Farming as business!!!!
Some of the points Juma Farms unlocked.
– To manage a farm you need to have a proper defined hierarchy with well defined roles. (Not cipantepante).
– Set meaningful targets projecting from worse scenario.
– When a worker is not adding value to the farm business do not waste time to relieve that worker. You can only be in the position to know that the worker is not adding value to the farm from well defined roles and targets.
– A farm run without knowing whether you are making a profit or loss is just a hobby.
– Ideas or plans not executed will not add anything to your farm. Hence learn, understand then implement and it should not take long enough.
– Reduce costs by using much of the things which are on the farm. Hence Juma Farms right now are organic inclined. At there farm they is zero burning to which all the vegetation is used for mulching, compost and they are more on biological pesticides/herbicides. Synthetic is only used when the situation is beyond redemption. Weed killer is not used at there farm.
– Renumerate your workers properly and strive to motivate them and this has triple effects on your profits.
– If you can’t be 95% at the farm please please engage a qualified farm manage not one who as an idea. Remember farming as a business.
– Go into farming as a family then you will see how steadily your farm will be growing.
– Juma Farms started farming in 1984 and in 1987 they had to get a loan reinvest. It is at this point they said do not be on supersonic speed when it comes to farming because you may crash land terribly. All these years they have been growing steadily but they have equally faced challenges that at some point they had to quit but when passion is your driving force then you just need to continue.
– By the way who taught Kacigowani Panda Chipeta farming he told us her mum and from then onwards he has not stopped acquiring knowledge. Yes the founder was in the forefront acquiring land but who has been in the driving seat? Mrs. Chipeta. Has Mrs. Chipeta been to school? A big fat yes. Has she worked? Not for long as she opted out for farming.
– The founder said Juma Farms has educated three of his children at ZCAS and one at UNZA. This is what I call farming as business. Well, they have all graduated.
– How did they acquire knowledge to farm tomatoes? They had engaged a consultant Mr. Chibesa then who was in Chisamba who did a diligent job and are proud to mention his name. If you think of farming as a business then no two way about it and I highly recommend Kacigowani Panda Chipeta though he was to quick to mention that he can only do the consultancy work at their farm because of the work load there. (Ati upafiwe……..).
– Farm visit are very cardinal he said and because you are in the position to see reality on the ground, like we did. Him the founder when he went on a farm visit to Mr. C. Chilala’s farm he come back fired up that to this day the family has embraced farming and running it as a business.
– When you meet The Commercial Officer in charge of procurement and sales (Mrs. Chipeta) driving a canter procuring things for the farm and selling produce one would just be amazed and asks what inspires her. Well, she will be in the best position to tell it all.
– If you do not plan then you are planning to fail. From time to time evaluate your plans.
– Stagger your planting of crops.
– Other things which will make you fail when you want to farm as a business.
*Laziness.
*Procrastination.
*Not being aggressive in implementation.
*Not continuously evaluating your progress.
*Not having a well spelt mission and vision which is attainable.
– Things to consider when you are thinking to farm as a business:-
* Land.
*Water (Rain water, River source, Borehole, well).
*Power (Generator, Solar, Grid).
*Working capital (Determines how you begin whether it is a Lima or 50 hectares. Start with what you have from where you are is the best principle to implore).
*Specialise in one product which will be your identity as you practice mixed farming. Mixed farming on crops can not be avoided because of crop rotation.
*To develop a farm you need to let go of a lot of comfort.
Well, one thing we all forgot to ask is how you arrived at Juma name.
Juma Farms thank you so very much from all what you imparted in us and this is just a summary. I can only hope many will be inspired to come for consultation more as a family if farming as a business as to be actualised.
I can only wish everyone at Juma Farms God’s blessings.
Zambia Farmers hub 