Butternut is a tasty, orange squash that is very popular in our South African gardens and kitchens. Also in oven roasts, rocket salads, as a mash, or even as a creamy soup. Crop Potential Farmers growing butternuts from seedlings can get around 20t – 30t per hectare with appropriate spacing and irrigation. Harvesting takes…
Category: Agricultural Business
Ginger is used to produce ginger wine, ginger beer, cordials, pickles and pharmaceutical preparations. A daily intake of 5g of ginger is reported to protect against coronary artery disease (CAD) and normally afflicts individuals who habitually consume fatty foods. Ginger is also used for soft drinks and…
Okra is an economically important vegetable crop of many countries in Africa including Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Egypt and many others. It has the nickname “lady’s finger” and is sometimes called “gumbo” in most other places. Farmers growing Okra for profit do so to meet both domestic and foreign market…
Dragon fruit is a tropical fruit of the climbing cacti (Cacta cease) family. It is also known as pitaya or strawberry pear and is a native species of Mexico, Central and South America. Dragon Fruit is mainly eaten fresh and is best served chilled. The thick skins are easily peeled…
Kale – also called Bore Cole, is a cool season crop that belongs to the Brassicas family. Its leaves , which are rich in vitamins and essential mineral elements are widely utilized alone or mixed with other vegetables, pulses or meat. It is an all-year crop and…
QUAIL is a general name that is given to a generation of mid-sized birds generally placed in the order Galliformes. There are loads of poultry’s that raise quail for meat and eggs and they are making huge profits from this type of farming operation. There are loads of opportunities in the poultry…
If you are interested in the drone technology industry and you are looking to launch a business as an aspiring entrepreneur, one of your best bet is to launch a “drone rental” business. The right time to star a drone rental business is now because this business concept…
Agro – tourism receives massive support from Government because it gives farmers and other stakeholders in the industry a opportunity to generate additional income and an avenue for direct marketing of their produce to consumers. Agro – tourism is a booming line…
Sugarcane farming is known to be a profitable business and over the years, it evolved from uncoordinated to a global industry in most countries where it’s carried out. With the recent advancement in technology, farmers can now comfortably grow crops…
A vineyard is a plantation of grape- bearing vines, grown mainly for wine making, but also for raisins, table grapes and non – alcoholic grape juice. The science, practice and study of vineyard production is known as viticulture. A winery is a licensed…
Starting a strawberry farming business, is good news because you can’t get it wrong due to various species of strawberries that are consumed fresh by almost everybody and all over the globe. Strawberries and strawberry flavorings are a popular addition to dairy products such as…
There are a huge growth potential for the ostrich market, even though the industry is yet to gain a 1% share of the total meat market. Having at least a 1% share in the total meat market would mean that that more ostriches (numbering about 4 million) would need to be farmed and slaughtered…
There are loads of business opportunities in the poultry industry and a chicken egg hatchery business is one of them. A chicken egg hatchery business comes with its own fair share of challenges, but that does not rule out the fact that it is indeed a profitable business. An aspiring entrepreneur can either choose…
Alfalfa is a crop that is widely grown throughout the world as forage for cattle, and is mostly often harvested as hay, but can also be made into silage, grazed, or fed as green – chop. Alfalfa usually has the highest feeding value of all common hay crops….
Kiwifruits, also known as simply “kiwis” are a popular type of edible berry that grows on vines in temperate regions. Large areas of South Africa’s interiors are suitable for gold kiwifruit production, as the vines can tolerate temperatures as low as -15°C in midwinter….
Citrus production (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit) continues to grow, averaging more than 100 tons every year. More cultivated land in environmentally climates and society’s passion/demand for these fruits, drinks and medicinal uses make this a viable enterprise for anyone wishing to start and…
Animal feed is a kind of feed prepared for oxen, cows, sheep, goat, poultry etc reared for their milk, meat and eggs. It contains protein, minerals and other nutrients which are useful fr milk, eggs, and beef production as well as survival and growth of the animals. Animal feed can be prepared from…
Vermicompost (vermiculture) is the product of the decomposition process using various species of worms,usually red wigglers, white worms and other earthworms, to create a mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste, bedding materials and…
Papaya (pawpaws) have a creamy, custard – like flesh with a complex combination of tropical fruit flavors. They are most commonly described as tasting like banana combined with mango, pineapple, melon, berries, or other fruit. There is a considerable variety of flavors among wild pawpaws, ranging from awful…
Coffee farms and plantations cover approximately 9,600 square miles of the continent and roughly 25 countries in Africa benefit economically from coffee production. For nearly 10 million African households, coffee is the primary source of income. Coffee beans grow on an attractive little…
Sugar beans have a very huge market because they are consumed by almost every household and large institutions such a boarding schools and prisons. Sugar bean farming can be a very rewarding venture if the appropriate crop is planted in the right regions…
Chillie – Pepper farming is part of a fast – growing industry and pretty much active in all countries of the world. With the recent advancement in technology, farmers can now comfortably grow chillie – peppers and a variety of vegetables in a country where such…
Pineapples are sweet, nutritional and can be used in a variety of ways in home cooking. Moreover, pineapples are regularly purchased in bulk by food manufacturers who turn the fruit into various beverages, sweets, baked goods and other food products. Pineapples rank second on the list…
As countries make the switch to renewable energy, solar power is a major player. All you need is sunlight and land to use for solar panels. It’s that easy. Over the course of a year, a study in “Nature…
Starting a pet grooming business is not only a relatively easy business to start up, it can also be quite profitable especially if you have strategies in place that make you stand out from your competitors. The demand for other pet services have grown as owners now…
Chicory is a woody, perennial herbaceous plant and it is a member of the daisy family of plants called “Asteracease”. Chicory produces tubes or roots in the first year and develop a flower only in the second year. Chicory root has a lot of…
Barley is mainly produced in the Western Cape under dry land conditions. Two-thirds of our barley is produced in the areas around Caledon, Bredasdorp, Napier, Swellendam, Heidelberg and recently, patches of the Swartland region too. The remainer of the barley production is in the Northern Cape under…
Canola is an oil-seed crop grown mainly in the winter rainfall regions of the Western Cape, although it is also farmed in the North West, Limpopo and Northern Cape provinces. Canola is widely grown for its high quality oil for human consumption….
Duck meat is a high-value niche product in South Africa. Duck farming is part of poultry farming systems. However, there is a huge difference between duck farming and poultry especially in habits and habitats of duck farming in shelter and population. Ducks can be…
Figs are an ancient food source and were one of the first fruit trees cultivated along with the olive and grapevine. It is known for its adaptability and high productivity whilst being easy to prune and maintain. This make the fig tree a valuable addition to farming and a rewarding long-term investment. There is…
Moringa is frequently referred to as “the miracle tree” because all of its parts – from the leaves to flowers, seeds, bark and roots – have nutritional and medicinal uses. Seed pods are oil-rich, yielding 38% to 40% of buttery yellow oil. The oil…
The Agriculture industry of which “commercial farming” is a subset of, is no doubt amongst the leading industries in most countries of the world. Commercial farming is all about mass-cultivation of crops and rearing animals, fish etc for the sole aim of making profits. In most cases…
Although guavas are found throughout the country, the growing regions are in the Western Cape and Mpumalanga. The “Fan Retief” cultivar, created in the Western Cape, currently accounts for 90% of the commercial plantings. Various Cultivars * Fan Retief – the fruit…
Sweet potatoes are easy to plant, need little looking after and deliver high yields. They are usually grown in sandy soil, which makes them easier to dig up. But they also do well in most soils, even heavy clay. Production…
Cassava is grown as a secondary crop in South Africa by farmers and small holders and is utilized for the production of starch (commercial and food grade starch) as well as various other products. Production Areas In South Africa the crop is cultivated in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and Northern KZN.It is produced on a…
Sales Forecasting is much easier than you think, and more useful than you imagine. It’s not about guessing but about assumptions, expectations, tracking and management. You also need to review and revise your forecast regularly because they relate to costs and expenses. The sales forecast will help you to do…
Farming with banana is an easy and simple process and you can earn good profits. However, to achieve the desired amount of banana production requires: * dedication to your banana farm; * good yard management skills; and * some basic knowledge about banana…
Some renewable’s already supply cheaper and sustainable electricity than the newest coal power plants. Renewable’s will get cheaper and coal and nuclear likely more expensive. Investment in renewable energy in South Africa can provide decent jobs and increase skills. South Africa is a…
Starting a sunflower oil farming or production business is capital intensive, but it is a money spinning business if it is well located and if you are able to create a robust distribution network. Why start a Sunflower Oil farming/production…
Lucerne’s extensive root system enables the crop to produce good yields even under relatively dry conditions. Lucerne perennial nature means that once successfully established reliable production could be expected for at least the following 3-4 years. With a lower cell wall content than…
Peppers are great fun and much easier to grow successfully than some other crops. Chili and sweet peppers are a diverse bunch; they are colorful crops and the assortment of shapes and sizes is a treat to behold in any greenhouse (tunnel) or on the open plot. The flavors are just as diverse, ranging…
Bamboos does not have a hundred uses: Studies done by IDC (Industrial Development Corporation) and other role players show over a “thousand”. Clearly there is a lot more to bamboo products and bamboo processing than than would immediately occur to the reader. Not only does bamboos have many uses, it is a non- invasive…
Pricing your product is one of the most crucial aspects of marketing. Essentially, price determination is about how much consumers are prepared to pay or your company’s offering. Once you have competitors, it means consumers are faced with a choice. Quite simply, they…
A common but very important item missing from most business plans is a breakdown of the business/company’s TAM, SAM & SOM in the marketing section of their plan. Wondering what these acronyms means? Well, you’re not alone – many entrepreneurs are not familiar with these terms….
BUSINESS PLANS Your business plan is an essential piece of the funding puzzle, explaining exactly how much money you need, where it’s going to, and how you will pay it back as well as how long it is going to take for you to earn it back. Investors will first look for…
Agriculture is one of the fastest growing markets in the commercial drone industry today. Technology is changing at a radical and continuous rate in agriculture as much as in any sector. Drones are quickly becoming an indispensable tool to help farmers become more efficient…
How can you find investors who have passion for your business and what you and your products/services are about? This is one of the keys to taking on investors who will support you with much needed growth capital, as well as (and often more importantly) all kinds of…
Suppose you’re starting a new business with one or more other owners, but you do not want it to be a Company. You can choose to form a partnership or limited partnership, which are the main alternatives to the corporate form of a business. The key features of these two…
Many South African consumers are beginning to factor in the welfare of animals as well as the conditions in which they were raised, when making purchasing decisions on what animal products to purchase. On the surface, egg production from caged layers seems like a profitable and highly efficient poultry production…
There’s always a market for baby vegetables, and carrots are no exception. Carrots are root vegetables which originated in Asia. They belong to the same family as celery, coriander and parsley. According to Bill Kerr a vegetable specialist there are a few important steps in producing quality baby carrots Step 1 – Fertilization…