Business address

Phone

Email

Taephers Resources
Leo Chamarime

01 October 2022

BUSINESS PLAN FOR FARM

Table of Contents:
 Section 1: Executive Summary
 Section 2: Business/Industry Overview
 Section 3: Sales and Marketing Plan
 Section 4: Ownership and Management Plan
 Section 5: Operating Plan
 Section 6: Financial Plan
SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The need of this farming project is to promote sustainable agricultural practices, strengthen markets and
protect the environment where the people and the environment thrive. Our teams and partners will work
closely with local communities, engaging them in every level of decision-making by delivering long-lasting
change for farmers, their families and the environments they live in. We expect to deliver produce that
markets itself in terms of quality assurance making excellence our motto.

Our main aim is to create a farm ecosystem whereby both living and non-living things interact and
exchange energy on the same piece of land, i.e: crops get to to benefit from livestock on the same land by
getting water from pond drainage and getting nutrients from composed animal matter (pig and chicken
droppings) which can also be used to feed fish at a later stage, the pigs can feed off ground maize cobs as
well as the chickens. The animals can also feed off maize peels. This is helpful in that all resources needed
for produce are found in the same place and all organic. This in turn saves on feed costs and part of the
irrigation system.

Ultimately we want to be able to produce, process, package and supply on our own and be big players in
the export market, in turn encouraging several young farmers to partake in farming projects.

The main products we wish to farm on the land are maize, potatoes, fish, chickens and pigs. Our target
market is mainly large scale distributors as well as local markets and butchery. The project will be broken
down into phases and timelines will be made for the start for each phase. The first phase focuses on the
crop plantation which will be on 5 hectares of the land, where maize and potato seed are planted in equal
ratios.

Land preparation and plantation will take place within the next , in preparation for the rains.

The financial projections for the first phase of the project are shown below:

Land Preparation
1. Ploughing maize field

ITEM PRICE UNIT TOTAL

Tractor hire $75 3 hectares $225
Fuel (per litre) $1.70 60 litres $102
$327

2. Potatoes land Prep

ITEM PRICE UNIT TOTAL

Tractor Hire $75 2 hectares $150
Fuel (per litre) $1.70 40 litres $68
Total $218
3.Seed and Chemical Chart

ITEM PRICE UNIT TOTAL

Compound D (50kg) $37 7 bags $259
Top (50kg) $55 5 bags $55
Crop(25kg) $80 1 $80
Chemical****(500ml) $7 1 $7
Stellastar Weedche $90 1 $90
Total(1 Hectare) $491
Total (3 hectares) $1473

Total cost for the first phase

ITEM COST
Ploughing maize field $378
Potato land prep $378
Seed and Chemical $1473
Land dicing labour $250
100 litres of diesel $170
Total $2649

The second phase of the project involves poultry, aquaculture and livestock. The goal is to build chicken
pens, a pig-sty and fish ponds. In order for this to happen there is a need to prepare the chicken run, the
pigsty and the fish ponds.

The poultry project is an ideal solution for achieving a combination of goals. it is clear that poultry
businesses provide certain merits such as housing layer birds which will require labour to tend all year
round, providing stable labour for local residents, as well as meeting egg demand on the existing market.
If production figures are met, this poultry farming project could achieve production of jobs for locals as
well as penetrating the market, producing premium quality healthy chickens.

The initiative to also produce pork is driven by a mission to provide our clients and the food industry they
serve to have safe, healthy and high quality pork by cultivating a culture of operational excellence, enabling
us to compete in a global market for protein production.

The fish farming industry is a thriving one where a lot of opportunities for investment are available. We
want to venture into the Aquaculture industry because we want to leverage on the vast opportunities
available in the agriculture industry, to contribute our quota in growing the economy, in national food
production, and over and above to make profit. We have put process and strategies in place that will help
us employ best practices when it comes to fish and farming processes. Our customer’s best interest will
always come first, and everything we do will be guided by our values and professional ethics. We will
ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our client’s needs precisely
and completely.
SECTION 2: BUSINESS OVERVIEW
The table below highlights the requirements for the project.

Pigs Chickens Potatoes Fish Maize

Land (hectares) 1 1 3 0.06 3
Labour
Capital ($)
Enterprise Pig sty Chicken pen Field Ponds Field
Feed
Market Faitel Valley Aquaculture Mudzvurwa
distributors milling
Lighting Solar
system
Borehole
Tools
Irrigation Drip
Chemicals
Medication
Feeders
Storage
Transportation
Harvesting
(machinery/
labour)

Each product on the piece of land has a different target market and selling point, and the overview for each
of them is shown below.

Potato plantation: Planted on 2 hectares of land where, upon harvest will be sold to large scale distributors
(Faitel Valley) in the hopes to have a steady annual supply of produce. Faitel Valley is responsible for
distribution of fruits and vegetables to large companies such as supermarkets and restaurants. Our
competitive advantage is that we don’t have to worry about trying to penetrate the market as our produce
will be going to the suppliers packed in 10 kgs mesh packs of medium and large potato sizes, 30 tonne per
load. The surplus will be sold to the local market, available in all sizes and different pack sizes as well.
Harvest should be ready after 3 months, if planted at the beginning of October, with the right nutrients
and care, they should be ready for market by December.

Maize Crop Plantation: Planted on 3 hectares of land, upon harvest they will be dried and the corn will be
ground by a roller mill to produce mealie meal. After which the meal will be packed and branded into bags
of roller meal, super refined meal and parlenta and supplied to markets where demand for maize meal is
high and supply is low where they will be sold at a lower price than the existing market. Milling will take
place in Mvurwi and packed in 50 kg packs and then transported and repacked into branded packs and set
to market. The main target market is Masvingo and the local community, though more market research is
underway to identify a penetrable market. Some of the maize will also be sold to local farmers as wet or
dry cobs. The creshes from the mills will be used to feed the chickens.

Chicken Run: the expected chicken pens will be erected on approximately 100 square metres of land in the
design that’s shown below. It is expected to house about 500 birds.
SECTION 5: OPERATION PLAN
This section is going to indicate the route taken in this plan to achieve our ultimate goal on our farming
ecosystem. It is going to show a stage by stage sequence of events from implementation to harvest. As well
as everything that is needed.

Potato plantation:
Land- (3 hectares)

Potatoes can be grown on almost on any type of soil, except saline and alkaline soils. Naturally loose soils,
which offer the least resistance to enlargement of the tubers, are preferred, and loamy and sandy loam
soils that are rich in organic matter, with good drainage and aeration, are the most suitable. The pH of the
soil should ideally be in the range of 5.2-6.4 for the optimum growth of the potatoes. Growing potatoes
involves extensive ground preparation. The soil needs to be harrowed until completely free of weed roots.
In most cases, three ploughings, along with frequent harrowing and rolling, are needed before the soil
reaches a suitable condition: soft, well-drained and well-aerated.

Machinery and equipment –

Machinery and equipment needed include tractors, fertilizer spreader equipment, spray equipment,
diggers, harvesters, irrigation equipment, scales, bins, boom sprayers, ridgers etc. For the bigger
machinery like tractors, you can hire when you want to use them irrigation systems, standby diesel
generators for use during power outages, or solar powered irrigation systems. The higher the level of
mechanization at your potato farm, the higher the efficiency of your operations, and the profitability of your
potato farming business.

Farming inputs-

There are several farming inputs needed for your potato farming business. Most importantly you need the
potato seed. The potato cultivars which are used in Zimbabwe include BP1, Amethyst (the most widely
grown potato in Zimbabwe). Potatoes take 14-20 weeks to mature. You also require herbicides for your
potato farm, for effective weed control at your farm. You may use Dual Magnum 960 EC, Sencor/
Metribuzine, and Agil 100 EC herbicides. Pesticides and fungicides are required for protecting your potato
plants against insects and fungi. Fertilizers are required to support the efficient growth of your potatoes, by
providing all the nutrients needed by potatoes to grow to their full potential. The fertilizers you use include
Compound B or C and Potassium Nitrate.

Labour-

You need to hire part time farm workers as and when necessary. The duties which they will do include
grading and packing; sprouting; planting; re redging; top dressing; line marking; discing ; ploughing;
herbiciding and pesticiding. You will be paying them per number of days worked. You also require
supervisors, farm manager, finance & accounting staff, and logistics staff depending on the scale of your
potato farming business.

Market-

There is huge market for potatoes in Zimbabwe. More than 80 000 tonnes of potatoes are consumed
annually in Zimbabwe, and the demand has been on the rise since the dollarisation of the economy in
2009. The potential customers for your potatoes include transporters/middleman (they will come to your
farm to buy your poatatoes to resell in the city), hotels, supermarkets, and fast food outlets (for making
french fries aka fresh chips), traders & wholesale distributors (E.g. Mbare Musika is the largest market for
potatoes, the traders buy potatoes from farmers in bulky for reselling), Fruit and Vegetable open markets,
organisations and individuals. The prices of potatoes vary throughout the year depending on market forces
ie supply and demand. The price also depends on the size and quality of potatoes. These prices allow very
huge profits margins for a potato farming business. The profits you will get depend on the cost of inputs, the
yield from your potato farm, and the selling prices of the potatoes.

MAIZE GROWING

Land-

Maize can be grown in a variety of soil types. However it needs soil which is fertile and well drained.
Maize/Corn grow well in soil with pH of between 6-7. If the pH is too acidic, lime should be added to
increase the pH of the soil to between pH 6-7. Other properties of good soil for maize include: sufficient and
balanced quantities of plant nutrients, good internal soil drainage, good moisture, and good effective depth
of the soil.

Machinery and equipment-

Land preparation must be properly done to ensure the soil is ready for the maize. for medium to large scale
heavy machinery such as tractors are needed. Adequate water supply is also important meaning that
irrigation maybe necessary. However maize farming can also be done without irrigation in areas which
have a good supply of rainfall.

Inputs-

You start maize farming by planting maize seeds. Ensure that you use high quality maize seed from
certified maize seed companies. Fertilizers are also essential during maize farming as they support the
growth of the maize by providing nutrients. The amount and type of fertilizers needed for maize farming
depend on the fertility of the soil and the target yield. The most important nutrients for maize farming are
Nitrogen and Phosphorous. Potassium and Zinc are also required. Organic matter is also needed in maize
farming. This can be in the form of compost, decayed leaves, animal manure etc. The functions of organic
matter in maize farming include: increasing soil fertility, positively influencing the moisture level &
temperature of the soil, increasing the soil friability and increasing the amount of decomposers organisms
in the soil. Organic matter also increases the capacity of the soil to retain water and nutrients. It’s a soil
conditioner. Other essential maize farming inputs include herbicides, for effective weed control at your farm.
Pesticides and fungicides are required for protecting your maize/corn plants against insects and fungi.
Diligent measures must be put in place to fight against pests, diseases and weeds.

Farm workers-

So you will need to hire part time farm workers as and when necessary. The duties of the maize farm
workers include cultivating the land, ploughing, planting, irrigation, applying manure & fertilizer on the land,
weed & pest control, harvesting.

Market-

The market is huge and actually needs more players to start maize farming businesses. The demand for
maize is very high, individuals consume maize and products processed from maize. Maize meal and Maize
flour is used in meals all over the world. Maize is used in stock feed production for livestock production.

POULTRY PROJECT

Land, housing and equipment –

When you are planning to construct a broiler chicken house, you have to select a site which is well-drained
with plenty of natural air movement. Broiler Chickens cannot adjust well to temperature extremes, so it is
very essential that the hens be housed, cared and provided with an environment that will enable them to
maintain their thermal balance. You need to reduce temperature fluctuations, and this can be achieved by
having the broiler chicken house oriented on an east-west axis to reduce the effect of direct sunlight on the
sidewalls during the hottest part of the day. Good temperature control will enhance feed conversion and
growth rate, making your poultry farming business more profitable. Broilers chickens need sufficient space
for them to grow well, they should not be crowded, otherwise they may suffocate to death and that will lead
to a loss in your poultry farming business. Each broiler chicken requires about 0.1 square meters of floor
space. which translates to 10 hens per square meter. You also need poultry farming equipment which
includes good chicken feeders, drinkers, lighting system and waste disposal system.

Day Old Chicks-

You should assess the quality of the chicks by checking whether they are clean, dry, have bright eyes, are
active and alert, and should not have any deformity on the body. Buy your stock from accredited hatcheries
which have a comprehensive history of vaccination and health management programme for the breeding
flock. When you have purchased the day old chicks, you need transport them carefully to avoid mortality,
as the day old chicks are tender and must be handled with care.

Feed and nutrition-

To be profitable in the poultry farming business, you have to minimize the costs and the mortality rate, as
well as optimize the target weight of the broiler chickens. Broiler chicken stock feeds are formulated to
provide the protein, energy, vitamins and other nutrients essential for health and efficient growth of the
birds. Just like with day old chicks, the type of broiler poultry feeds you choose will have a great impact on
the profitability of your poultry farming business. Most broiler chickens are sold to the market when they are
six weeks old. Each bird will consume about 4 Kg of feed from 0 to 6 weeks. At this age, they will have an
average of 2.2 KG to 2.5 KG. The broiler chickens are given a specific type of feed depending on the stage
of production. There are 3 types of broiler poultry feeds, which are Starter feeds, Grower feeds, and
Finisher feeds. The chickens also require enough water for efficient growth. You will also need a broiler
stress pack/vitamin supplements which can be used to promote growth of commercial broilers and chicks,
and also to combat stress during periods of high temperature, after vaccination and as an aid in recovery
from disease to boost performance of the stock.

Management and labour –

if you are rearing 500 birds per cycle, you will need full time employees to manage the poultry farm. There
is need for good technical knowledge of broiler poultry farming rearing techniques for success in the
business, and good management skills.

Market-

You can supply your broiler chickens to individual households, butchers, schools, restaurants, companies,
supermarkets, organizations, events, abattoirs etc. You can sell your broilers as live birds or you can
slaughter and freeze them and sell them as dressed chicken. The export market is also very huge! As you
grow your broiler production business you will be able to export the meat to other countries.

PIG FARMING

Land –

To start your piggery business, you require a large enough area for erecting the necessary pig sty and
other farm buildings. The pig farming project requires a gentle sloppy site with well-draining soils (e.g.
loamy soils). This is essential as enables easy flow of effluence. You should locate your piggery farm at
least 1 kilometre away from the rivers to avoid possible contamination of water from effluence. You should
first asses if the land is suitable for operating a pig production business. It is advisable to locate the pig
farming project nearer to good roads as that will help minimize costs and enable the farmer to have access
to and from the piggery business project.

Housing for the pigs-

You need good and efficient housing for your pigs. This will make management of the pigs easier and it
reduces the mortality rate of the piglets. If you have proper housing at your pig farm, you can successfully
rear 90% or more of all the live born piglets to market weight in the shortest possible time. Note that pigs at
different stages of growth require different environments (temperatures) and different housings. Piglets
require protection from very low temperatures to ensure that they grow to their maximum potential level. On
the other hand, the growing and reproducing pigs must be protected against high temperatures. So you
have to ensure that the piggery houses are built to protect the young and grown pigs against extreme
temperature and bad weather conditions e.g. continuous rain and cold winds.

Breeding pigs: sows and bows-

To start your pig farming business, you require breeding stock. The breeding stock you require are boars
and sows. Boars are the male pigs which will service the sows, which are the female pigs. Ensure that you
purchase a good breed of pigs. The growth potential of your piglets will depend on the nature and quality of
the parent stock. Thus it is of great importance to buy a good pig breeding stock from reliable piggery
farmers. You require 1 boar for every 15-20 sows. The number of soars which you buy for your pig farming
business will depend on the scale of your piggery business. One sow gives birth to 9-11 piglets from one
pregnancy. A sow can fall pregnant twice a year. The pregnancy of a pig lasts for 3 months, 3 weeks and 3
days (114 days).

Feed-

You ought to correctly feed your pigs. The pigs must be given the correct type of feed as well as the correct
amount of feed. This will ensure that the pigs reproduce efficiently, grow efficiently, utilize the feed
efficiently, produce good quality meat, thus maximizing the profits of your pig farming business. If you fail to
give the proper feed to pigs then you may miss the slaughter weight targets and the desired quality of the
pork. This may lead to a loss in your pig farming business. Note that pigs require different types and
amount of feed depending on which stage of growth they are at.

Management and labour-

You will need pig keepers who will be responsible for feeding the pigs, cleaning and disinfecting the pig
housings, washing the pigs and other duties.

Market-

You can slaughter your pigs when they are between the ages of 4 months to 6 months. The exact age at
which you slaughter your pigs depends on whether you want to sell your pigs as porkers or as baconers.
You can supply pork to abattoirs, local butcher shops, retailers, hotels, supermarkets, restaurants,
wholesalers and individual consumers. Pork has to be sold whilst it’s still fresh, thus you should locate your
pig farm close to your market.

AQUACULTURE TILAPIA FISH FARMING

Land, ponds and equipment-

You need land to construct ponds for tilapia fish farming. A large enough area must be available for
construction of the necessary ponds inline with your present plans and also large enough for future
expansion. The land for tilapia fish farming should not be prone to flooding and should not be subject to
pollution in runoff from adjacent land. Other physical factors to consider when you are evaluating and
selecting sites for your fishponds include the water supply, the land area, and the soil type. The ponds and
pond systems should be properly designed in order to be successful in the tilapia aquaculture business.
Failure to properly design the fish ponds will lead to problems which include fish ponds that fail to hold
water, fish ponds that break up, fish ponds that cannot be drained completely (which leads to incomplete
harvests thus poor production in future production cycles). If the pond is designed and constructed
properly, it will be easier to manage, will last for a long time and generate more profits for the tilapia fish
farming business. When designing the fish pond, take into consideration some important factors which
include the size, shape, and depth of the pond; source of the water which will be used to fill the pond; type
of soil available for constructing the fish pond; and the type of drainage system that will be used. Tilapia fish
farming requires plenty of water, thus there should be a good supply of clean water at your tilapia fish farm.
The equipment needed for a tilapia fish farm include fishing nets for harvesting the fish, fish pond heaters
for maintaining the right water temperature especially during the winter, refrigerator for storing the
harvested fish and pond filters for filtering the pond water.

Fingerlings-
ingerlings refers to fish that has reached the stage where the fins can be extended and where scales have
started developing throughout the body. In this stage, the fish is typically about the size of a finger. The
fingerlings can either be of one sex only (male fingerlings) or of both sexes (both male and female
fingerlings). Male fingerlings are suitable if you are into tilapia fish farming for meat production only. Male
tilapia grow faster as compared to female tilapia fish, thus they are best suited for meat production. You
can use both male and female fingerlings if you want to also breed fish i.e. the male and females will be
mating and producing eggs, which can then grow into fish. When purchasing fingerlings, you should choose
suppliers who have a good reputation in the tilapia fish farming business. The quality of the fingerlings will
have an impact on the growth of your fish.

Feed and nutrition-

The tilapia fish require feed to grow fast and healthy. Tilapia fish feed can be in the form of pellets and
crumble. You can reduce the cost of feed by supplementing the commercial fish feed with manure and
fertilizers, thereby increasing profitability of your fish farming business. Manure and fertilizers are used in
tilapia fish ponds so as to increase the production of the natural food organisms to be eaten by the tilapia
fish. These organisms include phytoplankton, insects and zooplankton. By increasing the availability of
major nutrients, fertilizers promote the developmentof planktonic algae, which provide food for the
fish. Manure used in tilapia fish ponds include chicken manure and piggery manure.

Market-

You can supply your tilapia fish to individual households, butchers, schools, restaurants, companies,
supermarkets, organizations, events or essentially get into a fish farming contract whereby the suppliers of
your fish seed will buy back the fish from you after harvest.