The Chicken Coop Project Boosts Emerging Farmers in Moorreesburg

Dennis and Cornelia van Schalkwyk have been farming in Moorreesburg, in the Swartland District, for the past three years. What began as a modest sheep-meat operation has steadily expanded into a promising poultry enterprise, now bolstered by the support of the Chicken Coop Project.

Implemented by Casidra on behalf of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA), the initiative was funded through the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) and managed by Casidra’s Project Manager for Food Security, Mulalo Mukona. The project was officially signed off on 3 December, marking a significant milestone for the Van Schalkwyk family.

As beneficiaries, the couple received a comprehensive suite of farming inputs aimed at accelerating the growth of their poultry business. This included 200 chickens, a hummer mill, an incubator, a grower package for chicks, and a fertiliser tester.

Cornelia expressed deep appreciation for the assistance provided by Casidra and the WCDoA, noting that she is impressed by the consistent support and grateful for Casidra’s readiness to help whenever needed. The couple remains highly motivated about the road ahead. Dennis summed up their ambition simply and said, “I want to go commercial, and I have big goals for the future.”

With strong institutional backing and their own determination, the Chicken Coop Project is not only helping the Van Schalkwyks scale up their operations, it is empowering them to dream bigger and build a sustainable agricultural enterprise.