COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS YIELD INGQUZA FRESH PRODUCE SECONDARY COOPERATIVE IN LUSIKISIKI

By Lesego Ranchu

• Strategic Collaboration for Community Development: The Ingquza Fresh Produce Secondary Cooperative was established with NDA’s support to consolidate agricultural resources and empower local communities.
• ⁠Strengthening Agricultural Value Chains: The cooperative will support primary producers with training, resources, and market access, thereby enhancing food security and promoting rural job creation.
• Scaling Impact Through Unity: IFPSC aims to enhance production capacity, ensure consistent market supply, and address common barriers, such as access to funding and inputs, by uniting eight cooperatives under one organisationorganization.

Driven by a shared commitment to community empowerment, the Ingquza Fresh Produce Secondary Cooperative (IFPSC) has been officially established in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape. This milestone reflects the success of collaboration between the state, civil society, and local agricultural stakeholders. The initiative is part of the National Development Agency’s (NDA) broader efforts to support community-led development through inclusive partnerships and sustainable agricultural practices.
Leading a delegation of senior executives and provincial representatives, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the NDA, Mr Thabani Buthelezi, conducted an oversight visit to funded community projects across the Eastern Cape. These engagements form part of a national roadshow aligned with the NDA’s newly approved turnaround strategy, which aims to position the Agency as South Africa’s leading development institution. The roadshows also serve to assess the impact of NDA-supported programmes, particularly those contributing to skills development and job creation.
Building on the momentum of the recent National Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Conference held in May, the NDA continues to garner support from various sectors for its role in leading innovative, cross-sectoral approaches to poverty reduction. The Conference affirmed the vital role of CSOs in spearheading sustainable grassroots development and called for stronger, more coordinated action among stakeholders.
The IFPSC is a newly formalized entity comprising eight agricultural primary cooperatives within the Ingquza Hill Local Municipality. Its mission is to consolidate resources, knowledge, and capacity in order to expand market access, improve productivity, and enhance food security. The cooperative model enables shared training, joint marketing, streamlined management, and enhanced human resource planning.
Ingquza Hill, home to over 280,000 predominantly rural residents, faces significant socio-economic challenges, including high unemployment. Local livelihoods are primarily sustained through subsistence farming, social grants, and informal trade. Agriculture remains a vital sector for generating income and providing food.
One of the founding members of the IFPSC, Magazi Farming Projects in Dubana Lusikisiki, has been operational since 2016. The enterprise produces crops such as cabbages and spinach, supplying local retailers, including Spar and Boxer, since 2020. Their diversified operations also include piggery, poultry, and citrus farming. “We currently farm on 5 of our 15 hectares. Through this secondary cooperative, we can now finalize a deal with Potato South Africa and expand into high-value crops like cauliflower, broccoli, macadamia nuts, and beekeeping,” says Mr. Zizamele Magazi, Chairperson of Magazi Farming Projects. He adds, “This partnership helps us overcome barriers to funding and reach larger markets. With NDA’s support, we’ll also be able to purchase essential fertilizers to improve soil health in our acidic environment.”
Another member, Amajabangqa Agricultural Primary Cooperative (AAPC), operates on 5 hectares of land in the Bazana Administrative Area. With access to 60 hectares provided by traditional leadership, AAPC focuses on cabbage cultivation. “As part of the secondary cooperative, we can mobilize resources more efficiently and ensure consistent market supply,” says Mr. Sipho Giwu. “Coordinated planting across different cooperatives will allow for year-round production and improved planning.”