The more things change, the more they remain the same. This age-old adage, although revealing ancient wisdom, ought to be interpreted slightly differently in farming circles. In farming, nothing remains the same, lest you intentionally cause it to. In farming, we rely more on another age-old adage: ‘Change is the only constant in life’.
As such, if we are to remain successful as farmers, our paradigm shift should be geared toward embracing change – and not only that but also using such change to our advantage.
Farming has never been a field for the lazy at heart. It has never been a field for those who need a constant push to get things done. It is a field that requires commitment, determination and a constant workflow of farming activities.
As such, the most important tool you will ever need to effectively carry out farming is the mind. A weak mind has no place in modern farming; it is as good as planting seeds upon rocks! Simply put, a weak mind inhibits our growth as farmers.
It does not matter what mode of farming you are into – the objective remains the same: to have an output of products for the market and self-consumption. To ensure you have a timely output in the right quantity and quality, you need a rigorous plan that you must see through. Failing to put such a plan in place is one of the fundamental mistakes that limit farmers’ growth.
You cannot rely on guesswork and luck; you need concrete production schedules, marketing plans and a turn-around strategy (Plan B) for your farming enterprise at hand at all times. Remember, the products you will get at the end of your harvest will depend entirely on what you put in. There is no way that a weak planting season will bring a bumper harvest. So, laying the right foundation remains critical for farmers.
As farmers, we ought to keep a constant eye on developing agriculture trends, news and new products. We are no island; we are interdependent on other sectors of the economy as much as they are on us. Carefully study how world markets are fluctuating in commodity prices that could influence agri activities, such as fuel, electricity and water, amongst others.
Studying economic trends and changes in the agriculture sector will place you in a pole position to be able to act accordingly when such trends start having an impact on your products.
For instance, rising fuel prices might directly impact the prices you fetch for your livestock. So, it would be wise to know in advance of such trends to adjust your marketing schedule accordingly.
All in all, allow yourself to grow as a farmer by constantly engaging others and interacting with them to learn more about your farming activities. Wisdom is not derived from constantly practising what you already know, but from understanding and appreciating there is indeed a lot you need to learn. Keep learning; keep growing. That is what farming is all about. – tjatindi@gmail.com