Consultation Services & Fees for New Farmers

DFSA and its affiliated platform Dragon Fruit Farming Africa South Africa offer professional consultation services specifically designed for new and prospective dragon fruit farmers. The consultation model combines expert guidance with flexible delivery options and business planning support.

1. Video Call Consultation – R250

Service: One-on-one digital consultation sessions via video call

Booking Fee: R250 ZAR per session

What It Covers:

– Professional advice from dragon fruit farming specialists
– Discussion of personal farming setup and requirements
– Guidance on variety selection, establishment costs, and crop management
– Answers to specific farming questions and challenges

Suitable for farmers who want expert input remotely before making investment decisions.

Best For: New farmers seeking remote advice, those in remote locations, or individuals in the early planning stages who want to validate their farming plans before committing to a full site visit.

2. Farm Visit with Consultation & Business Plan – R850

Service: On-site farm visit combined with professional consultation, training, and included business plan

Booking Fee: R850 ZAR (includes professional consultation and business planning service)

What It Covers:

– Professional, hands-on guidance at an actual operating dragon fruit farm
– Direct observation of trellising systems, irrigation setup, and cultivation practices
– In-person consultation on site-specific challenges and solutions
– Practical agricultural knowledge in a working farm environment
– Complimentary business plan included with the farm visit package (typically for 1 hectare, 2 hectare, or 5 hectare configurations)

Suitable for individuals or small groups.

Location: Available in Gauteng region and other areas.

Best For: Serious new farmers ready to see a working operation, those planning immediate setup, or individuals who want to understand the practical requirements before investing, plus group training sessions.

Business Plans – R1,500 per Plan (Standalone Option)

Service: Professional business planning for dragon fruit farming operations

Cost: R1,500 ZAR per business plan (available as a standalone purchase or included with the R850 farm visit package)

Business Plan Configurations Available:

DFSA offers comprehensive, professionally developed business plans in three scale options, each with medium to long-term financial projections:

– Small-Scale Plan: 1 Hectare, 3-5 Year Projection
– Medium-Scale Plan: 2 Hectares, 3-5 Year Projection
– Large-Scale Plan: 5 Hectares, 3-5 Year Projection

Business Plan Contents (All Scales):

– Detailed establishment costing for land preparation, trellising, irrigation, and planting materials
– 3-year and 5-year financial projections including revenue scenarios based on yield and market prices
– Operational cost breakdowns (labour, fertilizer, pest management, utilities, packaging)
– Market analysis and off-take opportunities (retail, wholesale, export markets)
– Break-even analysis and return-on-investment (ROI) timelines
– Risk assessment and mitigation strategies
– Professional formatting suitable for bank loan applications and grant submissions.

Key Takeaway

DFSA provides a comprehensive, tiered support system for new dragon fruit farmers in South Africa—starting at R250 for video consultations, escalating to R850 for farm visits with included business plans, with standalone business plans available at R1,500. Upon purchasing 1,000 plants and upwards, farmers gain automatic, ongoing access to the DFSA ProAgriSA platform and Dragon Fruit SA Association, ensuring professional support, market connections, and industry networking throughout their farming career.