This follows the ACEO appointment in the position and furtherance of the recently approved NDA turnaround strategy that seeks to position the agency as a premier development organisation.

After a successful national Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Conference earlier in May, the NDA received resounding support from the sector to lead state, private sector and CSO collaborations for innovative approaches towards the eradication of poverty. The Conference further deliberated on amplifying the role of CSOs as key drivers of sustainable community development.

The Ingquza Fresh Produce Secondary Cooperative (IFPASC) is one such community owned organisation - a newly formalised entity formed by 8 crop producers within the Ingquza Hill Local Municipality, aimed at strengthening the agricultural sector through collaboration of assets and experience from their primary cooperatives. This initiative focuses on resource mobilisation, training, marketing, human resource and overall management. Ingquza Hill has a population of over 280 000 people mostly residing in rural areas with high unemployment. Subsistence agriculture, social grants and informal trade drive the local economy. Agriculture is a key sector for food security, income generation and job creation.

One of the primary cooperatives, Magazi Farming Projects in Dubana Lusikisiki was established in 2016, focuses on crop production including cabbages and spinach sold at the local Spar and Boxer since 2020, piggery, poultry farming and fruit farming (oranges). "We have a total of 15 hectares of land to farm currently we are using 5 hectares, the secondary cooperative partnership will allow us to finally close a deal with Potato South Africa and we will venture fully into producing cauliflower, broccoli, macadamia nuts and beekeeping. We thought it a good idea to form part of the secondary cooperative due to struggles with accessing funding, growing their selling to bigger markets this umbrella body will assist us to address these challenges. We are grateful for the assistance of the NDA as well be able to purchase fertilisers and chemicals to assist with crops as we experience a lot of acidity in this area. Mr Magazi Zizamele, Chairperson of Magazi Farm Projects, explains that the community of Dubana AA including women and unemployed youth benefits from jobs on the farm.

The sentiments are shared by another cooperative, Amajabangqa, Agricultural Primary Cooperative (AAPC) in the Bazana Administrative Area operate on 5 hectares of the available 60 hectares of arable land, also focus on cabbage production on land provided by traditional leadership. "The secondary cooperative will assist with resource mobilisations, our numbers will assist to sustain the market - when there are many cooperatives, we can consistently supply the market. We will plan better now for production at different areas and times to ensure consistent supply into the markets says Mr Sipho Giwu.

AAPC has received financial and technical support from various stakeholders to be where they are today, including 2022/ 2023 financial year NDA funding for a water system, comprising a generator and irrigation pipes as well as production inputs such as fertilisers and seedlings to the value of R99, 903,86 where granted. Further support was provided in the 2024/25 financial year, with the NDA approving a R337, 455.76 grant under the sustainability programme. The local municipality has also been instrumental to provide inputs, the Department of Agriculture for 2km fencing for crop protection, irrigations system and construction of a GAP facility

"Farming is a difficult and long-term investment. The NDAs role here included formalising the secondary cooperative bringing together all the small-scale farmers, to provide capacity building training in Financial Management and Basic Bookkeeping to ensure they remain compliant and can account for government funds allocated to them and thirdly to provide them a grant that will purchase goods they can jointly utilise including a tractor which is currently a big costs for the farmers to hire. When all of that is done, we rely on other partners to ensure that the funded organisations receive ongoing technical support, mentorship and linkages to markets so they remain sustainable. We have successfully unlocked the potential of IFPSC and during my meeting here with our partner stakeholders agree that this is a ground-breaking initiative and opportunity for this area and will result in sustainable livelihood and job creation, says Mr Thabani Buthelezi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the NDA.

A stakeholder engagement was held with key stakeholders including the Department of Agriculture, Ingquza Hill Local Municipality Local Economic Development Unit, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Department of Social Development (DSD) and South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) are critical to the sustainability of agricultural development programmes funded by the NDA. In this financial year, R1.9 million has been set aside for funding to Ingquza Fresh Produce Secondary Cooperative, which consists of 8 small-scale farmers, to collectively upskill their production for job creation opportunities and increased sustainable income. The funds will procure a tractor, implements, potato planter, potato harvester and disc ridger amongst other activities. This support will enhance the cooperative production capacity, promote economic empowerment, and contribute to improving living standards in Ingquza Hill.

Jointly all the primary cooperative occupies 176 hectares of land, focusing on high-demand crops like spinach, butternut, potatoes, cabbage and peppers. While the primary cooperatives remain operational, the secondary cooperative will enhance productivity and sustainability by offering centralised support.

The municipal local economic development lauded this approach of working together to avoid duplicate funding to the same organisations and pledged their ongoing full support to the NDA. Mr Zamile Madyibi, District Director of Agriculture at O.R Tambo says the ability for NDA to coordinate and bring together all stakeholders in a room is commendable as all are aligned to eradicate poverty, hunger and create jobs. "We are all in a position to do more together, this coordination by the NDA allows us to collectively reach our goals in a coordinated manner.

The NDA ACEO thanked the stakeholders for their support and roles in ensuring the success of the secondary cooperation. He concluded to say, "Markets are showing that collaboration and scale are key to success this is the way to go.

Mr Mthetho Lwana, an Economist at the Department of Agriculture, is also working hand in hand with all the primary cooperatives and secondary cooperative with business plans and to push production to the main market streams including the vegetable hub in Port St Johns.

The 8 primary cooperatives are: Masakhiwe Agricultural Cooperative, Intaniso Primary Cooperative, Yamampondomise Primary Cooperative, Itha Lam Farm & Breeding Primary Cooperative, Uncedo Primary Cooperative, Amajabangqa Agricultural Agricultural Primary Cooperative, Mtshini Agricultural & Multi-purpose Cooperative and Magazi Farming Projects.