Farming Business Plans Gauteng

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HOW TO GROW CHILLIES- PEPPER VEGETABLES

                                                                

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 crops can hardly survive.

Chillie – Peppers is one of the most consumed vegetables in the world simply because it has so many valuable medicinal properties due to the nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and organic compounds contained in them. Chillie- Pepper reduces LDL cholesterol levels in obese people and fresh chillie peppers, red and green, are a rich source of Vitamin C.

There are many chillie cultivars but to name a few: Anaheim, Inchanga, Long Red Cayenne, Trinidad, Long Slim Cayenne, Pendent, Scotch Bonnet, Serrano Spitfire, Habanero, Super Cayenne, Ristra, Super Chillie, Skyline. However, the four most popular types of chillie peppers include: Ghost Peppers, Habanero, Jalapeno, and Poblano peppers.

                                                                                 

Soil Requirements

They prefer a sandy soil that is well drained. The roots are concentrated in only the top 30 to 40cm of soil so irrigation needs to be very well managed to prevent moisture stress in the soil, to which the plant is very sensitive. The organic content must be high in the soil, otherwise organic material and compost must be mixed into the soil prior to planting. The ideal pH of the soil must be between 6.0 and 7.0.

Climate

Chillie is a warm climate crop that is sensitive to cold, frost and growth is severely hampered by temperatures below 15ºC but also by temperatures over 35ºC. They do best when the daytime temperatures fluctuates between 24ºC and 30ºC. Once the fruit is starting to ripen it prefers dry weather without rain, as rain creates disease and irrigation management problems. It also hampers the drying out of the chillie on the plant for those varieties that are stored dry for later sale or dry processing.

Irrigation

Chillies require about 600mm of water during the growing season in the form of rain or irrigation. During flowering and fruit, set water should be sufficient and water-logging should be avoided as the crop is sensitive.Too much water may inhibit flowering and fruit formation and too little lead to flower drop. Furrow and drip irrigation are mostly recommended. If overhead irrigation has to be used, it should not be scheduled for late in the evening because wet leaves and fruit promote diseases. Plants should be dry before nightfall.

Fertilization

In order to realize acceptable yields in peppers, fertilizers must be used and before applying fertilizers, soil tests should be conducted to determine the type and the quality of fertilizer in the soil to ensure optimum plant growth. It should be fertilized with a combination of organic and/or chemical fertilizers. 

Uses

Chillies are used as ingredients to add flavor and color to most dishes. They are high in Vitamin A and C, calcium and iron and can be used as a medication to treat asthma, coughs and sore throats.

                                                                         

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GOAT FARMING IN SOUTH AFRICA

                                               

Goat Farming in South Africa can be a very lucrative business if done right. Choose the right breeds of goats for your location and you could raise superior livestock. Goats are hardy animals and can survive under harsh environments. They have survived centuries of periodic drought’s and harsh temperatures. They also have the reputation of being resistant to the majority of tropical diseases and parasites.

Goats are a great source of income. Because of their small size, adaptive feed behavior and low management, goats are a viable option in improving cash flow.

Types of Goat Enterprises

Goat farming in South Africa is a diverse business. Goats produce dairy and have delicious meat, can be bread and even their skin can be used. As a business owner you need to explore these avenues where you can make the most money.

Decide on which area you want to focus:-

1. Meat Goats;

2. Dairy Goats;

3. Fibre Goats.

You can choose one type or combine all three systems in your operation. Your interest and abilities and physical resources on your farm should determine which type of enterprise you choose.

Goat Farming Products

  • Goat’s meat;
  • Goat’s milk;
  • Goat’s cheese;
  • Goat skin and fibre;
  • Goat milk soap.

Additional sources of income:-

  • Breeding Goats for sale;
  • Sales of excess males from dairy operations;
  • Leasing out goats to clear brush;
  • Goat manure for fertilization.

How big should I start?

Determine the number of goats you want to begin with. Pick a number that would be sustainable enough to get things moving, depending on the purpose of your farming in South Africa. It might be 300 or 500 depending on the size and location of your pasture and type of goat breed. Fewer than 150 is usually not enough to support one person or a small family.

Goat Breeds

There are many types of goats, but the breed you choose will depend on your enterprise and what products you want to sell. Carefully decide on the breeds of goats you want to farm.

Meat

Goat meat is in high demand. The meat is widely consumed and accepted as an edible meat by people all around the world irrespective of tribal or religious differences.

Dairy

Goat’s milk is enriched with many necessary nutrition elements and is easy to digest. Many consumer markets are currently shifting from the consumption of other dairy products in favor of goat’s milk.

Fibre

If you want to produce fibre from your farm then Cashmere and Angora goats will be most suitable.

Location and Housing

Buy a sizeable expanse of land to comfortably accommodate your goats. You will need to fence the land for security purposes. If you are near a consumer population, consider farm tourism as part of your income. If your goal is to sell milk, then there is an advantage in decreasing trucking costs when you are located close to a milk purchaser. Goats are very adaptive animals and don’t need an elaborate goat barn. A simple three-sided shed facing away from prevailing winter winds will suffice.

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HYDROPONIC CROP PRODUCTION – Tomatoes, Capsicums, Cucumbers, Lettuce.

                                                    

TOMATOES

Tomatoes are one of the major food crops of the Western world, yet breeders are still trying to improve the fruit’s disease resistance, shape flavor and color. The tomato is a member of the Solanaceae family which also includes peppers, capsicums, eggplants, potatoes and tobacco. While many consider the tomato to be a vegetable, it is in fact a berry fruit. There are many varieties and they are used in many different ways. Some are eaten fresh in salads, others used in cooking. Some varieties are firm and have a large amount of fiber (i.e. they have a low solids content). Firm varieties are preferred for salads and sandwiches. Hence selection of the correct variety is important.

When deciding to start growing tomatoes commercially it is very important to find out what your market wants. If you are seeking to establish a new market then you should do some research into the market size. It is also important to produce quality fruit. The tomatoes should have a uniform color, and fruit showing uneven or blotchy areas should be discarded, as well as bruised, split or misshapen fruit.

Varieties

It is very important to establish the market you are intending to sell to and then produce for that market. While the grower may be proud to produce large prize-winning tomatoes, the normal consumer buys tomatoes that are 65 to 75 mm diameter and weigh 120 to 150 grams. Tomato varieties can be placed in four main categories according to their method of production and market use:

  1. Canning tomatoes.                                                

  2. Greenhouse tomatoes.

  3. Outdoor tomatoes.

  4. Specialty tomatoes. 

Spacing

Plants should not be crowded. Close planting tends to favor leaf diseases and development of smaller fruit. At the same time there must be room to work along the rows and the plants open enough to allow light to penetrate and air to move through the plants. The optimum space per plant is between three and four plants per sq. metre of growing area, and if rows are 30cm wide then the spacing per plant is 45cm or 23,000 plants per hectare with aisle widths of 900 mm in the greenhouse. The density of planting may be increased in spring to give 30,000 plants per hectare of shed.

Fruit Development

Fruit color development is also temperature sensitive, the best red color forms when the average daily temperatures are 18degrees C to 24degrees C. Yellowness increases as temperatures rises above 26 – 29 degrees C. If the temperature rises above 40degrees C, the mechanism for producing the red pigment is destroyed. The affected areas on these fruit are yellow or sun burnt. When the fruit is maturing it is best to reduce the amount of watering to minimize leaf spot damage, as well as fruit damage such as star cracks. Restricting watering also helps to improve the fruits’ keeping qualities.

Harvesting

All produce should be suitably mature when harvested. Maturity must not be confused with ripeness. Maturation can only take place on the vine, whereas ripening (fruit softening and color development) can continue on or off the vine.During vine ripening, sugars, acids and other flavors move into the fruit and the texture is improved. Tomatoes are ready for harvesting about three months after they are transplanted. Optimal color development for tomatoes occurs between 15 – 21 degrees C.

Tomatoes are harvested for the local market at the “breaker” stage which is when the blossom end shows a pink coloring. If you are supplying distant markets the fruit should be green but mature, i.e. the seeds will be fully developed and surrounded by jelly-like flesh that has just started to color, and the fruit surface is a light green color. In warmer weather fruit will need to be picked about two to three times per week; under cooler conditions fruit my be picked less frequently. The stems should be trimmed flush with the top of the fruit to prevent bruising during storage and transit.

CAPSICUMS

Capsicums also called “peppers and chilies” are a rich source of Vitamin C and Vitamin A. Green capsicums and red chilies have very high levels of Vitamin A; red capsicums are very high in ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). They are a warm season vegetable, requiring a relatively long frost-free growing period for maximum production and perfect for growing in a “tunnel farming” type of operation.

CUCUMBERS

During the last ten years continental cucumbers have grown in acceptance from being a novelty vegetable to a major vegetable crop in a number of areas. They are ideal for tunnel farming type of operations. The techniques used for hydroponic cucumber production often involve a poly-house – tunnel. This will protects the plants from rain, wind, hail, extreme temperatures etc.

LETTUCE

Lettuce is an indispensable part of most salads. It is a summer flowering plant which produces vegetative growth in the cooler months and flowers under conditions of long, warm days. In hot dry weather or when the plant is under stress the plant is inclined to run to seed. The gap between peak maturity and starting to run to seed may be as soon as one week. It is therefore very important to know exactly when to harvest to achieve high quality, well-developed lettuce. We can help in various aspects of setting up a profitable farming operation including farming plans, farming marketing plans etc.

CONTROLLING THE ENVIRONMENT

The major factors that influence plant growth are the interaction of the plants genetic makeup and the environment. The grower has very little control over the genetics of the plant but he can exercise some control over the environment. Most growers show no originality when looking to provide protection to their crops. They tend to move from growing outdoors without any protection to poly-houses which fully enclose their crop.

Windbreaks

The first stage in protecting crops is the use of a windbreak. The material used should allow air to pass through it and simply reduce the velocity of the wind. The barrier must be high enough and strong enough to do its job effectively. Many lettuce growers build windbreaks 7m or more in height, using commercial wind break fabric meshing. Other growers plant trees and bushes to reduce the effects of the prevailing winds.

Rain and Hail

Thew next stage is providing protection from rain and hail. This allows the grower to work with a degree of comfort and at the same time prevents the nutrient solution from being diluted or changed, resulting in crop damage. Many lettuce growers have installed clear plastic covers 5-6 metres above the crops, in the form of a pitched roof.

Temperature Control

In areas where frosts or low temperatures occur, full enclosures such as poly-houses (tunnels)  can be used to help maintain better growing temperatures. However, a problem with poly – houses is that humidity tends to increase and fungal diseases may be encouraged. Moisture condensation inside the poly-house can also lead to water droplets falling on the plants, particularly flowers, as soon as the shed starts to warm up in the morning.

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