SOUTH AFRICA – The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) has initiated the province’s first Egg Master Plan project, introducing the Shumbaset egg packing station in the West Rand.
This facility will handle the sorting, grading, packaging, and distribution of chicken eggs, marking a step forward for local egg farmers.
Shumbaset represents a collaboration of four egg producers in Gauteng, who worked with the South African Poultry Association (SAPA) and GDARD to develop the station.
Their goal is to help these farmers and other small-scale egg producers in the region meet the R345(US$20.10) grading and packaging regulations.
This initiative will also allow them to supply eggs to formal markets, enhancing their market access.
Dr. Abongile Balarane, CEO and general manager of SAPA’s Egg Organisation, highlighted the challenges the egg industry faced in 2023.
He noted that the sector lost around 30% of its production due to an outbreak of bird flu.
Many farmers were left struggling to secure funding to restock their farms after the losses.
The Shumbaset facility features one of the country’s first imported egg grading machines, capable of grading up to 72,000 eggs per hour and processing around 600,000 eggs in a full working day.
In 2024, South Africa’s egg market is valued at approximately US$0.31 billion, with a projected annual growth rate of 8.21% between 2024 and 2029.
Gauteng leads national egg production, contributing 24% of the country’s output.
Other key producers include the Western Cape (19%), Free State (17%), and KwaZulu-Natal (13%), with these four provinces accounting for 73% of South Africa’s egg supply.
The remaining five provinces collectively hold a 27% share.
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