If you didn’t grow up on a farm and haven’t worked on one, you may be wondering how on earth you’re going to make your dream a reality. This is a very real concern. The reality may prompt you to consider another line of work because farming is hard, and farming as a business is doubly so!
On this article we highlight some of the rules that you MUST understand.
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- Never target peak seasons, peak seasons come with their own challenges. Be a farmer not a gambler.
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Choose at least two main crops and a rotational crop plan. Jumping from one crop to another is not right to your pocket.
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Plan your farm and always have the crops at different age stages, to ensure constant supply.
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No crop that is not profitable, just master the pro and cons of a particular crop.
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Having a lot of many is not a licence to successful farming.
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Have a spray and fertilizer plan and stick to it.
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Never take advise from agrovets and agrochemical sales agent. Most of them are sales persons and not agronomists.
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Try as much as possible to cut down on farm expenditure without compromising on produce quality.
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Never hold back on a produce, if its a quick perishable product. Sell it at the prevailing prices.
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Never plant a new seed on large scale before doing trials unless you have seen it somewhere.
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Never entrust your million dollar idea against a farmhand, ensure you are present during critical stages of crop development untill marketing.
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Never employ a close family member to manage your farm, most of them will fail you.
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If you are neighbouring farmers plant same crop.
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Never apply any farming information you get online, without consulting your agronomist.
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Always have a farm plan.
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Old is always good. Most of the old seed varieties and chemicals will never disappoint you.
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Passion in farming is key and will take you far.
With this info on mind, you are set to go.