Truth and reality of farming:
On the one hand, many YouTube channels paint organic farming as a very rosy, charming and lucrative proposition whereas the reality is the exact opposite. Farming is tough and organic farming is even tougher. On the other hand – Farming is inarguably one of the oldest activities known to humankind. Farming neither takes a break nor will come to an end. Therefore, getting into commercial farming may not be a bad idea as long as we are aware of the challenges that a newcomer has to contend with when getting into organic farming as a commercial enterprise.
Define yourself:
Before getting into farming, one would do well to define themselves as to what they wish to be – a Farmer or an Entrepreneur in the food production business. If you look around, you will see that farmers in India get a lot of blessings but make very little money. If you are going to be a farmer, stop reading further and start praying. If you plan to consider yourself an Entrepreneur, read on.
Fundamentals of commercial farming:
There can be no farming without farmland and water. Most traditional farmers don’t look beyond land, water, and basic infrastructure. Things beyond land and water are controlled by the middlemen, and that is where the money is. A farmer does not have the luxury of refusing to sell his /her produce even when the price is not fair or commensurate simply because he/she does not have the wherewithal to store the produce till it fetches a better price or take it directly to the end consumer who can offer the best value for the crop. The only way a farming enterprise can become commercially viable is when the farmer redefines himself/herself as an entrepreneur in the food production business and looks at the market and distribution logistics.
A new Farmer:
A new farmer is one who will define himself/herself as an Entrepreneur in the business of farming and will focus not only on Land, Water, and Basic infrastructure but also on Mechanization of operations, Storage facilities, Marketing & Sales, and Distribution logistics before getting into organic farming as a commercial activity. Insofar as farming as a commercial enterprise is concerned, the difference between success and failure lies in the ability to bypass middlemen and deliver directly to the end consumer. A new Farmer will look at the end consumer and design his farming activities to fulfill the end consumer’s needs, bypassing all middlemen. Fortunately, today technology and social media can help a farmer reach out to and transact directly with his/her potential customers
How you farm:
How you farm will determine the success or failure of your Commercial Farming venture. For instance, by using Drones in farming activities, 1. You can monitor the health of your crops better by taking a bird’s eye view of your crops, and 2. Spray fertilizers and pesticides more efficiently and cost-effectively. The above is just one example of how technology can be harnessed to improve efficiency and effectiveness in farming.
There is an increased awareness amongst the general populace about the health benefits of organic food, and therefore are willing to pay a better price for organic food. By opting for integrated farming systems, you can vastly reduce your organic farm’s input costs. By opting for organic farming methods, you can secure a better price for your organic food products.
To help newcomers to organic farming, Paalaar Urban Farms offer water, irrigation systems, agricultural machinery, and storage facilities on the operations side, thereby substantially bringing down the initial investment of those wanting to get into organic farming as a commercial activity. By offering to deliver the farm produce directly to consumers, Paalaar Urban Farms will help startups get the best price for their farm produce and increase their chances of success multifold.
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