships. As production capacity increases, the co-operative intends to expand its reach to surrounding communities and broader Eastern Cape markets.
8. Development Outlook
Ekhasa Projects is an emerging agricultural enterprise with existing production, active members, local customers and demonstrated initial sales. The co-operative's immediate objective is to strengthen its production foundation and infrastructure, increase the scale of poultry, piggery and crop production, and develop access to broader markets.
With appropriate funding, technical support, market linkages and strategic partnerships, Ekhasa aims to develop the available agricultural land into a productive integrated farming enterprise capable of contributing to local food supply, employment creation, skills development and sustainable rural economic development.