Poultry loans , or grants from the South African government are available for small chicken farmers through several programs. Loans should be applied for through your local Department of Agriculture. Applicants will need to have a poultry business plan. Government graants and loans can be for land, loans for broiler chicken houses, loans for layer houses and for most agricultural produce production. For a list of government funding addresses you can visit chickenhouses.co.za. When applying for a grant you will need a comprehensive poultry business plan – they will want to know who you are buying from – and how much! Who you are selling to, what you are selling – what your growth plans are. They will need a marketing plan, a cash forecast and a cash flow projection. They will want to know if you have any experience – take a short course in poultry management and get some kind of certificate.

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Mail:     Private Bag X250, PRETORIA, 0001
Street:     No 20, Agriculture Place, Block DA, 1st Floor, cnr Beatrix Street and Soutpansberg Road, Arcadia, PRETORIA
Tel:     (012) 319 7319 (012) 319 7319
Fax:     (012) 321 8558

• Mail:     Private Bag X9130, CAPE TOWN, 8000
• Street:     120 Plein Street, Room 107, CAPE TOWN
• Tel:     (021) 467 4502 (021) 467 4502
• Fax:     (021) 465 6550

Minister
Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson

Mail:     Private Bag X250, PRETORIA, 0001
Street:     No 20, Agriculture Place, Block DA, 1st Floor, cnr Beatrix Street and Soutpansberg Road, Arcadia, PRETORIA

• Tel:     (012) 319 7319  (012) 319 7319
• Fax:     (012) 321 8558
• E-mail:     minister@daff.gov.za

Mail:     Private Bag X9130, CAPE TOWN, 8000
Street:     120 Plein Street, Room 107, CAPE TOWN
Tel:     (021) 467 4502  (021) 467 4502
Fax:     (021) 465 6550
E-mail:     minister@daff.gov.za

Ministerial Spokesperson
Ms Priscilla Tsotso Sehoole

Mail:     Private Bag X250, PRETORIA, 0001
Street:     No 20, Agriculture Place, Block DA, 1st Floor, cnr Beatrix Street and Soutpansberg Road, Arcadia, PRETORIA
Tel:     (012) 319 6042 (012) 319 6042
Fax:     (012) 319 7856
Cell:     083 265 8728 083 265 8728
E-mail:     CCO@daff.gov.za
Media Liaison Officer
Ms Priscilla Tsotso Sehoole (Acting)

Mail:     Private Bag X250, PRETORIA, 0001
Street:     No 20, Agriculture Place, Block DA, 1st Floor, cnr Beatrix Street and Soutpansberg Road, Arcadia, PRETORIA
Tel:     (012) 319 6843 (012) 319 6843
Fax:     (012) 321 8558
E-mail:     cco@daff.gov.za
Private Secretary
Ms Ronika Ramanand

Mail:     Private Bag X250, PRETORIA, 0001
Street:     No 20, Agriculture Place, Block DA, 1st Floor, cnr Beatrix Street and Soutpansberg Road, Arcadia, PRETORIA
Tel:     (012) 319 6886  (012) 319 6886  / (021) 467 4502  (021) 467 4502
Fax:     (012) 319 6681 / 086 520 6519
Cell:     079 871 5438
E-mail:     ronikaR@daff.gov.za
Chief of Staff
Ms Bafedile Bopape

Mail:     Private Bag X250, PRETORIA, 0001
Street:     No 20, Agriculture Place, Block DA, 1st Floor, cnr Beatrix Street and Soutpansberg Road, Arcadia, PRETORIA
Tel:     (012) 319 7150 (012) 319 7150
Fax:     (012) 321 8558
E-mail:     COSMIN@daff.gov.za

South African government loans and government funding for chicken houses – these are usually given as grants for poultry houses and broiler chicken houses. Government grants mean that you do not have to pay the money back – it is freely given – well not the cash but the poultry equipment, chicken house and chicken feed and birds etc. Grants for poultry houses and loans for agriculture. A poultry loan will cover all aspects of chicken farming – but only if your business plan is well prepared – make sure you think about all aspects of the business – storage, silos, leveling of the site (hiring a grader can be very expensive), concrete floors in the chicken house, heaters, fans – make sure you have thought of everything before applying for a South African government loans. If it is not in your poultry business plan it is very unlikely you can go back for more. Things that small chicken framers often forget are things like electricity and water – if it is a new piece of farm land you will need to pay Eskom for a connection and for the cables running from the road to your house – and in regards to water you will probably need a borehole and a water tank and stand. Get quotes from several poultry suppliers – make sure that when the grant is given that they have covered everything – and watch out for crooks – those people in government, and the in between so called BEE suppliers – often they will take a hefty cut out of your money for themselves. Grants are generally given to a co-operative, or a group of people – while this is a good way to raise capital – it has the down side that the entrepreneur does not have full control of his chicken farm – decisions are now spread across many people – and that is not always a good thing.