The prospect of minting cash from agribusinesses is arguably a motivating factor for most farmers. The ever-rising human population that depends on agriculture products and services offers a diverse market to get a share of for agripreneuers. However, agriprenuership continues to leave a bitter taste on many farmers of failed projects or businesses.
Along the way, most budding or even experienced farmers find out that farming is not as straightforward as it may sound. Livestock and crop production will involve intensive and extensive technicalities that may render your project unsustainable and unprofitable if not done right. What causes the downfall or limited progress in the production and economic goals set by most agribusinesses?
Inadequate expertise
Modern-day farming is a mix of techniques passed down generations and science-based advancements that aim at maximizing output quality and quantity while minimizing inputs. Different stages within your project will require technical support.
Abandoning expert advice or inadequacy in expertise in farm projects leads to their collapse in the long because of poor planning. Ensuring you have expert insights on how to handle production to sales in your niche is crucial to success both short and long-term.
Outdated technologies
Actively seeking contemporary technologies in farming is important in ensuring your farm is well-adjusted to changes within its operational environment. Technology advancement places your farm in a position to compete with others by improving the production quality, quantity, and sustainability of your project.
If you cling to outdated technologies, changes in both your internal and external agribusiness environment may overwhelm your farm as you are unable to adapt to market or production demands.
Limited awareness of ongoing changes
The agriculture industry constantly changes its structure, applicable strategies, technologies, and technicalities. For example, a shift in market standards, tastes, and preferences for agricultural products over time will affect the supply and demand of a particular commodity.
Government-based interventions such as incentives and subsidies for agricultural empowerment may tip the scale in favour of the production of a certain product. Legislation passed restricting or promoting certain practices will directly affect the practices and technologies allowed.
For agripreneuers to be successful, awareness and acknowledgement of the shifts around the farm to guide decision-making is important. Carrying out an evaluation of your farm placement in the trending changes within your agriculture niche is essential in directing your growth and sustainability plan.
Consult professionals on the best way to incorporate changes around you to safeguard the projected goals and make your enterprise sustainable.
Weather Changes
Coping with adverse weather changes to suit production and marketing needs in agriculture remains an ultimate test for most farmers. Staying updated on weather forecasts on elements such as temperature changes, humidity levels, and rainfall is a good start toward positioning your farm to get the best out of the changes.
Engage professional consultants on how your farm can adapt to weather changes to help in proper project planning that takes into account such changes.
Limited Access to Agriculture Supporting Structures
Access to financial services, agriculture extension platforms, modern farm input stores, and contemporary services within the farm determines its growth rate and sustainability in the long run. Farms with access to sound supporting infrastructure from the government, research centers, markets, stakeholders, producers, and technologies are likely to prosper.
For example, farms that can access capital from financial institutions to fund their projects are likely to have a better chance of project completion. Developing your farm to meet requirements or gain access to supporting infrastructure within your niche will protect you from lack of access to vital project inputs
Natural Disasters
Unforeseen natural disasters like flooding, earthquakes, or mudslides can lead to high losses of structures, livestock, or human resources. In your plans, develop your farm towards more effective responses in safeguarding your enterprise from adverse impacts of natural disasters.
For example, be proactive in identifying how you can prevent flooding into your structures if such an event happens. Diversifying your farm crop varieties or livestock breeds can cushion the farm from disasters that highly impact particular sectors. Partnering with other farms can also help you sustain the impact of natural disasters by combining efforts to prevent catastrophic losses within farms.
Disease, pest, and parasite outbreaks
Pest diseases and parasites pose a significant threat to the production on a farm and its long-term growth path. If a farm is not well equipped and staffed to control and prevent diseases, losses in production and high mortality rates or disease management expenses will be high.
It is advisable to consult certified agriculture professionals on the best practices that suit your enterprises to avoid huge expenses and losses caused by disease and parasites.
Unprofessional or mismanagement of human resource
Engaging in agriculture is arguably a labour-demanding venture which will ultimately lead to the hiring of staff to help attain the short and long terms goals of the farm. How you handle workers or staff influences the motivation toward the execution of their tasks and teamwork.
Without proper coordination, a safe working environment, and good management a farm is bound to lose its experienced staff from time to time which will derail the progress of the project due to poor or interrupted inputs.
Understand that your staff is vital in the operation of your farm. Doing the best to create loyal and satisfied workers is key to getting the milestones set through teamwork and efficient task execution.
Poor Record Keeping
All farm records serve an important role in the analysis and evaluation of performance. Through records, the progress of the farm can be monitored by professionals for a recommendation on the best way to move farm sustainability and profit making.
In cases where data is inaccurate or lacking, decisions are made without proper insights which leads to resource mismanagement and stalled projects. Ensuring that your farm follows a standard record-keeping structure and culture will allow you to make more informed decisions that will save your enterprise.
