AS stated in the last column, there has been a spike in the delivery of agricultural seminars, workshops, and trainings.
However, have we taken a pause to consider what the impact of these trainings and workshops is on farmers and agripreneurs? What is the real value added to agribusiness and farming businesses in general?
It is important to note that everything boils down to how the implementation of lessons is carried out and whether it is implemented at all.
Below is the continuation of some of the fundamental impacts seminars, training, and workshops may have on agribusiness.
1. Market trend analysis and access to opportunities: Seminars, workshops, and training intend to educate farmers about demand patterns, value-added processing techniques, and market trends.
The knowledge gained through these training programmes enhances the farmer’s ability to understand how to produce crops or products that align with consumer preferences as per the changing needs of consumers, these stats are most reported by institutions such as BoN, and NSA, which then give agripreneurs access to new market opportunities.
2. Farming risk management: Farmers may learn how to identify and manage risks associated with agricultural activities, most times based on case studies presented during these training programmes. It gives them lessons about crop insurance, and diversification strategies, as Simpli Business Advisory presented at the Strategic Farming Seminar last year October, and also teaches them what the best practices are for handling the Namibian recurring draught, and market fluctuations.
3. Empowering farmers and community development: These programmes are said to empower farmers and rural communities as they enhance their farming skills, knowledge, and consequently confidence in managing farming operations. Furthermore, this empowerment promotes community development, as the now knowledgeable farmers and agripreneurs become better advocates for better farming practices and can thus collectively address the challenges they face
4. Farmers knowledge transfer and succession planning: Seminars, workshops, and training are said to accelerate knowledge transfer from experienced farmers to younger generations, which then ensures that valuable traditional farming knowledge is conserved for more generations to come. These programmes are also said to encourage succession planning, which allows simple transitions of family-owned agricultural businesses to the next generation, and so it continues.
5. Certifications: Seminars, workshops, and training may assist agricultural businesses meet regulatory requirements with new knowledge on how things should be done, and consequently be able to achieve certifications related to food safety, organic farming, and sustainable production. Additionally, farmers, and agripreneurs receive training attendance certificates which they can use when applying for funding, assistance, and or resettlement farming.
Generally, agricultural training is said to play a vital role in fostering the growth, sustainability, and effectiveness of agricultural businesses. As indicated above it does not only benefit the individual farmers who attended the training but has a triple effect in that it also contributes to the development of the agricultural sector and the rural markets as well. Thus, perhaps next time one gets a chance to attend these seminars, workshops, and training sessions, one should remember the impact and the benefits that will be gained.
Mekupi Kambatuku:
Managing Consultant at Simpli Business Advisory