Roost & Roots is an integrated micro-agriculture production system designed to support smallholder and emerging farmers through predictable, short-cycle food production. The system combines raising seedlings, which follows through to food production, as well as chicken rearing within a modular unit that prioritises efficiency, scalability, and income stability.
The Roost & Roots unit consists of two independent but complementary enterprises: a Seedling Nursery & Feed a Family System and a Chicken Production unit. Each enterprise operates on its own production cycle, reducing risk and allowing farmers to stagger income streams.
Nursery capacity: 2,400 seedlings per cycle.
12 trays with 200 seedlings per tray.
6-week production cycle with approximately 6 cycles per year.
Annual seedling output: ~13,680 seedlings.
Plant out with 95% establishment rate = 12,996 plants annually.
Unit capacity: 50 day-old chicks.
Sale age: 6-7 weeks.
Option 1: 6-week batch cycle producing 280-300 chickens per year.
Option 2: 3-week staggered cycle with step-down unit producing 560-600 chickens per year.
The Roost & Roots system generates income from two revenue streams. These financials have been documented from three units in KZN with various user profiles over a 1-year period.
Conservative (Option 1)
Best Case (Option 1)
Best Case (Option 2)
Option 1 (6-Week Batch):
Conservative 282 sold at R100 = R15,510 gross profit.
Best case 300 sold at R120 = R22,500 gross profit.
Option 2 (3-Week Staggered):
Conservative 564 sold at R100 = R31,020 gross profit.
Best case 600 sold at R120 = R45,000 gross profit. Estimated production cost per chicken: R45.
12,996 cabbages planted annually (95% establishment rate).
Conservative: 12,996 sold at R12 = R129,960 gross profit.
Best case: 12,996 sold at R15 = R168,948 gross profit.
Estimated production cost per cabbage: R2.
The Roost & Roots unit was designed for people in communities to raise seedlings for their own garden or to sell to neighbours and to raise broiler chickens to sell or for household consumption. The unit enables South Africans to be self-sustainable and run a business from a 2m x 2m area. All you need is access to water and electricity during winter.
Empower communities with a sustainable micro-agriculture system that generates real income. Whether you're a CSI manager, foundation, bank, or an individual looking to make an impact — partner with us to deploy Roost & Roots units across South Africa.
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