Agribusiness

OVERVIEW

Agribusiness sector focuses on financial sustainability through the development of commercially viable agricultural businesses. Agribusiness loans are made available to add value to the agriculture industry to improve food security and to address the challenges and unemployment among others.

Subsectors within Agribusiness

The Agribusiness sector entails but is not limited to the following subsectors:

• Horticulture
• Rain Fed Agriculture
• Cattle Breeding
• Small Stock
• Poultry
• Piggery

ANIMAL PRODUCTION

BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION

Cattle breeding is the production of animals by breeding. Cattle are mostly raised as livestock for beef. Each proposal shall be considered individually on their merits with viability being the underlying factor.

SMALL STOCK

This is the production of goats and sheep for meat production.

Requirements:

• Minimum land requirement is 2 hectares per goat/sheep per year.
• Buck to doe ratio is 1:2

POULTRY

BROILER

Broiler is the type of chicken raised specifically for meat production. Poultry projects should meet the following conditions.

Requirements:

• The number of birds to be stocked will be determined based on the scale of operations and viability.
• An abattoir should meet the minimum standards as stipulated by the Livestock and Meat Industries Act.
• Reliable and acceptable slaughter facilities must be provided for.
• Reliable source of water and electricity.

LAYERS

Layers are chickens raised specifically for eggs production.

Requirements:

• The number of birds to be stocked will be determined based on the scale of operations and viability.
• Reliable Source of water and electricity.

PIGGERY

Piggery is the production of pigs for meat.

Requirements:

• The scale of production will be determined based on the scale of operations and viability.
• There must an abattoir within the sub district otherwise an abattoir must be included as part of the budget.
• An abattoir should meet the minimum standards as stipulated by the Livestock and Meat Industries Act.
• Reliable source of water.

DAIRY FARMING

Dairy farming is the breeding of cattle for production and supply of milk.

Requirements:

• The dairy farm should be 100 km on tarred road and 70 km on gravel from the market.
• Electricity must be available.
• 60 litres of water per cow per day, therefore a borehole yield of 5m3 per hour is required.
• Milking parlour that meets the standard requirement for dairy production.

FEED-LOT

Requirements:

• Farmer to have an agreement with BMC under the BMC feedlot scheme. Subject the BMC suspending the scheme, applications will be considered on a case by case, based on their own merits.
• Water yield of 5m3 per hour is required.

HORTICULTURE

This refers to the production of vegetables, fruits, flowers etc.

Requirements:

• There must be developments on leased farms as determined by CEDA.
• A minimum of 0.5 hectares must be a net shade subject to cropping plan.
• A water yield of 5-6 m3 per hour per hectare.
• For Citrus Prodcution, a minimum of 6m3 per hour of water is necessary.
• High value crops are recommended.
• Soil and water test report must be available.

RAIN FED AGRICULTURE (SEASONAL)

These are field crops that rely on rainfall. Examples are grains and fodder.

Requirements:

• Consideration will be based on the projected production output and viability.