A lot of people in Africa think of farming as a hobby. You may want to put up a farm at your backyard, but farming is a serious business.
If you are thinking of farming, you must consider these 6 questions.
1. Why Farming?
Why, of all the businesses, farming? What are you expecting to gain out of it? A number of factors can lead to making this decision. You may choose farming based on your vision and values. Carefully plan your farm and work on it to make sure expectations are met. As much, manage your expectations so you can stand the challenges long enough to realise the benefits. If you do right farming is very rewarding.
2. Where is your farm located
Is the intended location of your farm suitable for the kind of farm? Is the weather favourable? Does it have the right soils and enough water? Is your farm accessible? When it comes selecting a site for your farm, there a lot to consider.
3. How will you operate your farm?
You need a well-designed business plan. Not necessarily a written and certified document. You should have an idea of all required resources, finances, marketing plan and a clear understanding of what you want to farm.
4. Are you ready to learn?
You need to be prepared for what you want to do in terms of knowledge and experience. Experience comes with time. However, relying on the experience of others in the field will be a good decision. Are you ready to establish such contacts and tap into their experience? You can also rely on credible online agricultural portals like Nobowa for information and guidance. Make sure you hire people who are experienced. If not, be ready to give them the needed training.
Agriculture is ever-changing. Are you ready to adopt?
5. Who will buy your produce?
Until you make that final sale, you are not in the farming business yet. Do you know who will buy what you produce? Don’t make a mistake to think “everyone eats and so when I am done… Know this way before you get to the field to start any production activity.
read Also: Why Farm Records Keeping is Important for Good Farm Management and Profits
6. Are you ready to start small and scale
The obsession with the money at the end will tempt you starting at a large scale. You may not have the capacity to handle. Note, capacity is not only financial. Are you ready to start small, make the little mistakes, face the little challenges, find the solutions and learn as you go? These are the pieces and the building blocks for the bigger scale. It takes patience and resilience.
Is there any other point you may want me to add? Please add as a comment.
If you answer positive to all these questions, then you are ready to go.
You may want the experts’ opinion on what you intend to farm. Comment and we will get back to you.
Featured image source: Catchnews
