Navigating farming hurdles, one day at a time
Someone recently asked me, “What would you do differently if you were to start farming today…?” At first, I thought the answer would be simple – I would simply list all the problems I am currently encountering in farming, and do things differently. But it was not that simple. In fact, the same hurdles we encounter today are what make us stronger to face another day as farmers.
It could be things of our own making, such as errors in calculations, misconceptions and wrong placements. But it could also be matters that we have no control over, such as weather patterns, market fluctuations or sudden abrupt changes in our lives. But perhaps, for the benefit of all who follow this column, let me attempt to answer the question above in all honesty.
Most crucial will be to never overestimate your potential, or the potential of the agribusiness you are undertaking. Start small, and work your way up from there. Don’t be in a hurry to make it; direction is more important than speed. Remain focused and you will get there, in good time.
Make sure you have the right manpower – or womanpower – for the job. Gone are the days when women were excluded from farming. It is a different world now, and we are learning as much from women farmers as we would from their male counterparts. All in all, human resources – the right kind – are the key factors to a successful farm.
I would invest in myself too. Learn some basic farming. Attend workshops and seminars, and prioritise farm visits to other successful farmers for learning. You never stop learning. Plato’s account of the Greek philosopher Socrates puts it better. He quoted Socrates as having said: “I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing”.
Also, I wouldn’t invest very much in infrastructure. Rather invest in production, and let your produce build your infrastructure, one step at a time. Many farms have great structures, but no money for production. Avoid going in too big: the depth of the ocean is never tested with both feet.
Plan your farm in detail, plan for every four months, which is quarterly, plan mid-year (every six months), and plan yearly. Always have a three-year plan of how you want your farm to look or where you expect it to be, and a fiveyear plan known as the long-term plan.
These plans are not for fun, but are there to guide you along the way. You may want to occasionally look at them, and measure them against the status quo of the agribusiness. That way you will know if you are hitting the targets, or are simply shooting blanks.
If it turns out to be the latter, then you will have time to correct the shortcomings and redirect your efforts so that you stay on track and do not stray off the goal and vision you crafted for your business.
Prioritise marketing strategies and market research. What good is a product that can’t be sold? Thus, make sure you have clearly identified your market, and know where and how to sell your products. This is crucial, and can never be stressed enough. Failing this test will almost guarantee that your agribusiness will come tumbling down like a house of cards.
Most importantly, be consistent on one model, and avoid hopping around from one farming model to another. You will hear stories and suggestions from new farmers on what is more profitable between veggies and piggery or broiler farming. Remain on course. Don’t stray off course – anything done well and consistently is profitable. What most people lack is consistency. Don’t be that person.