Cassava Farming

A Sample Cassava Farming Business Plan Template

• Industry Overview

Businesses in the cassava farming industry primarily grow different species of cassava for different purposes. As a matter of fact, worldwide, 800 million people depend on cassava as their primary food staple especially in Sub – Saharan Africa, South America and some parts of Asia.

Cassava is known to be the third-largest source of food carbohydrates in the tropics, after rice and maize. Cassava is indeed a major staple food in Africa, providing basic food for over five million people. It is one of the most drought-tolerant crops, capable of growing on marginal soils. Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of cassava, while Thailand is the largest exporter of dried cassava.

Cassava is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates. Although it is often called yucca in Spanish and in the United States, it is important to state that it differs from the yucca, an unrelated fruit-bearing shrub in the Asparagaceae family.

The Cassava Farming Industry is indeed a very large industry and pretty much thriving in countries such as Nigeria, Thailand, Brazil, Indonesia and Republic of the Congo et al. In 2014, global production of cassava root was 268 million tones, with Nigeria as the world’s largest producer of nearly 55 million tones or 21 percent of the world total.

As a matter of fact, with the recent advancement in technology, farmers can now comfortably grow crops such as cassava in a country where such crops can hardly survive.

One thing is certain when it comes to commercial cassava farming, if you are able to conduct your market research and feasibility studies before choosing a location for cultivating your cassava, you are more likely not going to struggle to grow the cassava and also to sell your cassava because there are always food processing companies, laundry starch production companies, biofuel production companies, pharmaceutical companies and consumers out there who are ready to buy from you.

Lastly, with commercial cassava farming in the United States, it will pay you not to only cultivate cassava and sell them to manufacturing companies that depend on cassava as a major raw material. You can as well start a complimentary business like cassava processing plant; producing and packaging laundry starch, animal feed or any other product that can be gotten from cassava. The bottom line is that if you have enough farm land (space) and you are interested in maximizing commercial cassava farming, you are sure going to make huge profits from the business.

Cassava Farming Business Plan – Executive Summary

User Name® Cassava Farms, Inc. is a registered commercial farm that will be based in the outskirts of Dallas, Texas – United States. We have done our detailed market research and feasibility studies and we were able to secure a well – situated and suitable farm land to start our commercial cassava farm.

Our commercial cassava farm is going to be a standard farm hence will be involved in both commercial cassava cultivation, laundry starch and animal feed production. We will be involved in both organic commercial cassava farming and non – organic commercial cassava farming.

We have put plans in place that will help us launch a standard and world-class cassava processing plant within the first three years of officially running User Name® Cassava Farms, Inc. We will produce laundry starch and animal feeds and ensure that they flood the market both in the United States and in other countries of the world.

We want to compete with the best in the industry, which is why aside from the fact that we have secured the required farm land and most of the farming equipment and machines, we have also hired some key employees who are currently undergoing training so as to fit into the ideal picture of the 21^st century commercial cassava farm workforce that we want to build.

We are in the commercial cassava farming business because we want to leverage on the vast opportunities available in the commercial farming industry to contribute our quota in growing the U.S. economy, in national food production, raw materials production for industries, to export agriculture produce from the United States to other countries and over and above to make profit.

User Name® Cassava Farms, Inc. is well positioned to become one of the leading commercial cassava farms in the United States of America, which is why we have been able to source for the best hands and farm machineries to run the farm with.

We have put process and strategies in place that will help us employ best practices when it comes to commercial cassava farming processes and laundry starch and animal feeds production as required by the regulating bodies in the United States of America.

User Name® Cassava Farms, Inc. is a family business that is owned by Mr. User Name and his immediate family members. The farm cum business will be fully and single handedly financed by User Name and his immediate family members. Before starting User Name® Cassava Farms, Inc., User Name has worked with some of the leading commercial farms and laundry starch production plants in the United States of America; he has a degree (B.Sc.) in Agricultural Science from A & M University Texas.

• Our Services

User Name® Cassava Farms, Inc. is a world class commercial farm that is committed to cultivating organic and non – organic cassava for both the United States’ and the global market. We are in business to produce both food and raw materials for people and industries in commercial quantities. We will also ensure that we operate a standard cassava processing and packaging plant (laundry starch and animal feed production) as part of our complimentary business.

We are in this line of business to make profits, and we will ensure that we do all that is allowed by the law of the United States of America to achieve our business goals and objectives. These are the areas we will concentrate on in our commercial cassava farms. If need arises we will definitely cultivate related crops;

• Cultivation of numerous cassava varieties (organic and non – organic)
• Production of laundry starch and animal feeds

Our Vision Statement

Our Vision is to become one of the leading commercial cassava farms and laundry starch and animal feed production brand not just in the United States of America but also on the global stage.

• Our Mission Statement

User Name® Cassava Farms, Inc. is a world class commercial cassava farm that is in business to cultivate cassava in commercial quantities, and produce laundry starch and animal feed for both the United States and the international market. We want our well – packaged laundry starch and animal feed to flood every nooks and crannies of the United States and other countries of the world.

• Our Business Structure

User Name® Cassava Farms, Inc. is a commercial cassava farm that intends starting small in Dallas – Texas, but hopes to grow big in order to compete favorably with leading commercial cassava farms in the commercial farming industry both in the United States and on a global stage.

We are aware of the importance of building a solid business structure that can support the picture of the kind of world class business we want to own. This is why we are committed to only hire the best hands in and around Texas.

At User Name® Cassava Farms, Inc., we will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, hardworking, dedicated, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stakeholders (the owners, workforce, and customers).

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the management of the farm. In view of the above, User Name® Cassava Farms, Inc. have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

• Chief Operating Officer
• General Farm Manager
• Administrator/Accountant
• Cassava Cultivation Manager/Supervisor
• Laundry Starch and Animal Feeds Production Plant Manager
• Sales and Marketing Executive
• Field Employees
• Front Desk Officer

Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Operating Officer:

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; developing incentives; developing a climate for offering information and opinions; providing educational opportunities
• Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy
• Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization

General Farm Manager

• Responsible for the planning, management and coordinating all farm activities across the various sections on behalf of the organization
• Supervises other section managers (cassava cultivation manager, laundry starch and animal feed production manager)
• Ensures compliance during project executions
• Provides advice on the management of farming activities across all section
• Responsible for carrying out risk assessment
• Uses IT systems and software to keep track of people and progress of the growth of crops (cassava)
• Responsible for overseeing the accounting, costing and sale of farm produce after harvest
• Represents the organization’s interest at various stakeholders’ meetings
• Ensures that farming goals desired result are achieved, the most efficient resources (manpower, equipment, tools and chemicals et al) are utilized and different interests involved are satisfied. Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Handles all financial transactions for the company
• Defines job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carries out staff induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Oversees the smooth running of the daily farming activities across the various farming sections

Administrator/Accountant

• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Defines job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carries out staff induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis
• Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensures compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for the farm
• Serves as internal auditor for the farm

Cassava Cultivation Manager/Supervisor

• Responsible for managing the cassava cultivation section of the commercial cassava farm
• Supervises other workers within the department
• Works closely with the General Manager to achieve the organizations’ goals and objectives

Laundry Starch and Animal Feed Production Manager/Supervisor

• Responsible for managing the laundry starch and animal feed production section of the commercial farm
• Supervises other workers within the department
• Works closely with the General Manager to achieve the organizations’ goals and objectives

Sales and Marketing Officer

• Identify, prioritize, and reach out to new partners, and business opportunities et al
• Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts; participates in the structuring and financing of projects; assures the completion of relevant projects
• Writes winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with company policy
• Responsible for handling business research, makes surveys and feasibility studies for clients
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• Develops, executes and evaluates new plans for expanding increase sales
• Documents all customer contact and information
• Represents the company in strategic meetings
• Helps to increase sales and growth for the farm

Field Workers/Contract Staff

• Responsible for preparing farm land for cassava cultivation
• Responsible for watering the crop
• Weeding, fertilizer and pest control application
• Handles farm implements and machines as instructed by the section manager/supervisor
• Assists in handling the harvest of cassava
• Carries out tasks in line with the stated job description
• Assist in transport working tools and equipment from the farm and back to the designated store room
• Handle any other duties as assigned by the line manager

Client Service Executive/Front Desk Officer

• Welcomes guests and clients to the farm by greeting them in person or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries
• Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
• Manages administrative duties assigned by the manager in an effective and timely manner
• Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the company’s products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to clients
• Receives parcels/documents for User Name® Cassava Farms, Inc.
• Distributes mails in User Name® Cassava Farms, Inc.
• Handles any other duties as assigned by the line manager

Cassava Farming Business Plan – SWOT Analysis

User Name® Cassava Farms, Inc. do not intend to launch out with trial and error hence the need to conduct a proper SWOT analysis. We know that if we get it right from the onset, we would have succeeded in creating the foundation that will help us build a standard cassava farm that will favorably compete with leading commercial cassava farms in the United States of America.

We are quite aware that there are several large, medium and small scale cassava farms, laundry starch and animal feeds production companies all over Dallas – Texas and even in the same location where we intend locating ours, which is why we are following the due process of establishing a business.

We know that if a proper SWOT analysis is conducted for our business, we will be able to position our business to maximize our strength, leverage on the opportunities that will be available to us, mitigate our risks and be welled equipped to confront our threats.

User Name® Cassava Farms, Inc. employed the services of an expert HR and Business Analyst with bias in the commercial farming industry to help us conduct a thorough SWOT analysis and to help us create a business model that will help us achieve our business goals and objectives.

Here is a summary from the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of User Name® Cassava Farms, Inc.;