INTRODUCTION
ECM (Pty) Ltd is a turnkey macadamia Company with expertise in plantation development, macadamia processing and marketing.
The company was established in 2013 by key players in the macadamia industry who have expertise and experience in the following disciplines:
Setting up and investing in new macadamia plantations, in partnership with rural communities and emerging farmers.
Design of time tested macadamia business models to suit the prevailing land tenure constraints in rural areas.
Community capacity building.
Real skills transfer.
Setup, invest in, and operate macadamia processing plants.
Design and implement to end macadamia plantations in partnership with communities.
Linking with international marketers for macadamia exports.
Build community based macadamia value chains.
Mission
To build the first community-owned macadamia value chain in South Africa focusing on four macadamia growing provinces namely, Eastern Cape; Kwa Zulu Natal; Mpumalanga & Limpopo, with specific emphasis on Women and Youth empowerment through skills transfer and wealth creation.”
MILESTONES
Amajingqi Macadamia Farming
An initiative of East Cape Macadamia, Amajingqi Macadamia Farming is situated on the scenic Transkei coastline in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The enterprise is founded on a community-private partnering model. To alleviate excessive unemployment and poverty prevalent in the area, the community, represented by the Amajingqi Traditional Council and Chief Ngwenyathi Dumalisile looks to Amajingqi Macadamia Farming as a beacon of hope and means to unlock opportunity. With vast hectares of fertile ground land and abundant water resources between the Shixini and Jujura rivers, the macadamia project provides a real opportunity for the community.
Ncera Macadamia Farming
The Ncera Macadamia Project, 30km from East London, is a model on which new macadamia plantations are being established by East Cape Macadamia. Within its ten-year existence, Ncera Macadamia Farming has developed a skills base to assist with training, community mobilisation, empowerment, capacity building, and rural upliftment. The nursery at Ncera is also able to produce quality macadamia seedlings to supply new orchards. This, supported by a processing factory to be established in East London, should support the processing needs of sites throughout South Africa, after which final products will be exported through the East London harbour.