Newsroom

By Obed Makgoale

Community’s access to fresh quality produce and live chicken at affordable prices, has become a dream come true to Topa Nama Trading Primary Cooperative. This is in addition to creating much-needed employment opportunities to the community of Ga-Mashabela village, Makhuduthamaga in Sekhukhune District.

Topa Nama Trading Primary Cooperative is a small holder located at farm Proberen 785 KS, Ga-Mashabela, about 45km North of the Vleeschboom Farmer Production Support Unit and 24 km North of the fast-growing town of Jane Furse. It has registered its mixed farming (vegetables, poultry, and livestock) operation in 2010 with the aim to enter the commercial space. Its current leading commodity is broiler, which is dominating the local market, an indication that the Cooperative can grow further.

Daniel Letsoalo, District Director for DALRRD office in Sekhukhune strongly indicated that through the support of government the project will grow. “Although they are currently relying on informal market, which is doing well, the aim of government is to see small holder farmers graduating into commercial farming and we are confident that Topa Nama Project will ultimately graduate to commercial level.” He added by saying “as the cooperative expands and increases production, we are looking forward to seeing them participating in the formal markets such as the long-awaited Lebowakgomo Abattoir which its operations now seem imminent”.

Five members are behind this noble initiative of developing their community and help fight against hunger and unemployment. The Cooperative has created permanent jobs to four local community members whose duties are to assist running the business activities of the project, said the leading director-member (chairperson), Nong John Makola.

The cooperative has four houses which in all can accommodate about 4400 chickens. There is also a section of vegetable production that is under production and has the potential to expand further.

Driven by a need to spread their wings in farming landscape, they kept on engaging the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) for assistance with production inputs. Their knock into department’s door was finally answered and this financial year 2024/2025, DALRRD has supported the project with poultry feeds, 4000 chicks and various poultry production equipment. Delivery of feeds, first batch of 2000 Ross 308 broiler chicks and various production equipment has already happened in June and July 2024 whilst the last batch of 2000 chicks is expected to touch down in their chicken house around the second week of August 2024.

Amongst others, various production equipment’s includes chicken feeds, sawdust, medication, 2x10 000L of water tanks, lights, four gas heaters/brooders and 2x42KG gas cylinders, feeders and two 500 eggs capacity automatic incubator hatches.

This is complimentary to the poultry production support input that was provided by the Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality in the last financial year, and an on-going support provided by the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD).

The LDARD is also conducting research at the project under the topic, “Experiment aimed at the impact of different broiler feeds on the growth performance of Ross 308 broiler chickens”, It is expected that the results of the research will go a long way in benefiting the project and similar others within the district around the most effective broiler feeds.

LDARD has also committed to provide continuous extension support by assigning extension officers who will work hand in hand with members of the project.

“As we speak, we are playing an important role in the skills development of the rural communities”, explained Raisibe Choenyane, board member of the Topa Nama Cooperative. She further said, currently, we are housing twenty (20) learners under the eight months Agri-Seta Learnership Programme in partnership with the company called ‘African Solution.’ This is the second group of learners for which the cooperative is providing the space for further learning purposes. The learners are paid a monthly stipend until they exit the programme.