African News
- Neglecting a business plan – Farming is a business and needs a solid plan for success.
- Underestimating startup costs – Ensure you have sufficient capital for equipment, seeds, land, and labour
3.Overplanting without a market – Don’t grow more than you can sell or store.
- Lack of irrigation planning – Proper water management is crucial for crop success.
- Not tracking finances – Keep detailed records of income, expenses, and profitability.
- Relying too much on one crop – Diversify crops to spread risks and ensure steady income.
- No marketing efforts – Growing crops is only half the battle; marketing is crucial.
- Mismanaging equipment – Maintain equipment regularly to avoid costly breakdowns.
- Rushing into large-scale farming – Start small, manage risks and gradually scale up
- Failing to secure contracts –Without agreements in place, you risk not having buyers for your produce.
- Over-fertilizing – Excess fertilizer can damage crops
- Underestimating record keeping – Tracking weather, harvests and crop performance improves future yields.
- Not networking with other farmers –Farming communities & events offer support&opportunities
- Mismanaging cash flow –Plan for periods of low income between planting&harvest
- Ignoring buyer diversification –Relying on a single buyer can be risky aim for a diverse base. Source.
