Food is a human commodity whose value cannot be over emphasised.
Foods are produced by farmers of crops or live stock. The art of farming started without any formal education. Seeds were simply dispersed by various forms to germinate.
Farming is not just an occupation/profession or a career, it's more of a business these days, a passionate and a social enterprise that meets human unending needs.
What is That Thing You Need To Start and Succeed In Farming As An Enterprise?
◼ Passion - {Love for what you do}
Very important to note is that passion comes first above all factors. If you don't love it, you will not engage in it and be able to manage it. I can speak from experience here. Love what you do and make it an important part of you.
You will always find more reasons for not giving up even when things seems down, no matter what happens along the way.
(This is the secret behind my Initiative to feed my country Nigeria). Your passion has to be seen by others too. Passions don't lie-at least you know you are true to yourself.
◼ Time - {Commitment}
You must be ready to give in your best time and commitment to your farming business. Not more sense in telephone farming or weekend farming. Even if you don't get to do all the jobs, you should have the knowledge of what you are doing. With the right money to invest in farming without the technical understanding of your farm enterprise can end you up in a big mess. Asking workers to be there alone all the time without seeing the goings on site can be a big disappointment.
Farming like any other business needs a lot of your time to prosper the way you intend for it to. So avail yourself for your farm venture.
◼ Information - {Technical support, Advisory}
Like i said earlier, you need knowledge and information to prosper in farming as a business. You must know everything, every single data/ information about a project you wish to do. Don't be a Gambler farmer you shouldn't just loose your money like that. You can visit a successful farmer, Go for consultancy or use Google for some extra information. Join a farm group or cooperative to get basic information, new skills and farm materials like fertilizers and other farm gadgets. Probably a grant from the government.
◼ Business plan - {Production,Management & Marketing}
These three are key factors for your farm enterprise. Since this is your own business, you must plan for it not someone planning it for you. After searching for a market gap, you must Know What to produce, Why, How, When and for Whom. Even before you plant your first seed, make sure you can answer the above questions, not in your head but on paper written down to always remind you and maintain your focus. It was difficult for me to write one business for myself as regards my farm, but now it is paying off. When you fail to plan, you plan to fail in everything.
◼ Land - {Your Location}
This is the main physical factor of production in farming anywhere in the world. You can buy, lease or rent land somewhere to start your farming activities in earnest. This was a big challenge to me initially and my compound would not inspire such. This a major. Hallenge for many youths who don't own land yet. There are groups that support members aquire land in specific communities, like a farm estate , where lands are leased.
◼ Capital - {Initial Investment}
This is a critical factor of any production activity or in farming. You really need some money to invest in your farming business. You don't invest, you don't reap, as simple as that. Don't expect to invest 10k and expect earn 100M after a few months. Both are directly proportionate to each other.
◼ Market - {Where to sell your produce}
This is actually the main focus of doing business in the first place, to deliver a product to the market and get paid for doing so. You must target a specific market for your produce and ensure sustainability in supply.
This is where you think of value addition according to the market needs because most people just want to produce. Now you have harvested, what is the next step in recouping your invested capital. By adding value to cassava as garri just made you more market and an extra profit.
In addition to all said above, you must be patient, Resilient consistent and focused in farming.
👌 If you can work on these factors, trust me the sky up there is just your point of view but never the limit to your success in Farming.
Fellow people let's wake up for the un-tapped wealth and opportunities in the Agribusiness Sector that is always and will for all time be man's best profession, job, carrer or hobby.
I wish you all the best and happy farming
