Eastern Cape Female Farmers Turn R400k Funding Into Bigger Production Footprint

• The Amamfengu Women Agricultural Primary Cooperative received R400 750 from the ECDC’s Imvaba Co-operative Fund
• The Eastern Cape cooperative expanded its farming land and secured water infrastructure to support its growth
• The women-led co-op supplies produce to hawkers, spaza shops, crèches and catering companies across the region

A women-led farming cooperative in the Eastern Cape has more than doubled its production land and held onto 18 jobs after receiving government development support.

The Amamfengu Women Agricultural Primary Cooperative Limited, based in the Eastern Cape, grew its operational footprint from two to five hectares. According to a report by Pondoland Times, a local news outlet in the Eastern Cape, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) approved R400,750 for the cooperative through its Imvaba Co-operative Fund.

From 2 hectares to a thriving rural operation

The cooperative was founded in 2017 and started out farming vegetables on two hectares of land. It later secured an additional three hectares through the Wittekleibosch Community Trust. The operation now grows cabbages, potatoes, butternut, peppers and rosemary, selling its produce to hawkers, catering companies, spaza shops, crèches and Die Kooperasie.

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The ECDC identified water access, fencing and basic farming infrastructure as the key challenges holding the cooperative back. The R400,750 in funding addressed those directly, covering a borehole, a solar-powered water pumping system, water-storage infrastructure, fencing for two hectares, and land clearing to prepare the expanded area for cultivation.

Why this model matters for rural communities

The cooperative supports five members and has retained 18 jobs, providing steady household income in a region where agricultural work is a vital source of livelihoods. Beyond employment, the co-op has begun producing its own seedlings, cutting down on input costs and improving day-to-day efficiency. Members also receive mentorship from The Coop Community Trust, covering both technical farming knowledge and business skills.

Read the full report here.

More stories involving female farmers

• At just 26, Vryheid farmer Amahle Ngema is building a name for herself in commercial crop farming.
• A female farmer has shown that hard work does pay off after her thriving farm supplies Spar and Boxer.
• A TikTok video captured a hilarious sight of a woman who was in the farming space performing one of her duties.

Source: Briefly News