Eastern Cape Poultry Cooperatives Receive ECDC Funding to Expand Production

Eastern Cape Poultry Cooperatives Receive ECDC Funding to Expand Production. Two poultry cooperatives in Kariega are expanding their operations after receiving a combined R642,679.58 in funding from the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) through its Imvaba Cooperative Fund.

The investment is aimed at strengthening local poultry production, improving processing capacity and supporting employment in the Eastern Cape.

Milani Macethe Poultry Production Primary Cooperative received R379,346.83, which includes R264,984 for infrastructure rehabilitation and R114,362.83 for processing and cold-chain equipment.

Established in 2002, the family-owned cooperative operates from a 12-hectare farm in Rocklands Valley, supplying live and processed chickens to local residents and traders. The business currently produces 1,500 broilers per production cycle and employs two women in permanent administrative positions.

According to ECDC Assistant Manager for Financial Incentives and Business Support Fikile Mzinyati, the funding has enabled the reconstruction of poultry houses with capacity for up to 6,000 broilers. The support also covered the purchase of 1,500 day-old chicks, poultry feed and equipment including a poultry plucker, chest freezers, a digital scale and a packaging machine.

Cooperative manager Thobeka Menze said the funding has helped rebuild and expand operations following floods in 2022/23. Menze received the Department of Agriculture’s Women Entrepreneurship Award for Best Subsistence Producer in 2024 and the Best Poultry Producer Award in the Sarah Baartman District Municipality in 2026.

A second beneficiary, Langbooi Sthathu Agricultural Primary Cooperative, received R263,332.75 in April 2026. The funding was used to renovate broiler housing, purchase processing machinery and equipment, and acquire day-old chicks and poultry feed.

Established in 2003, the family-owned enterprise is managed by five members of the Langbooi family and employs eight people, including its members. The cooperative produces about 1,440 broilers every four weeks, with facilities accommodating up to 1,500 birds per production cycle.

Mzinyati said the investment reflects the ECDC’s commitment to supporting black-owned cooperatives, strengthening agricultural enterprises and promoting inclusive economic growth across the Eastern Cape.