AquaHarvest Farms — Executive Summary

Section 1 · Business Plan

Executive Summary

Funding Required

R28,000,000

To establish a commercial tilapia aquaculture operation in Bela-Bela scaling to 600 tonnes per year, targeting R48 million in Year-5 revenue, a 22–25% IRR and a 4–5 year payback.

AquaHarvest Farms (Pty) Ltd is a greenfield commercial tilapia aquaculture enterprise to be established in Bela-Bela, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The Company is being incorporated as a private company under the Companies Act 71 of 2008 and will focus on the production, processing, and distribution of high-quality Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) for the South African domestic market and selected Southern African Development Community (SADC) export markets.

South Africa currently imports approximately 70–75% of its tilapia consumption, representing a significant import substitution opportunity. The domestic aquaculture sector has been identified by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) as a priority sector under Operation Phakisa and the National Development Plan 2030, with targeted government support through grants, subsidies, and technical assistance programmes.

1.1 Investment Highlights

Key Metric	Value
Annual Production (Year 5)	600 tonnes
Revenue (Year 5)	R48.0 million
EBITDA Margin (Steady State)	30–34%
Net Profit (Year 5)	R13.4 million
Total Capital Required	R28.0 million
Target IRR	22–25%
Payback Period	4–5 years
B-BBEE Level	Level 2 (targeted)

1.2 Funding Requirement

The Company is seeking R28 million in equity capital to fund land acquisition, infrastructure development (earthen ponds and recirculating aquaculture systems), equipment procurement, fingerling and feed stock, regulatory compliance, and initial working capital requirements. The equity structure has been designed to accommodate institutional investors, development finance institutions (DFIs), and impact investors aligned with food security and rural development mandates.

1.3 Value Proposition

Import Substitution: Addressing the 70%+ import dependency gap in South African tilapia consumption
Scalable Model: Modular pond and RAS infrastructure enabling phased expansion from 120 to 600+ tonnes per annum
Strategic Location: Bela-Bela offers optimal climatic conditions, water access, and proximity to Gauteng’s 16 million consumers
Policy Alignment: Full alignment with Operation Phakisa, Aquaculture Development Enhancement Programme (ADEP), and B-BBEE requirements
Experienced Management: Founding team combines 40+ years of collective experience in agribusiness, aquaculture science, and corporate finance
Diversified Revenue: Multiple revenue streams including whole fish, processed fillets, fingerling supply, and aquaculture tourism

Figure

Business Plan Chart — visualised from the accompanying data.

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