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Business Plan Consulting Services for Gauteng.

WHY SHOULD I START WITH A CLEOME FARMING OPERATION NOW?

                     

Cleome (Cleome gynandra) is a widespread herb that occurs in South Africa from Limpopo to Namibia. Cleome gynandra is a species of Cleome that is used as a green vegetable. It is known by many common names like Shona cabbage, African cabbage, spiderwisp, cat’s whiskers, chin saga, and stinkweed.

Cleome belongs to the Capparaceae family. This herbaceous, erect, and annual plant grows to a height of between 0,5m and 1,5m, depending on the environment. It is a branched plant, sometimes becoming woody with age.

TEMPERATURE

Cleome is sensitive to cold and does not grow well when temperatures drop below 15ºC. It grows well when the temperature is above 27ºC. Because of its tropical origin, cleome is believed to be day-length – insensitive, but some cleome species are facultative long – day species (not restricted to a particular function).

SOIL REQUIREMENTS

Cleome prefers well – drained medium – textured soils and does not grow well in poorly drained or heavy clay soils. It also prefers sandy loam soils, rich in organic matter and responds well to well – decomposed manure. Flowering is delayed when adequate manure is available, allowing more larger leaves to develop.

PLANTING

Seeds are planted at a shallow depth to ensure emergence and a good field stand. Plant seeds in seed beds or plant directly in rows in the field. Mix seeds 1:10 with sand or dry soil before planting.

IRRIGATION

Water requirements vary with the crop’s growth stage, soil type, and weather conditions (hot or cold). Frequent irrigation will be required for sandy soils as these drain quickly. Clay soils, on the other hand, drain quite slowly and hold more water than sandy soils.

HARVESTING

Harvest Maturity

Leaves: Cleome is harvested in summer during the first rains and can be harvested until autumn. Leaf harvesting starts four to six weeks after seeding emergence and it may last four to five weeks.

Seeds: Seeds can be harvested when pods are fully ripe and yellow but before they open naturally to prevent shattering.

                                                       

NEED MORE INFORMATION OR HELP WITH A PROFESSIONAL FARMING/AGRIC BUSINESS PLAN CONTACT US NOW AT – (27) 84 583 3143 OR EMAIL US AT: money@global.co.za             

 

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HOW TO START A SUCCESSFUL FREE RANGE CHICKEN FARM NOW?

                                                                                       

Free Range Chicken Farming is a method of chicken farming where the chickens are allowed to roam freely outdoors. This is done for a good part of the day rather than being confined in an enclosure for 24 hours.

In most free range chicken farms, the outdoor ranging area is fenced and therefore making the area an enclosure. Chicken meat is generally consumed in all parts of the world and is very healthy. There are many free range farms that raise chickens and making huge profits from their farming operation.

When you running your own free range chicken farming operation, it is better to produce your own chicken feed. One of the most economical  ways of feeding is to grow your own meal-worms as feeding for them. Meal – worms is the most ideal meal to feed free range chickens. It is also less stressful and inexpensive when you do it yourself.

Breed Selection

Free range chicken farmers work with various breeds like:

Meat Production – Cobb, Ross, Arbor Acres, Hubbard.

Egg Production – Lohmann, Browns, Lohman Silver, Hy-Line Silver, Hy-Line Brown, Amber – Link and Lohmann Hybrids.

Other poultry hybrids include the following chicken breeds:

  • Potch Koekoek.
  • Borschvelders.
  • Black Australorps.

With the market for “free range eggs” continuing to grow, more new players are getting into the sector.They raise chickens in a semi – intensive , free range or fully organic system. Many of the new entrants are tempted by the relatively low start up costs. Also, the potentially good margins as free range and organic products tend to fetch a higher price.

TO ENABLE YOU TO START YOUR OWN SUCCESSFUL FREE RANGE CHICKEN FARMING OPERATION YOU WILL NEED HELP WITH A WELL – STRUCTURED CHICKEN FARMING BUSINESS PLAN. CONTACT US NOW FOR PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE AT: (27) 84 583 3143 OR EMAIL: money@global.co.za

                                 

 

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WHY STARTING A SMALL SCALE GROUNDNUTS FARMING NOW?

    

Soil & Climate

Best results are obtained from deep, well- drained soils in good condition. Suitable soils include sands and sandy loams. Groundnuts will not grow well on acid soils and thus liming may be necessary for good production (the ideal pH is 5,3 to 6,8). Groundnuts must not be grown on the same land more than once in every four years. Groundnuts are a good crop to grow before maize.

Groundnuts are sensitive to cool overcast conditions both in the early part of the season and during pod filling. The ideal season is one which has much sunshine, coupled with sufficient rainfall, especially during pegging and pod filling.

Fertilization

Basic fertilization – Groundnuts should be grown in rotation with cereals (e.g. maize and sorghum), which have been fertilized, because groundnuts respond well when a fertilizer is applied to the previous crop rather than to the groundnuts themselves. Thus, in the most cases, no basal compound fertilizer is applied. Groundnuts  respond well to manure, because the manure not only supplies nutrients, but also helps to ameliorate soil acidity.

Top dressing – Groundnuts have a high requirement for calcium, especially during the pegging stage. Low availability of calcium at this stage will result in a large proportion of empty shells.

Harvesting

The harvesting process includes loosening, lifting, wilting, cocking (curing), picking and finally shelling. It is important that once the plants are lifted they be allowed to wilt for a few days with the pods exposed to the air before cocking. When cocking the groundnuts keep the plants off the ground. Ensure the cock is constructed to allow free flow of air through the cock, to facilitate rapid drying. Curing and drying may take from 2 to 4 weeks. Begin picking when the kernels rattle in the pods.. It is possible to pick one to two bags per person per day.

Groundnuts must be dry before placing in a storehouse. The storehouse must be dry, cool and well ventilated. It is best to store groundnuts in their shells.

WANT TO KNOW MORE OR NEED A PROFESSIONAL AND BANKABLE BUSINESS PLAN CONTACT US NOW AT TEL: (27) 84 583 3143 or EMAIL: money@global.co.za

             

 

 

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HOW TO SET UP A MOBILE FUEL STATION NOW

                       

The concept is known as “Containerized Mobile Service Stations” or Mobile Fuel Stations. Mobile service stations are a complete service station closed and specially fitted into a ISO container. This is for the storage and dispensing of 18,000 to 24,000 liters of 1 or 2 products i.e Diesel/Petrol. These can be easiliy moved and are easy and fast commission with a much reduced set cost.

The flexibility of the Mobile Service Station containers is being reflected by the diverse fields of application of its use. The Mobile Filling Station can be used for the refueling of cars, trucks, construction or mining machinery as well as for yachts and boats. Once empty, the container units can be reinstalled at a different spot without problems and pretty fast. The construction time for a mobile fuel station is comparatively short compare to a conventional one.

KEY FEATURES

* Portable/Mobile Service Stations can be used due to high costs of investment to build a fixed petrol station.

* Lack of proper equipment and facilities in some rural and remote areas and difficulty in fuel supply.

* Can simultaneously fuel 4 vehicles.

* Ideal solution for areas with less developed infrastructure.

* Container is protected from any weather condition and lightning, leakage etc.

* Easy to transport from site to site.

It takes more than 7 months from doing a feasibility study to construction before any service station is operational. The advantage of a Mobile Fuel Station is that it takes 6 weeks to manufacture and to begin operating with the average cost R700 000. Mobile Service Stations can be set up in rural areas and in addition they can be relocated and operational within 2 weeks.If the site where the unit is positioned is not profitable or has been sidelined by a new road, the unit can be disassembled and re-erected in another more profitable area.

WANT TO KNOW MORE OR NEED HELP WITH A PROFESSIONAL AND BANKABLE BUSINESS PLAN CONTACT US NOW: (27) 084 583 3143 or Email – money@global.co.za

                             

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ANIMAL FEED PRODUCTION – HOW TO START NOW

                     

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 agro-residues, cereals, molasses, minerals and vitamins etc.

With the increased demand for livestock products for domestic consumption as well as export, farmers realize the importance of maintaining the health of their animals with proper feeding and management. The proportion of crossbred animals increased over the years. This has necessitated higher demand for balanced feed. Feed supply could not keep pace with the growth in various species of cattle and other animals.

Steps to start a Feed Production Business

1. Market Research – You need to do thorough research on your local market. At, first, you should identify the demand of the livestock and other farmers in your area and then select a particular category of animal feed with which you will continue further. Also, look at your competitors who are formulating the same type of animal feed. Study their strengths and weaknesses.

2. Business Plan – Next you should craft an effective and comprehensive business plan to get success in your venture. You need to consider every aspect of your business like objectives, start-up expenses, financial and marketing plans etc.

3. Feed Formulation – There is a specific formula of animal feed for each type of animal and you have to identify the right one for the feeds you are going to produce. If it is not properly produced by mixing the raw materials in exact ratio, you will lose your customers as they would not get the expected results after using the feed.

4. Raw Materials – After generating the appropriate formula or feed, you should buy the essential raw materials that you will need to use.These ingredients may comprise of maize, wheat offal, corn, noodle wastes, minerals, common salt etc.

5. Equipment – The next step is to purchase the equipment that are necessary for the production process.The equipment might include blenders, choppers, cooker, conveyors, weighing machine, bag sewers, pulleys, packaging bags etc.

6. Advertising – The final step is to do proper advertising and promoting of your production business by following effective marketing tactics. This step is quite challenging to perform if you are a beginner. You can hire a sales representative who can help you in promoting your business. You can also make use of the internet by means of a professional website to promote your business.

NEED HELP IN THIS AREA OR ASSISTANCE WITH A PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS PLAN CONTACT US NOW AT: (27) 84 583 3143 OR EMAIL: money@global.co.za

                   

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HOW TO START AND RUN A ASPARAGUS FARMING OPERATION NOW

                                         

Asparagus, unlike most vegetables, is a perennial; the same plants grow and produce food year after year – 15 years or more, in some cases. It’s dioecious, meaning there are both female and male plants. Female plants usually produce larger spears, male plants a greater number of smaller, more – uniform spears.

New asparagus plantings needs two years to fill out, during which time they require periodic weeding and mulching. In the third year plants produce enough spears for picking, though its still important to leave behind enough fronds so that the plants become dense with foliage by midsummer.

HOW TO GROW ASPARAGUS

Asparagus is planted in beds in a row, with enough space between each plant to allow it to grow.The spears then burst through the soil, becoming green through photosynthesis, before they harvest. You don’t need a large garden to try growing the vegetable yourself though as they will also grow in pots or containers.

They should be planted in spring, and it is easiest to plant one-year- old dormant plants than seeds. Asparagus should be planted in a manure – covered trench, with plants staggered evenly with wide spaces in between adjacent rows.

USES

Asparagus is eaten as a vegetable boiled, steamed, fried or raw in salads. It is also rich in Vitamins A,B6,C, E& K and also contains high levels of folate, calcium, iron and protein. Is said to help prevent kidney stones. Asparagus is also blanched and sold in cans.

SOIL PREPARATION

Asparagus does best on sandy and sandy loam soils. It can be planted on soils with a pH of between 6 and 7.Soil preparation is very important. A month before planting soil should be ripped to a depth of at least 600mm to loosen the soil. If soil are too acid and the pH must be adjusted, then lime should be added to bring the pH to above 6.

The soil are now deep ploughed and turned to between 400mm and 500mm. Pre-plant organic fertilizer can now be worked into the soil as well as the lime. A month later when you are ready to plant, pre-plant chemical fertilizer and mix need to be applied  into the top 20cm of soil with a disc plough. This also cleans and levels the planting area and get rid of any weeds that have taken hold. You are now ready to draw your planing furrows and start planting your asparagus crowns.

PACKAGING

Freshly cut spears are washed, graded, bundled and cut into uniform lengths. Spear length may vary from 23cm to 25 cm. Bundles weighing approximately 250g are stood upright in cartons that sometimes contain water – absorbent pads. Asparagus is usually sold on the domestic market in 6kg cartons, or on the export market in 10kg wooden boxes. Pre – cooling is essential to maintain quality. Asparagus cooled to 0 degrees C will remain saleable for approximately 2 weeks if stored at that temperature.

CONTACT US NOW IF YOU NEED HELP WITH MORE INFORMATION OR A PROFESSIONAL FARMING BUSINESS PLAN – 084 583 3143 OR money@global.co.za

                                                                                               

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LAND & PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT: How to get involved now?

            

LAND DEVELOPMENT

Before you invest in a piece of land, look carefully at the total expenditure you will be incurring and assess your financial requirements. These go beyond the simple purchase price of the land: there will be other costs like transfer fees, legal costs and many other items that will inflate the capital sum needed.

Purchasing the Land:

The first item of mayor expense is the land itself. Before making an “offer to purchase” investigate the prices obtained in recent sales in the same area and compare them with the amounts that sellers were originally asking. Do not base your assessment of the land on the official municipal valuation, as this is used only for purposes of estimating rates and taxes and has no bearing on the actual market value. 

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

The majority of people in South Africa are located in the rural areas, and the majority of them being women and children. Women, especially those in the rural areas, are marginalized in the development process regardless of the new focus on women in development literature. Most women are not involved in the decision-making process, and the few that are involved only appear at the implementation stage where there is need for manpower. Development projects which are geared towards poverty alleviation are planned by men for men and women are very seldom in the planning stage. Women are therefore objects and not subjects of the development process. Most policy makers are not gender sensitive and women often find themselves left behind.

Rural Development projects also seem to be devoid of the attention to local needs and local preferences are therefore sometimes irrelevant. Many rural development projects do not achieve their intended objectives and others even produce unwanted results and perpetuate the existing socio-economic bottlenecks experienced in the rural areas. It is believed that rural development projects will not reach their intended objectives if women continue to be marginalized.

 PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

What often intimidates the first-time owner/builder is the very thought of taking the first step and taking sole responsibility for all major projects. But you will not be alone: you will need to assemble a team and work closely with it over a period of time. This is the real challenge. As the head of that team you will have to organize, co-ordinate, control, motivate and, ultimately, success will depend on your personal leadership qualities. Whatever activities you get involved with, some of the basic guidelines that apply are:-

  • Prepare or ask a “professional consultant” to prepare a proper business plan that will also include a strong financial plan.
  • Be realistic in terms of what you can afford.
  • Plan all your projects in as much detail as possible.
  • Do not begin construction work until the land has been registered in your name and the building plans have been approved.
  • Undertake a thorough cost analysis, or have a computer costing prepared before you start ordering material and building.
  • Supervise the construction work closely, or have an experienced person (i.e. project manager) do this on your behalf.
  • Be careful not to overpay for work done, or to pay for work that has not been started.

Construction Schedule

A detailed schedule will help you to plan – indeed, it is essential to – the administration and execution of the planned projects. The more thoroughly and accurately the program is drawn up, the better the chance of minimizing delays. Among the specific advantages of the schedule are that it:-

  • Makes you think the job through in a logical manner;
  • Helps you schedule the ordering and delivering of materials;
  • Helps you co-ordinate labor, subcontractors, plant hire etc.

Order of Work

Begin by listing all the major stages in the entire program, as follows:-

  1. Procurement of the land.
  2. Obtaining sketch plans.
  3. Obtaining detailed drawings & approval.
  4. Making finance arrangements.
  5. Construction.
  6. Fencing, garden etc.

The construction phase will thereafter have to be broken up into various segments, in enough detail to enable you to co-ordinate the work effectively. The precise sequence will differ slightly from project to project according to individual needs and circumstances. Consider having the schedule drawn up with the aid of a computer, using either the Critical Path Method (CPM) or the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT). These programs will calculate the “critical path” and identify the critical activities on this path.

 REMODELING & RENOVATION

Remodeling and renovation of old homes could be another option but can be expensive and time consuming, but with some perseverance and patience it can be done. If you interested in following this route keep the following in mind:-

  • Dream. – Dream simple, recognize your needs and estimate the simplest solution.
  • Research – Go to the library/ local bookshop and look at magazines appropriate to your needs.
  • Hire an Architect.
  • Knew your strengths – and your limitations.
  • Don’t delay decisions.
  • Don’t change your mind (too much).
  • Think “restore” not “redo

 STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

There is now an expanding market for private, comfortable off-campus student residences. These offer state-of-the-art facilities such as WIFI, Internet access, laundry, gym and entertainment lounge. Thousands of students registered at higher education institutions search for such accommodation to reside for the duration of their studies but can’t find them. The demand for student accommodation with the right facilities in the right areas still outstrip supply.

Key Factors

Before investing in a student housing property certain key factors should be taken into consideration. It is very important to properly evaluate students’ day-to-day essential requirements. Key factors to consider are:-

  • Location –   Students prefer accommodation that are not too far away from campus.
  • Accessibility – Most students do not own cars and rely on public transport to get around. The property where they reside, therefore, needs to be close to main routes for access to public transport.
  • Security – A secure property is of utmost importance so that students can be assured of a safe environment.
  • Maintenance – Regular maintenance is vital and it is therefore better to have a full-time caretaker on site to handle any minor issues.
  • Other Features – Going the extra mile to ensure tenants are taken good care of is critical as this goes a long way towards ensuring that good tenants renew their lease.

If you are going to need funding for your project it is always better to obtain the services from a “professional business plan consultant” to ensure that your chances in getting finance are much better.

NEED HELP IN ANY AREA – CALL 084 583 3143 or email: money@global.co.za

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