Strengthening the bankability and strategic use of business plans: the example of Coldiron in Zimbabwe

As part of the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, a post-training support mission was conducted for Coldiron, a horticultural company based in Zimbabwe. This support followed the company’s participation in the training “Create a Business Plan for Your Agribusiness.”

Objectives

The overall objective of the post-training mission was to assist Coldiron in reviewing and finalising its business plan so that it reflects its current operations and meets the requirements of financial institutions.

More specifically, the mission aimed to:

• clarify certain aspects covered during the training;
• review and refine the draft business plan, providing personalised feedback;
• support the company in finalising and implementing the document;
• define the next steps for using the plan effectively in financing applications and business development.

Implementation

The mission combined in-person and online sessions, organised in three main stages:

• Inception meeting – held at Coldiron Farm (Marondera and Harare) to discuss objectives, methodology, and expectations;
• Review of the draft business plan – identification of key gaps, such as missing detailed financial data, limited market analysis, and the absence of a risk management framework;
• Debriefing session – validation of the revised plan, alignment on financial projections and funding requirements, and definition of next steps.

During the field visit, the expert also assessed the company’s production and processing facilities. Recommendations included digitalising record keeping, documenting standard operating procedures for quality control, and strengthening financial and market data.

Results and Outlook

The mission enabled Coldiron to enhance the structure, financial clarity, and strategic coherence of its business plan. The management expressed strong commitment to implementing the updated plan as a tool for financing and business development.

Some components still require completion, including crop budgets, multi-year cash flows, and market data. Finalising these will be essential to enable Coldiron to use its business plan to (i) apply for bank and agri-finance funding (ii) develop new market opportunities, particularly for processed and dried products targeting South Africa; and (iii) pursue organic certification to strengthen its competitiveness in regional and European markets.

This activity is supported by the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, implemented by COLEAD within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union. This publication receives financial support from the European Union and the OACPS. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of COLEAD and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the OACPS.