There has been a spike in the number of seminars and training being hosted for farmers and agripreneurs. As a businessperson who also hosts training and seminars for farmers, I am curious as to what the impact of training on farmers and agripreneurs in general is. What value do we add to the agricultural industry? Is the impact measurable in some sense? How can we offer farmers value for their money? Why is it important for farmers to attend seminars, workshops and training? What is in it for them?
After some analysis and research, below are some key takeaways that farmers and agripreneurs can consider. Given the volatility of the agricultural industry and the global economy in general, it is believed that ongoing training is necessary if farmers are to respond effectively to the many constant and varied changes impacting the industry. They say the only thing that is constant is change, hence adaptability to the changes and being up to date with the current trends in the industry. This necessitates training and seminars, not only for learning new skills and information-sharing/knowledge exchange, but also as refresher and a networking opportunity.
The type of skills required of farmers in the past in order to succeed in the agricultural business will in the future need to be complemented with additional skills for farmers to be able to cope with the changes which have emerged, and continue to emerge over recent decades. Good technical skills in crop and livestock farming will need to be supported with skills in financial management as well as risk management in order to manage farming as a whole and not some parts while the other parts that may be as critical suffer.
Training is said to have a significant positive impact on agricultural businesses in various ways. Providing education and skills development to farmers, farmworkers and agricultural entrepreneurs, through training programmes, workshops, seminars and more can enhance output, sustainability and farming business profitability. Below are some fundamental impacts training has on agricultural businesses:
Improved Agricultural Practices: Training may introduce farmers to modern and better agricultural techniques, such as organic farming, integrated pest management, precision farming and water-efficient irrigation methods. These practices can lead to higher crop yields, better quality produce and reduced resource wastage.
Improved Productivity: Educated farmers and workers through training/workshops are more likely to implement efficient farming practices and technologies, which may lead to increased productivity, hence profitability. Consequently, they may use machinery and tools effectively, make informed decisions, and direct resources more efficiently.
Better Business Management: Training equips agricultural entrepreneurs with fundamental business management skills. At this training, they learn about budgeting, financial planning, marketing strategies and market analysis, which assist them to run their agricultural businesses more efficiently and profitably.
Adoption of New Technologies: Farming training exposes farmers to new technologies, such as Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, data analytics and agricultural drones. This all will improve farming operations, increase productivity, and in turn reduce costs and create opportunity for profitability.
Mekupi Kambatuku:
Managing Consultant at Simpli Business Advisory