A women-led agricultural initiative in Maruleng Village is turning small beginnings into a growing source of food security and economic opportunity, as the Dinalafase Primary Agricultural Cooperative expands its poultry and vegetable production to meet rising local demand.
According to an article by the publication Vuk’uzenzele, the cooperative was founded by seven women who came together in response to high unemployment in their community. Encouraged by local men to pursue a collective income-generating idea, the group pooled limited personal resources to get started. Each contributed R50 from their children’s social grants, alongside similar contributions from supporters in the community. With this modest start, the cooperative launched its first poultry operation in 2013 with just 60 layer chickens.
From these humble beginnings, the project has grown steadily into a structured agricultural enterprise. Today, the cooperative produces eggs, broilers and vegetables, supplying households, spaza shops and schools in and around Maruleng. What once began as survival-driven effort has become a reliable contributor to local food access and income generation.
A turning point came when the cooperative received institutional support that enabled significant expansion. This allowed them to increase their flock, purchase feed and medication, and acquire essential equipment such as a generator. The generator proved especially critical after the theft of a local transformer disrupted their water supply, a challenge that had previously threatened production.
Water scarcity had long been one of the group’s biggest obstacles. Before acquiring the generator, they depended on costly delivered water, which limited their ability to scale operations. With improved infrastructure, production has become more consistent and efficient, allowing the cooperative to better meet growing demand.
Despite this progress, demand continues to outpace supply. The group is now planning to expand their land from one hectare to two, and is exploring additional improvements such as crop protection netting to reduce losses caused by heavy rains.
For the women behind Dinalafase, the project is about more than farming. It represents dignity, independence and shared resilience in the face of unemployment. As the cooperative continues to grow, it stands as an example of how community-driven initiatives can strengthen local economies and improve household livelihoods.
Editor’s Note: This story highlights community-led agricultural initiatives contributing to local economic development and food security in rural South Africa.
Description: The Dinalafase Primary Agricultural Cooperative in Maruleng Village is empowering seven women through poultry and vegetable production, creating jobs, improving food access and strengthening local livelihoods.
