How to survive in the business of farming

Unless you know and apply some basic principles, you cannot last in any business and Farming is no exception to that. There is no point in going into any business if we cannot do what it takes to last and be successful in it.

1. Develop the passion

Only passion can take you far into any business including farming. Without having the passion, you will not last in farming. Passion is the energy that will drive you to success no matter the difficulty you face. Passion is what will bring you back to farming even when you lose your chickens to Newcastle disease or when predators massacre your whole flock of chickens and worse still when your whole field is wiped with floods, let alone other devastating uncertainties.

2. Be committed to continuous learning

You will not go far in farming without wisdom, knowledge and understanding. It is easy to learn these days with so many useful FREE seminars all over the place. You can never learn enough in improving your farming business. The internet is awash with information. Learn through, internet among others. Read widely, join Farming forums, and visit agricultural shows and training seminars.

3. Take it that problems will come

No matter how good you may be, problems will still visit you on the farm. The difference is that great farmers usually turn their problems to opportunities for growth and more profits. Market prices will go down while Production costs going up and only the brokers benefiting. Find a way to rise up after every fall. Find a market far from your place. Tough times never last but tough people do.

4. Apply sound business principles

Treat farming as a business to succeed in it. A farmer should be grounded in sound business principles. Understand the market dynamics, obey the laws of demand and supply, practice market timing.

5. Be a marketer

What is the point of having products when you cannot turn it to money? Every Farmer today must be a sound marketer if they want to succeed. Use digital platforms to market and sell farm products. Take your products to the end user. Understand the market. Middle men outwit you because they understand the market. Don't just be satisfied by the morsels or bread crumbs. Take the lion’s share.

6. Keep re-investing your profits

Cash flow and profits are important elements of any business. Business success is not about how much money you make; it is how much money you keep and reinvest. Avoid get-rich-quick schemes. You will cry in the toilet. Take the narrow gate for wider is the path that leads to destruction.

7. Watch your health!

Health they say is wealth. Farmers should constantly monitor their health and not internalize the pains and struggles associated with farming. Avoid stress and depression. Your life is important. Problems are bound in any farming venture. Your health is important. Health is wealth.

8. Enjoy what you do

Learn to enjoy the whole process. Take it as an adventure. Any business that cannot be taken as an adventure will ultimately burden the owner.

Finally, be happy and optimistic. Take profits and losses with your head held high!

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Zambia Agribusiness Society

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