Executive Summary

This application in form of a business plan is being made by Kamva Lethu

Developments in order to acquire funds to set up an aquaponics and hydroponics

plant in the Addo area near Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape.

The Addo area has been chosen due to the availability of suitable water and land to

practice aquaculture as well as its close proximity to Port Elizabeth and other

potential markets. The main produce from the plants will be Tilapia fish and a

selection of vegetables as per market demand.

Commercial agriculture is a key industry determining the subsistence levels of both

the urban and rural populations of all income groups. Agriculture also determines the

availability of food supply, and it is obvious that shortages, arising from whatever

cause, will affect all consumers dramatically. Simply put, in terms of the

developmental objectives of the country, South Africa cannot afford a massive

inflationary rise in food prices related to a significant decline in local food availability.

Africa has one of the highest poverty indexes worldwide and South Africa, whilst not

as badly off as some of our African neighbors, is permanently aware of the horrors of

famine in countries with a large low income population.

Aquaculture has been identified by the South African Government as a strategic

industry in the fight against famine and it is recognised that we need to be investing

in and growing, the industry vigorously. Kamva Lethu Developments cc, a business

created and managed by young qualified professionals, is leading an initiative to

create a viable intensive aquaculture plant to grow freshwater fish and replace the

growing shortage in fish foods being caused by continual over-exploitation of our

natural fish resources along our coast and in our dams and rivers.

Fish farming is an under-developed industry with existing plants in the Eastern Cape

and South Africa being limited mainly to open earth-dam facilities with low cost, low

yield characteristics. There are newly established intensive feeding plants in China,

Europe and the USA but these plants are not easily persuaded to part with their

knowledge and technology to potential foreign competition. Research into

aquaculture has however been extensive and results have been freely shared

internationally between research facilities and on the internet. We shall be consulting

with the world-renowned Ichthyology Faculty at Rhodes University and other local

professionals to assist with finalising the design and operating parameters required to

run this facility successfully. .

Fish is a good form of protein and has always commanded a very large market

locally and internationally. As ocean fish become scarcer and more expensive, the

"farmed fish" market has grown substantially and is now an established market of

considerable size in China, Europe and the USA with demand for imported fish to

make up locally grown shortfall in all those markets. This is a growing global trend as

the world seeks alternative sources of food for its people. The plant will be designed

to initially produce approximately 15 tons of live freshwater fish per month with output

growing to a maximum of 60 tons per month over 5 years. The facility is designed as

an enclosed system with temperature control that will enable production to continue

throughout the year. Availability of a guaranteed suitable water supply, needing

minimal treatment before use is critical. Hydroponically produced vegetables will form

a lucrative side product and another food source. Once the plant is built and up and

running, it is our intention to train suitable staff and other interested parties in order to

equip them to build additional plants in the rural Eastern Cape areas. It is also the

intention to build a feed plant to supply our requirement whilst growing the fish from

fry to market size. This plant will also be a first for the Eastern Cape and will be

capable of supplying any new satellite plants.