Farmers are risk-takers, people of action
Farmer’s Diary with Sheuneni Kurasha
24 March 2019
24 March 2019
Welcome dear reader to our column where we explore all things farming.
In our inaugural instalment last week we argued for policy measures to be put in place to incentivise and support young people to go into farming. The burgeoning youthful population against the waning employment opportunities elsewhere in the economy as well as the reality of an aging population among farmers were cited as some of the reasons for this proposition.
I was inundated with responses from all over the country and beyond, most of which appreciated the case for young people to go into farming. There was consensus in the feedback that government should support young people with interest in farming by providing initial capital and land. A number of the readers indicated that one of the ways to make the majority of Zimbabweans proud and in the process motivate young people to go into farming is by making the farms allocated to landless citizens under the Land Reform Programme productive.
“Government has put in a lot of resources to support new farmers but still some of the beneficiaries keep on wanting to be given more without corresponding results because farming is not their priority in the first place. Any assistance to the resettled farmers should be based on progress made by the individual so far. Government is already stretched by the economic challenges but we have to start somewhere and assist those who are interested,” argued one agricultural expert based in South Africa.
It is clear from the feedback that many young people are ready to trade-off the office for the farm. On this column we will continue to share information on various issues concerning agriculture with the aim of finding common ground and solutions for the benefit of farmers and the country.
In the coming weeks we will focus on what to consider when one wants to go into farming and become successful. This week we focus on two main factors, namely passion and knowledge.
One of the principal factors for success in farming is passion, that is, the desire and drive to undertake farming successfully. Those who have interacted with me know about my undying love for animals and plants. I breath, smell and eat farming. Farming is the blood that runs in my veins. Farming gives me fulfilment and purpose. I cannot imagine being anything else but a farmer. One can never be a successful farmer unless they have genuine love for the plants and the animals.
When I interact with aspiring young farmers, one of the first question they asked is whether they can get into farming when they have never grown a single crop or raised any livestock. From outside, they are doubtful if they can enter into farming and make the grade. What does not help matters for prospective farmers is the fact that farming as an industry is generally immersed in tradition. It is not unusual to meet successful farmers who are very sceptical about the chances of budding farmers who lack experience.
However, there are enough cases to prove that that anyone, including those who lack experience, can become successful farmers, only if they set their mind on it. After all there are many models that would allow one to start small, learn and grow into it.
I am reminded of the words of one old timer whom I engaged when I was contemplating venturing into farming. He remarked that “Farming is a decision, no one wakes up as a successful farmer and starts asking people, how did I get here.” Put simply: success in farming is a decision.
It’s a fact that any farming involves a lot of hard work and it often implies relocation from the comfort of urban conveniences or spending more time in remote places with animals at the farm. Farming is also not the kind of business where one gets rich quickly.
One needs to be passionate about farming to last the journey because farming is a marathon. The selfie’s of glowing crops and bubbly animals we all love to see on social media are not the entire story. Farming, just like any business, has risks. Climate change and the ever fluctuation in rainfall patterns, increasing costs of inputs, farming equipment and the economic challenges the country is currently facing and its negative impact on the market, all make farming a challenging endeavour.
It is passion that will see a farmer through it all, including during moments of challenges such as bad weather like this farming season where rain has not only been late but been very scarce from the beginning. As if that is not enough, then came the devastating floods from Cyclone Idai that has left a trail of destruction and loss of lives. Famers often have to deal with complex and multiple challenges such as the recent outbreak of tick-borne diseases like theileriosis (the so-called January disease), heart water, and red water, which have whipped out livestock in some areas like Mhondoro and parts of Buhera. These challenges can result is substantive losses for farmers which present setbacks for the farmer.
It is therefore, not a coincidence that all successful farmers are passionate about farming. Passion is the energy that sustain farmers to pick themselves up and continue when the going gets tough. Passion is the farmer’s second name.
Apart from passion, a farmer equally needs to be knowledgeable about farming to succeed in it. It is not enough to own a gun, one simply needs to know how to operate it. In fact, there is correlation between passion and knowledge in any enterprise. As Strive Masiyiwa puts it in one of his writing, "Entrepreneurship without skills limits your growth potential."
The beauty about knowledge and skills is that, no one was born with them; they are acquired. You need to invest time and money to acquire the relevant knowledge and skills in any business of interest for you to make a mark.
When my wife and I decided to go into farming about seven years back, although we were well established in our professions that are not necessarily directly linked to farming, we had to enroll for short courses in various aspects of agriculture. We also had to invest in attending agricultural events and network with other farmers who have been in the game longer.
We opted to enroll for short courses because of they were tailor-made and covered important aspect we need to learn more about to make our farming successful. We covered various important areas of farming such as farm management, including business, economics and financial management, livestock production, animal health, farm infrastructure, forage production and rangeland management.
I can confirm without fear of contradiction that this was the most important step we ever took and it became a game changer in our farming journey.
When one wants to acquire knowledge on farming, another effective way is to learn more through visiting experienced farmers who are already established in the type of farming activities you intend to pursue. Interfacing with other farmers provides hands-on information based on the rich experience and journeys travelled by the old timers. You can also learn a lot from their mistakes and avoid them in the future. This is why established farmers still take their time to participate in activities organised by farmers’ associations and hold exhibitions and field days. Cross-learning and sharing of experience is very crucial for every farmer.
Personally, I have benefited a lot from my interaction with officials from various government departments in our farming area such as Dairy Services, Agriculture and Rural Extension, and Veterinary Services, who are always willing to assist farmers.
Attending agricultural events such as exhibitions and auctions is also helpful. Thanks to technological advancements, we also now have many farming groups on the internet and various social media platforms where farmers share valuable information which budding farmers will find very useful. Equally, resources such as YouTube videos, podcasts, books and magazines on farming can also be handy for someone new to farming.
In farming, knowledge is power. You need to know the available opportunities in farming and decide on the ones you want to focus on and why. Once you venture into farming, being knowledgeable will help you to make sound decisions in a timely manner.
Farmers are people of action. They are risk takers. They take a dive and launch into deep waters, disregarding the discouragement and risks that confront them daily. They take counsel from the Holy Book in Ecclesiastes chapter 11, verse 4, which says “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.”
Let’s continue to draw inspiration from the wisdom of our forefathers who said “Paswera badza hapanyepi” (results of a noble effort always speak for themselves).
Let’s enjoy farming.
Sheuneni Kurasha is a passionate farmer who specialises in boran cattle, boer goats, damara sheep and dairy farming. For feedback, kindly get in touch on email: kurashas@gmail.com or WhatsApp: +263 772 874 523.
Comments
Post a Comment