The business plan summarizes the goals and operations of an Agriculture Business Centre in Sierra Leone over 5 years from 2011-2015. The Centre aims to add value to crops like rice, cassava, oil palm, groundnuts, benin, and honey through processing, packaging, and marketing. It will purchase raw materials from farmers, process them, and sell the value-added products to wholesalers, retailers, and directly to consumers. The plan outlines production, marketing, management, and financial projections to guide the Centre's establishment and growth.

1. ABC Business Plan 1
BUSINESS PLAN
2011 - 2015
to
Operate
Agriculture Business Centre
A Processing, Value Addition & Marketing Centre
for Rice, Cassava, Oil Palm, Groundnut, Benin & Honey
.
Prepared by:
Sharad Pant
(Value Chain Advisor- VSO Volunteer)
Date:
April 30,2011
Address:
Methodist Church Sierra Leone
Bonthe Food Security Project,
Mattru Jong
 bdfsp.abc@gmail.com

2. ABC Business Plan 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Executive Summary
The Agriculture Business Centre
Goals 1
Product Branding 4
Marketing Plan 5
Production Plan 9
Management & Labour Plan 15
Financial Plans 18
Agriculture Business Centre Balance Sheet 19
Cash Flow Statement 21
Training of Business Centre Staff 22
Contact & Resources 23
LIST OF ANNEXES
ANNEX 1 Primary feasibility survey for Rice Huller
ANNEX 2 Primary feasibility survey for Cassava Enterprise
ANNEX 3 Operation Plan for Cassava Grater Machines placed at Chiefdom
level
ANNEX 4 Operation Plan for Power Tiller
ANNEX 5 Formats of Record Keeping
ANNEX 6 Sensitization Message of Agriculture Business Center (ABC)
ANNEX 7 Job description of Business Centre Staff
ANNEX 8 Checklist For Agriculture Business Centre

3. ABC Business Plan 3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Agriculture Business Centre at Baoma Kpenge aims to adding value to Rice,
cassava, Oil Palm, Groundnut, Benin & Honey production in order to increase the
incomes of farmers and to enhance the accessibility of clean & safe products for
consumers. The business will purchase raw material from farming group, process
it, add value in the produce, packed, label it and will sell it in local and Bo,
Freetown market. The business will also provide its services for processing of farm
produce on reasonable rate.
The agriculture practiced by the vast majority of farmers is rudimentary and mainly
consists of subsistence farming. Fewer than 5% of households have access to
fertilizers, tractors, and power tiller farm equipment. Most small holder farmer
yields are greatly reduced by post – harvest losses due to poor handling and pest
management, inappropriate storage facilities and lack of ready markets. A
significant proportion of the rural population in Sierra Leone therefore remains
poor, vulnerable to food insecurity and high rates of malnutrition, particularly in the
Southern province. The Purpose of Agriculture Business Centre is two fold – firstly
to feel the need of technical know- how to farmers and secondly reduce the post
harvest losses by processing and marketing of farm produce.
Marketing strategy: Agriculture Business Centre will target The retailers and
wholesaler coming from Bo and Freetown in Gbap, Yagoi, Mano-Koriganya trade
fair will be targeted as primary customers for the business.

4. ABC Business Plan 4
In future the Agriculture business center trade will be operated directly through the
Business centers at Baoma-Kpenge the processed products will be sold from the
center to wholesalers, retailers and direct to customers.
Financial Summery
1) Estimated income for first 5 years of operation
 1st
Year: Le 53328000
 2nd
Year: Le 259228000
 3rd
Year: Le 307006000
 4th
Year: Le 402293000
 5th
Year: Le 403343000
2) Estimated profit (or loss)for the first 5 years of operation
 1st
Year: Le 12005804
 2nd
Year: Le 13256800
 3rd
Year: Le 25122965
 4th
Year: Le 8688115
 5th
Year: Le 7641779
3) Estimated capital necessary for six month start up operation of
Agriculture Business Centre : Le 115896000

5. ABC Business Plan 5
BUSINESS ORGANIZATION
Business Name: Agriculture Business Center
Baoma Kpenge
Methodist Church Sierra Leone
Bonthe Food Security Project,
Mattru Jong
Physical Address: Baoma Kpenge, Nongoba-Bullom Chiefdom
City, State, Zip: Mattru Jong, Sierra Leone
County: Sierra Leone (West Africa)
Telephone:
E-Mail Address:bdfsp.abc@gmail.com
Web site Address: www.google.com/profiles/bdfsp.abc
Type of Organization Proprietorship
Licenses and Permits :No special permits or licenses are required to
operate or sell products in local area.

6. ABC Business Plan 6
GOALS
Mission
To Manage the Agriculture Business Centre as an efficient and profitable business,
Centre by adding value to Rice, cassava, Oil Palm, Groundnut, Benin and Honey
production in order to increase the incomes of farmers, and to enhance the accessibility
of clean & safe products for consumers.
Goal Strategy Tactics Time
Log Term Goals
 Raising incomes of 130
farming groups farmers by
providing processing and
marketing services within
Bonthe district
 Establish as a resource
centre to guide, assist and
to develop the other
business centers in Sierra
Leone
 Providing extension
Efficient service on
competitive price.
Exploring market linkages for
getting right price of farmer’s
process products.
Generate processing
documents, plant operation
manual & data with facts &
figures. Build up the capacity
of staff to work as resource
person.
Establish linkages with
Priority to efficient
service delivery and
brand name creation.
Priority to
documentation, book
& record keeping and
data processing.
Gather the data
3years
4
years

7. ABC Business Plan 7
services on paying basis,
such as providing
machines on rent,
fertilizer, seed supply,
tractorization, workshop
and training on Agriculture
know how on pay and
participate basis.
reputed Dealers, Resource
Institutes, Agriculture
Department, Agriculture
Service Provider etc. to
deliver best services to
community
about the acreage of
seed & fertilizer used
per year in area,
paying capacity of
farmers. Lacking &
need of skill and
knowledge
requirement
3
years
Goal Strategy Tactics Time
Short Term Goals
 Competent
utilization of
resources ( Man
& Machine)
 To attract the
buyers for getting
fair price of
processed goods.
 Add value in
Agro products -
Processing of clean, best
quality of Rice, Cassava, Oil
Palm, Groundnut, Benin &
Honey with targeted
production.
Clean, quality processing
goods, attractive packaging,
prompt service delivery
Make attractive packaging of
ready to eat products.
Ensure the availability of
raw material for
processing.
Develop market network,
develop service , delivery
linkage
Develop ready to eat
recipes/ product’s
2
year
1
year
2
years

8. ABC Business Plan 8
ready to eat
packaging.
 Promoting Food
stalls
 Creating brand
name
Set up food stalls.
Make mono, and tag line
.
Trained women in sales
and stall management
techniques.
Advertisement through
Radio and pamphlets
2
years
1
year

9. ABC Business Plan 9
Product Branding
Mono of BFSP PRODUCTS
Tag Line of Products:
(Eat Fresh, Feel Fresh)
The Agriculture Business Centre Products will be clearly mentioned with the
details of
 Date of Manufacturing
 Date of Expiry
 Mono of business Centre products
 Tag Line
 Batch Number
 Weight/ Quantity
 Detail Address
 Email, website & Contact number

10. ABC Business Plan 10
MARKETING PLAN
 To add value to products.
 To work with retails and wholesale outlets to promote product and build
customer loyalty for our products.
The Market
Agriculture Business Center has three distinct customers, these include,
 Wholesalers,
 Retailers and
 Direct to customers.
The wholesalers and retailers purchase the Agriculture Business Center products
in bulk which they ultimately sell to the end consumer. The market for direct
customer is quite exciting and challenging. To attract direct customer Agriculture
Business Center have to create its network and link up with local services to
hospitals, military mess & other various Govt. Departments and also to open its
own retail outlets. Initially Business Center will promote its products in local and
district level markets.

11. ABC Business Plan 11
Channel of Distribution on % of sales
Channel 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Direct to consumer 10 % 10 % 5% 20% 25%
Retailers 20% 15% 15% 20% 25%
Wholesalers 70% 70% 75% 55% 45%
Others (Military canteen, hospitals,
schools, restaurants, etc.)
0% 5% 5% 5% 5%
It is proposed to supply product to Wholesalers/retailers form the ABC at Baoma-
Kpenge on weekly basis. For direct sales will be done by retail outlet points at the
trade fairs.
Market Trends
There are very few processing units in the Southern region of Sierra Leone, the
existing processing units are old and due to lack of appropriate spare parts its
working on & off mode,.
Wholesaler and retailers and weekly trade fares are located near business centers
helpful to promote business centers products to customers. Initially the potential
customers will be searched in the trade fair centers nearby the Agriculture
Business Center periphery to save the cost of transportation and thereby to get
more profit of margin.

12. ABC Business Plan 12
The retailers and wholesaler coming from Bo and Freetown in Gbap, Yagoi, Mano-
Koriganya trade fair will be targeted as primary customers for the business.
In future the Agriculture business center trade will be operated directly through the
Business centers at Baoma-Kpenge the processed products will be sell from the
center to wholesalers and retailers.
The opportunities will be opened through the trade fair at Manokoviganya, Gbap,
Yagoi,, in all trade fair centers there is facility of storage centers, by opening retail
outlet and by appointing individuals from community, stimulate community level
entrepreneurship among women the trading will be carry out at trade fair centers
to get right price of products.
Product & Prices (In Le)
Products 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Processed rice (50 kg) 145000 150000 150000 152000 155000
Rice husk (per 50 kg bag
size/not by weight)
4000 4500 4700 5000 5000
Gari ( Cassava Granules)
(50 kg bag)
40000 45000 50000 55000 55000
Groundnut 135000 140000 145000 145000 147000
Oil Palm (5 Gallon) 40000 43000 45000 48000 50000
Honey (1 paint, ½ liter) 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000

13. ABC Business Plan 13
Place
Processed Rice, Rice cake, Rice cookies,
Puffed rice Wholesalers, retailers & trade fairs
near the business centreGari, fufu, starch
Salty roasted groundnut, processed &
packed groundnut
Local market & Trade fairs
Palm Oil Local market, Trade fairs &
Wholesalers
Benny cake, processed & packed Benin Local market & Trade fairs
Promotion
 Trade fairs: Special promotions to advertise product by direct sales, more
colorful display with brand name & tag line.
 New labeling & packaging
 Wholesalers & Retailers: product information pamphlet
 Advertisement through Radio for all types of buyers.

14. ABC Business Plan 14
PRODUCTION PLAN
 To maintain processing of minimum 500 bushels of rice in a month.
 To maintain processing of minimum 600 bags of gari in a month.
 To maintain the processing of Oil Palm, Groundnut, Benin & Honey at
profitable level.
 Maintain the minimum yearly sale of 20,000 Qtl. of processed rice in
domestic, regional and open market.
 Maintain the minimum yearly sale of 4200 bags of processed gari in
domestic, regional and open market.
 A Service provider: As a service provider the agriculture business center
can able to provide its processing services on charge basis. The registered
member farming groups and other registered farmers can able to avail the
business centers processing service to add value in their produce and to get better
crop price. In this role business center will provide its processing services on
charge and as per the demand from farmer will linked up him directly to market on
some minimal service charge to sell his good in market in right price.
 Processing, packaging & Marketing Unit: Presently the Traders are
purchasing the agro produce from farmers on minimal rate and then they process
it in private processing unit then they sell it in market to retailers. Agriculture
Business Center will purchase the rice from farmers on credit and will process and
packed it. After that it will be stored and when market is favorable then will sell it to
wholesalers, retailers and direct to customers. In this role there is need of strong

15. ABC Business Plan 15
marketing team, the team members will work as salesman and recovery agent for
Agriculture Business Center.
As per analysis and survey Agriculture Business Center has positive growth
potential. At present there lack of number of reliable, affordable, well equipped
processing units it one of the greatest reason of potential growth of Agriculture
Business Center. Even in near future there is scope of expansion of Agriculture
Business Center to add more agro products for processing and thereby value
addition to support the farmers for getting right value of their agro produce.
Production Facilities:
Description of Equipment
The Agriculture Business Center is well equipped with following processing units
to offer services
A. One Rice huller
B. Two Cassava grater (with a press)
C. Gari frying facility
D. One Palm Oil press
E. One Palm Nut Cracker

16. ABC Business Plan 16
Product Profile
The processing activity and product profile will be selected keeping in the regional
availability of raw materials, their demand and market potential for value added
products. Typically, they include:
 Cleaned and graded crop material supply
 Processing technology for rice milling, cassava grating/frying, Palm oil
processing, Benin products(Benin cakes, Benin-mix, etc) and honey processing
 Fried and puffed products like: Gari, Fufu, bitten rice / puffed rice, etc.
 Conventional ready to eat products such as, Gari, salty roasted groundnut,
puffed rice etc.
 Protein rich fortified food products.
Combining processing activities for variety of raw materials will make the
processing centre to operate round the year.
Description of processing activities
i. Value added products for Commerce - Food Crops
The infrastructure facility to be created is planned for a wide variety of value added
products from Rice, Cassava, Palm kernel, Palm nut cracker, Groundnut and
Benin seed. The choice of the value added products is restricted to the largely
grown agriculture crops in and around Business Centre. Among the Rice, Cassava,
Palm kernel, Palm nut cracker, groundnut will be a good raw material for taking up
value added activities as it is one of the major growing food crops in the region. The

17. ABC Business Plan 17
business centre will develop value added products with these agriculture products,
and the technology is already put on for popularization, particularly, among Farming
groups and in the rural areas. A few hands-on training programmes will also
organise for these groups, to take up preparation of marketable products.
Table 1 Value added products
Name of Crop Value Added Products
Rice Processed Rice, Rice cake, Rice cookies, Puffed rice
Cassava Gari, fufu, starch
Palm Kernel Red Palm Oil
Palm nut Nut Oil (specially used for making soup)
Groundnut Salty roasted groundnut, processed & packed groundnut
Benin Benin cake, processed & packed Benin
Honey Cleaned Bottled honey
The above are some of the examples of value added products. However, over the
time, there is flexibility to take up other value added products based on the market
demand for the products. Quality aspects are of prime importance in the
development of the products and necessary hygiene certification will be obtained
from the appropriate authorities in this regard.

18. ABC Business Plan 18
SWOT Analysis
We are in a highly lucrative market in a rapidly growing economy. We foresee our
strengths as the ability to respond quickly to what the market dictates and to
provide quality products (processed rice, gari, groundnut, honey) in a growing
market. In addition, through aggressive marketing and quality management we
intend to become a well-respected and known entity in our respective industry.
Our key personnel have a wide and thorough knowledge of the local
manufacturing market and expertise, which will go towards penetrating the market.
However we acknowledge our weakness of a medium-sized Agriculture business
centre without a lot of experience, and the threat of new competition taking aim at
our position. The summarized strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
illustrated as follows.
Strengths
 Strategic market segmentation and implementation strategies
 Diversified market segments: ensuring the lack of dependency on one
particular market
 Modern processing technology (Machines)
 Establishment and maintenance of strong capital base
 An aggressive and focused marketing campaign with clear goals and strategies

19. ABC Business Plan 19
Weaknesses
 Lack of a reputation.
 The introduction of new organizational practices and personnel who have not
previously worked together presents a challenge to the Agriculture Business
Centre.
 A limited financial base compared to the major players in the industry
 Lack of clear-cut channels of distribution.
 Connectivity / transportation difficulty to main market places and trade fairs.
Opportunities
 Appreciation for clean, processed quality local produced.
 Lack of number of reliable, affordable, well equipped processing units in the
area.
 A big gap for good quality processed products in market.
Threats
 Uncertainty in availability of raw material
 Established mass market companies that imports.
 Fluctuating price of fuel.
 Transportation & bad road.
 Spare parts of machinery.
 Local unhygienic working practices.
 Farmers may decide to take their produce for food in case of hunger

20. ABC Business Plan 20
MANAGEMENT & LABOUR PLAN
 To operate Agriculture Business Centre as a business farm, working
smarter and more efficiently.
 To minimized labour engagement.
 To learn new technologies required to produce and market new products.
Personnel Plan
The following table summarizes our personnel expenditures for the first five years,
we believe this plan is a good compromise between fairness and expedience, and
meets the commitment of our mission statement. The detailed monthly personnel
plan for the first year is included in the appendix.
Personnel will remain at a minimum, to ensure high productivity and good
compensation to our staff. Staffing will be monitored carefully to ensure all
necessary staff is available all the time and all measures taken immediately to all
that threatens the Agriculture Business Center revenue and production.

21. ABC Business Plan 21
Approximate Estimated Personnel Force:
Personnel Plan 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Business Centre
Manager
6960000 7795200 8051328 8248212 8362196
Machine Operator (2
Number)
12000000 13440000 13881600 14221056 14417580
Record Keeper/ Seed
Tool Distributor
6000000 6720000 6940800 7110528 7208790
Guard 4800000
5376000 5552640 5688422 5767032
Hire Labour 25200000 32400000 31500000 34200000 34200000
Total People 19 23 21 19 19
Total Payroll
54960000 65731200 65926368 69468218 69955598

22. ABC Business Plan 22
Job Allocations
S.
No.
Designation Functions Training
Needs
1 Business
Centre
Supervisor
Supervise the Business Centre work as
liaisoning between ABC, MCSL Office and
different concerned Govt. departments.
Management
of ABC
2 Business
Centre
Manager
Plant management, Cost management,
Production, Quality and Logistics
Responsibilities, communication & personnel
management,
Business
Centre
Management,
Repairing &
Maintenance
of Machinery
3 Machine
Operator
Repair & maintenance of machines, maintain
the quality of production, Record keeping of
raw and processed agro products,
Responsibilities related to Plant machinery.
Repairing &
Maintenance
of Machinery
4 Record
Keeper/
Seed Tool
Distributor
The job includes effective supervision of
financials, Record keeping of incoming &
outgoing agro produce/ products
Book & record
keeping,
Repairing &
Maintenance
of Machinery
5 Guard To ensure complete security of Agro Business
Center with its machinery, assets, stored agro
produce and office equipments. Cleaning &
dusting of plant machinery & office. Providing
assistance to Machine operator
Training on
government
regulators on
food
packaging
6 Hire
Labour
Processing, packaging of different products. Training on
processing,
packaging
& labeling

23. ABC Business Plan 23
Financial Plan
YEAR ► 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
INCOME
Sales
Rice 8800000 90000000 105000000 128000000 144000000
Gari 2400000 8000000 20000000 25000000 40000000
Palm Oil 750000 1600000 3000000 3500000 8500000
Honey 50000 400000 800000 800000 1700000
Ready to eat food 400000 700000 900000 160000 2600000
Services
Rice Hullar 8000000 50240000 52776000 62776000 68384000
Cassava Grater 5328000 17280000 19872000 34192000 34192000
Palm Oil Press 1000000 1728000 1986000 44185000 4495000
Palm Cannel Nut
Cracker 21600000 20160000 23184000 24192000 24592000
Power Tiller 5000000 69120000 79488000 79488000 74880000
TOTAL INCOME 53328000 259228000 307006000 402293000 403343000
EXPENSES
Cash Payments to
farmers/Traders 4350000 21200000 32800000 40500000 40500000
Advertising 800000 900000 800000 800000 800000
Management Draws for
office running exp 200000 720000 840000 900000 960000
Salaries and Wages 1000000 65731200 65926368 69468218 69955598
Cost of Transportation 900000 1560000 1800000 2100000 2900000
Cost of Repair &
Maintenance of
Machines 500000 800000 900000 900000 1500000
Cost of Fuel for
Machines 33112196 153920000 177006667 277006667 277005623
Telecommunications
Payments 60000 240000 360000 480000 480000
Utilities Payments 400000 900000 1450000 1450000 1600000
TOTAL EXPENSES 41322196 245971200 281883034.7 393604885 395701221
NET INCOME 12005804 13256800 25122965.33 8688115 7641779

24. ABC Business Plan 24
Agriculture Business Centre Balance Sheet Forecast
Current Assets:
Cash on hand & In bank 00
Inventory 00
Total Current Assets (A) 00
Fixed Assets :
Land
Building 180,000,000
Plant & Equipment
A) Rice Huller 13,000,000
B) Cassava Grater (2) (Sieve, frying pan, cassava
press)
31,200.000
C) Palm Oil Press 24,000,000
D) Palm Oil Nut Cracker 11,850,000
E) Power Tiller 63,500,000
F) Furniture & Fixture 900,000
Total fixed assets(B) 293,281,200
TOTAL COST OF ASSETS C= (A+B) 293,281,200
Current Liabilities 00

25. ABC Business Plan 25
Trade Creditors 00
Provision for Tax 00
Total current liabilities 00
Long Term Liabilities
Bank Loan 00
Total long- term liabilities 00
TOTAL LIABILTIES (E) 00
ABC Equity
Contributed Capital 293,281,200
Retained Earning 00
Current profit (Loss) 00
TOTAL EQUITY (F) 293,281,200
ABC EQUITY G= (F-E) 293,281,200

26. ABC Business Plan 26
CASH FLOW STATEMENT
Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb
CASH REVENUES
Revenue from Sales 3050000 4260000 4840000 6020000 7600000 7600000
Revenue from Services 6998500 7825000 8715000 9240000 10465000 11410000
TOTAL CASH REVENUES 10048500 19910000 22270000 15260000 18065000 19010000
CASH DISBURSEMENTS
Cash Payments to
farmers/Traders 671000 937200 1161600 1324400 1672000 1672000
Advertising 900000 900000 500000 900000 900000 900000
Management Draws for office
running exp 502425 995500 1113500 763000 903250 950500
Salaries and Wages 3605000 3605000 3605000 3605000 3605000 3605000
Cost of Transportation 301455 597300 668100 457800 541950 570300
Cost of Repair & Maintenance of
Machines 100485 199100 668100 152600 180650 190100
Cost of Fuel for Machines 1205820 2389200 3340500 1831200 2167800 2281200
Telecommunications Payments 100000 100000 100000 100000 100000 100000
Utilities Payments 200970 398200 445400 305200 361300 380200
TOTAL CASH
DISBURSEMENTS 7587155 10121500 11602200 9439200 10431950 10649300
NET CASH FLOW 2461345 9788500 10667800 5820800 7633050 8360700

27. ABC Business Plan 27
The Training offered to Built the capacity of Business Center Personnel
S.
No.
Topic Duration
1 ABC Staff training on Record & book keeping,
Business centre management & Marketing
3 days
2 Exposure visit to Successful Agriculture Business
Centre for Virtual learning
3 days
3 Management of ABC 2 days
4 Repairing & Maintenance of Machinery 1 day
5 Marketing & Sales Management 1 day
6 Monitoring of Account and book keeping 1 day
7 Identify post-harvest equipment and
Suppliers
1 day
8 Training on government regulators on food
packaging
1 day
9 Training on packaging
& labeling
2 days

28. ABC Business Plan 28
CONTACTS & RESOURCES
Contact Name Phone Number E-Mail /
Website
Board of Directors
VDC Members
Advisor
Bank
Mechanist
Local Newspaper
FAO
MAFFS
Wingings Co. for repair &
maintenance of Machines

29. ABC Business Plan 29
ANNEXES