Farming, like every other business requires serious planning

Like every other business venture, Farming requires a lot of planning. Every prudent farmer will plan for every season, event, crop market, calamity, technology, and changing trends. Modern Agriculture has positioned itself at the center of economic growth, with the shift from farming for subsistence to agribusiness, complete with heavy mechanization and technology. With the current security situation in Kenya and the region at large, traditional foreign exchange earners like tourism have taken to the third place behind Horticulture, Coffee, and Tea. Increasingly, agriculture has attracted financial institutions, which include banks and insurance companies with specific products for farmers, highlighting the relevance of this sector to the economy.

Unlike in the previous years when commercial agriculture was a preserve of large farms, ranches and international corporations, today, smallholder farmers, working under cooperative societies or individually have made, massive gains in crop and animal husbandry in the Country. The economies of Kiambu, Nandi, parts of Nakuru and Kajiado counties are the best examples that have seen tremendous development in smallholder farmers. Characterized by high population density, land fragmentation, and development of real estate, these counties have had their farmers shift from traditional farming practices and crops. Many small-scale farmers in the country have adopted quick maturing high value crops that dominate foreign markets, especially the European retail market and this has seen a rise in the need to mechanization and adoption of technology in growing crops and rearing animals. Besides, hygiene standards, agrochemical minimum residue levels on products and freshness of products have made it necessary for farmers to equip themselves with necessary skills in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and equipment to meet market standards. The competition from other Counties in Africa, Asia and Europe have made farmers revisit their farming practices.

Considering these factors, it is important that modern day farmers be quite informed in market intelligence, high quality seeds, usage of less hazardous fertilizers to the soil and water environment around the farm, mild chemical usage, and high quality of portable and drinking water in their farms while growing and handling farm products for the high-end markets. Moreover, the knowledge of crop requirements for crops of choice is paramount for effective production.

Farmers should therefore invest time and resources in trainings for selves and staff for good agricultural practices, and seek latest information on the market trends for crops of choice. Farmers should also seek the best financial intelligence on means to finance their businesses and proof their farms against natural and man-made calamities that might jeopardize production. This means a good insurance policy.