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T
here is a quote “If you aim at
nothing, you’ll hit it every time”
– Zig Ziglar. In the business of
farming, this is a more truism than
anything else. Many farmers carry
on with their routine farm opera-
tions without a target or any spe- under government programs, these
cific goal. farms still fail to contribute to the na-
Without a goal or aim, you will al- tional economy. In fact, most inputs
ways hit the target. It means as a end up being abused, sold at very low
farmer, you won’t know whether prices. By so doing, they hit it because
you have made it or not financial- such farmers do not have a target.
ly. You won’t know where, when The reason most farms are poorly per-
and how to improve. Why? Cer- forming lies in family or personal goals.
tainly, because you hit the ‘tar- Such goals influence investment de-
A goal is a target toward which you are willing to work. It is something you
wish to attain and provides direction for planning. To be most useful, state
goals in a particular way.
get’. You cannot track progress on cisions. Examining each farm on their
performance. personal and family goals will certain-
Even with all the inputs supplied, ly explain why their productive perfor-
sometimes donated or subsidized mance.
Managing cash-flow.
Immediate cash needs can be addressed
by loans or credit. These may include school
fees, medical bills, farm wages etc. This is
The Importance mainly so because the business of farming
is seasonal resulting in ups and downs in
of Farm Financing your farm cash flows.
Adjustment
A farm business loan has many benefits to
a farmer. Credit or loan should be treated Changes in market demand and pricing re-
carefully, just like a loaded gun. It can be quire a change in production systems. Fund-
useful if used very well and can be destruc- ing is required should one decides to change
tive if abused. The following is a summary from one enterprise to another. Smart farm-
on how you can benefit from credit or farm ing or the use or modern farming methods
business loans. may require funding or financing.
Brooding
the peak of the heat (from about
11:00 AM till 16:00 PM). Disturbanc-
Management
es in form of vaccination, catch-
ing, weighing during hot periods of
the day must be avoided. Vitamin
Summer stress pack can be administered in
order to re-vitalise the birds. Cool
It is the time of the year whereby at- down the water tanks using ice in
mospheric temperatures rise and the water tanks especially on hot
broiler producers feel more confident days. Cooling down the roof with
of attaining exceptional bird perfor- water sprinklers helps. It is also im-
mance. The amount of heating fuel portant not to keep mature birds
required to maintain optimum brood- longer than their slaughter stage
ing temperatures is lower than during because they are usually the most
winter time, therefore, production affected.
costs significantly go down. The birds
are fairly more comfortable and inci- ÂÂ Heat reflection - Paint the roof in
dences of early mortality due to chill- white, the ratio is 1 kg of lime: 2 litres
ing are also low. Therefore, it generally of water: 200 mg of white glue. The
makes brooding management easier. roof that you can paint is the fibro-
cement or aluminium. Alternatively
It must however still be noted that use oil paint.
summer brings its own challenges with
it. These include disease outbreaks ÂÂ Water – Water is of crucial impor-
and heat stress when the atmospheric tance in summer otherwise birds
temperatures rise beyond birds’ com- suffer from dehydration. Water
fort. Such incidences cause significant and feed consumption are highly
losses. The following are management correlated. At room temperature,
strategies to help maximize returns flocks can consume twice more
during summer; water than the amount of feed they
eat. However, water consump-
ÂÂ Cleaning and disinfection – it is im- tion increases as the atmospheric
portant to decontaminate the fowl- temperature increases, up to 5%
run. This ensures that the chicks start for every 1°C between 32 – 38°C.
off in a disease free environment The water must be cool, otherwise
www.agribusiness.co.zw 11 FEBRUARY 2019
it becomes unpalatable. Preferen- ÂÂ Stocking density – space manage-
tially the water reservoir and tanks ment is critical to maintain birds’
should be in the shade, or in the comfort. It must be increased con-
ground and the water pipes buried. sistently as the birds grow. An op-
The colour of the water tank ideal- timum stocking density of 10 birds
ly should be white (it is possible to per square meter is recommended
paint the black tank in white). Pro- from 21 days onwards.
viding clean, fresh, ample water
will help achieve success ÂÂ Ventilation – consistent and steady
air exchange inside the fowl-run
ÂÂ Feed – encourage the birds to feed is important to maintain optimum
early in the day and later on during levels of oxygen supply and to cool
the day. Lifting up feeders during the birds during hot periods. Check
hottest parts of the day and drop- if the outside curtain is completely
ping them down during the cooler open. If possible use stir fans (1/1000
parts will reduce the effects of heat birds). Open the doors (make sure
stress that you have wire mesh to protect
the door against the wild birds).
ÂÂ Equipment – using the recom-
mended type of equipment is criti- Our next article in the Agribusiness Di-
cal. Placing extra equipment helps igital Magazine March edition will dis-
birds to access water and feed with cuss Winter brooding management.
ease.
Aspindale park farmers market has been set up for consumers and farmers
to the highest standards of efficiency. It is Aspindale Farmers Market’s pas-
sion to offer quality, security and organised systems that connect, educate and
empower the community to support a healthy, hygienic sustainable food sys-
tem. In turn this network will contribute to the success of local food growers.
D
esire and his brother
showing the profit mar-
gins for maize grown
during the 2017 crop-
ping season.
Chicks
Number of Day old chicks 500
Chick cost per unit $7.20
Stockfeed
Starter 250.0 Kgs $5.10 $/kg $1,275.00
Veterinary supplies
Stress pack
Disinfectant
Vaccination $409.50
Other costs
Transport $204.75
Labour, heating, bedding and other overheads $409.50
Total expenses $12,813.75
Maize grain 20 litre tin $5.00 $5.00 $8.00 $5.00 $5.00 $8.00 $6.00 Nil $8.00 nill
Maize meal 20 litre tin $4.50 $4.50 n/s n/s n/s $10.00 n/s Nil n/s $22.00
Brown rice 20 litre tin $24.30 n/s Nil n/s n/s $45.00 n/s Nil n/s $25.00
Cowpeas 20 litre tin $8.00 $8.00 $35.00 $10.00 $6.00 $30.00 $8.00 Nil $10.00 nill
G/nuts (shelled) 20 litre tin $21.50 $21..50 $35.00 $24.00 $18.00 $25.00 $20.00 Nil $20.00 nill
G/nuts (unshelled) 20 litre tin $9.00 $9.00 $18.00 $7.00 $6.00 $12.00 n/s Nil n/s $10.00
G/nuts (fresh) 20 litre tin $7.00 $7.00 $24.00 n/s $5.00 n\s $7.00 Nil n/s
$15.00
Roundnuts (shelled) 20 litre tin $24.00 $24.00 $18.00 $30.00 $20.00 $32.00 $20.00 Nil $20.00 $30.00
Roundnuts (unshelled) 20 litre tin $12.00 $12.00 Nil $9.00 $7.00 $15.00 $16.00 Nil n/s nill
Roundnuts (fresh) 20 litre tin $11.50 $11.50 $28.00 n/s $8.00 $8.00 n/s Nil n/s nill
Sorghum 20 litre tin $22.00 $22.00 $18.00 $12.00 $20.00 $20.00 $10.00 Nil $10.00 $30.00
P/millet (mhunga) 20 litre tin $17.50 $19.00 $10.00 $14.00 n/s $20.00 $14.00 Nil $10.00 nill
F/millet (rapoko) 20 litre tin $20.50 $20.00 $20.00 $12.00 $20.00 $40.00 $10.00 Nil $10.00 $18.00
Wheat 20 litre tin $18.00 n/s $10.00 n/s $9.00 $20.00 n/s Nil n/s $20.00
Soya beans 20 litre tin $27.00 $20.00 $40.00 n/s $12.00 $23.00 n/s Nil n/s $35.00
Sugar beans 20 litre tin $22.00 $35.00 $50.00 $27.00 $25.00 $48.00 $25.00 Nil $35.00 $20.00
Sweet potatoes 20 litre tin $7.00 $7.00 $15.00 n/s $5.00 $4.00 n/s nil $10.00 n/s
Baby marrow Pocket $5.00 $5.0 $20.00 n/s n/s $1.00 $2.00 Nil n/s n/s
Broccoli Head $2.00 $2.00 $0.70 $0.50 n/s $2.00 $2.00 Nil n/s $5.00
Butternut Pocket $9.00 $9.00 $8.50 $3.00 $1.00 $11.00 $5.00 Nil n/s $12.00
Cabbage Head $1.50 $1.50 $0.70 $0.40 $0.50 $1.50 $1.00 Nil $1.00 $2.00
Carrots Punnet /pocket $3.00 $3.00 $12.00 $1.00 $1.00 n\s $1.00 Nil $1.00 $2.00
Chillies Cup/pocket $2.00 $2.00 $2.50 $1.00 $0.50 n/s $1.00 Nil n/s $2.00
Cauliflower Head $1.50 $1.50 $0.70 $0.50 n/s $1.00 $2.00 Nil n/s n/s
Cucumber Each/ pocket $7.00 $7.00 $8.00 n/s $0.20 $1.00 for $1.00 $2.00 $1.00
4
Garlic Pocket small $8.00 $8.00 $20.00 $1.00 $1.00 $4.00 $4.50 Nil $3.00 $6.00
Green beans 500g/ pocket $2.00 $2.00 $7.00 $5.00 $1.00 $1.00 per $1.50 Nil n/s $2.00
cup
Green Mealies Dozen $5.00 $5.00 $3.50 $1.00 $1.00 $4.00 $3.00 Nil $1.00 $6.00
Green pepper 500g/pockets $3.00 $1.00 $15.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 for $1.80 Nil $1.00 $2.00
4
Irish potato Pocket $13.50 $13.50 $18.00 $12.00 $6.00 $15.00 $10.00 Nil $12.00 $15.00
Mufushwa 50kg $8.00 $8.00 $15.00 n/s $6.00 $24.00 $7.00 Nil n/s $10.00
Okra Kg/pocket $2.00 $2.00 $12.00 n/s $3.00 $8.00 n/s n/s $1.00
Onion (dry) Pocket $12.00 $12.00 $22.00 $10.00 $10.00 $12.00 $6.00 n/s $15.00
Onion (green) Bundle $2.00 $2.00 $4.00 n/s n/s $2.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00
Shallots Bundle $1.75 $1.75 $2.25 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50 $1.00 n/s $2.00
Rape/ covo Bundle $1.00 $1.00 $2.50 $0.30 $0.75 $1.20 $0.50 $1.00 $1.00
Tomatoes Box/20litre tin $17.00 $17.00 $50.00 $13.00 $3.00 $15.00 $6.00 $10.00 $18.00
Spinach Bundle $1.00 $1.00 n/s n/s $0.50 n/s $0.50 n/s n/s
Lettuce Head $1.50 n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s
Apples Pocket $24.00 $24.00 $18.00 $25.00 $1.00 $1.00 for $24.00 $25.00 $25.00
4
Avocado pears Each/dozen/box $1.00 $0.30 $0.40 $0.20 $0.30 $1.00 for $0.20 n/s $1.00
3
Banana Box $13.00 $13.00 $15.00 $1.00 $8.00 $1.00 for $6.00 $1.00 $15.00
12
Guava 20 litre tin n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s
Egg crate $5.00 $5.50 $12.00 $6.00 $5.50 $7.50 $4.50 $5.00 $9.00
Chicken bird $7.50 $6.00 $15.00 $7.00 $6.00 $8.00 $6.00 $7.00 $14.00
Milk (fresh) litre $1.50 $1.00 $2.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 n/s $4.00
Goats Each n/s n/s $50.00 $30.00 $35.00 $27.00 $35.00 $35.00 $100.00
Sheep Each n/s n/s $90.00 $50.00 n/s $36.00 $50.00 $40.00 $250.00
Cattle Beast/ live mass n/s n/s $800.00 $350.00 $350.00 $800.00 $500.00 $350.00 $1000.00
Macimbi 20litre tin $44.00 n/s $80.00 $1.00 n/s $60.00 $30.00 $30.00 $50.00
Matemba/ kapenta 20litre tin $39.90 $40.00 $65.00 $0.50 $24.00 $12.00 $30.00 $30.00 $50.00
per kg
Masau 20 litre tin n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s $8.00 n/s n/s n/s
Mazhanje 20 litre tin n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s nill
Pumpkin Each $1.00 $0.50 $2.00 n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s
Sugarcane Dozen stalks n/s n/s $2.00 n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s
Watermelons each $1.90 $1.00 Nil n/s $4.00 $2.00 n/s n/s $6.00
Yams/madhumbe 20 litre tin $28.00 $9.00 $15.00 n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s n/s
Honey Bottle/ 20litre $7.50 $3.00 $75.00 n/s n/s $3.00 per n/s n/s $6.00
500g