1 Agriculture is for anyone, farm
business is not
Almost anyone can manage a kitchen
garden, nurture some potted flowers or feed a gold fish in an aquarium. But
when it comes to agribusiness, there is a lot more involved.
It is therefore important to start
by giving a cold reality check to your passion in agribusiness. Consider
whether you really have the time and energy your enterprise will need; because
like any other business, it will take both passion and commitment to thrive.
2 Farm business is more than
passion
Besides the passion to grow crops
and rear animal, you also need to have some basic skills in business. Numerous
farmers have carried their passion to the farm and hoped to make it. They soon
realise you need a few more skills to succeed. Some knowledge in basic
bookkeeping, people management and some aptitude in marketing are paramount.
3 Match your farm with the best
venture
Your farm could possibly support a
number of agribusiness ventures. But before you engage in any, conduct a
thorough survey of other alternative uses and adopt the best alternative.
Whereas it is easier to grow what everyone else is growing, venturing into new
frontiers is one of the best ways of steering off stiff competition.
4 Start by scouting for the best
markets
It is much easier to grow anything
than it is to market it profitably. Before executing any plan, start by
scouting for the best market. Some of the unexploited avenues include online
marketing, contract business with schools, hospitals and other institution and
regional markets.
5 Start small, set reasonable
goals
Starting small gives you an
opportunity to make mistake without paying heavily for it. At times it’s the
best way to learn. First get the experience and then grow your business.
6 Keep important contacts
The moment you get into farm
business, nothing can take the place of experience. It is important to keep the
contacts of people who could be useful at your hour of need. You can also gain
many useful contacts by participating in farmer’s forums and training
programmes.
7 Take risks, but invest wisely
It is easier to get a bank loan
than it is to put it into a prudent use. There will always be a lot of things
money can do in the farm. You must, however, invest in ventures with the
highest returns.
8 Think out of the box, but
cutting corners is not part of the deal
The easiest way to fail in a farm
business is to start taking shortcuts. Farming needs a lot of patience. It is
more like taking a marathon, as oppose to taking a sprint. If you want to last
in the business; learn to be both innovative and patient.
9 Fail. Fail again and again. But
fail sensibly
There is no magic bullet in
business. At times things work; at times they don’t. It’s the only way you gain
experience. Don’t stop pursuing your dream because you failed, it’s the life of
a farmer. As long as you learn from it, it will only make you better.
10 Grow a sense of humor along
with your crops
Experience has taught farmers that the only way to succeed is by wearing a light heart. Calamities will sometimes visit. It could be a flush flood that sweeps your crop, or bunch of stray lions that pays a surprise visit to your herd. I could say take up an insurance cover, or grow a thick skin. But I choose to say, grow a sense of humour. Laughing at your problems is at times the best you can do.
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