Get assured market access for your crops by growing in small portions

Horticulture has been praised as the most profitable farming activity in Kenya that can put money in your pockets within months.

According to Business Daily, Horticulture earnings hit Sh153 billion last year making it number three in its contribution to Kenya’s income after diaspora remittance (Sh272 billion) and tourism (Sh157 billion) in 2018.

These figures are enough to show you that money is moving in the horticultural sector and you should definitely eat a piece of the cake. Farming, in general, is quite profitable, but it also has risks. The biggest risk that farmers in Kenya face so far is market access. The problem of selling crops once they are ready in the field. This problem has edged out many farmers from the game and many have been left discouraged.

The problem of market access is not a new one in Kenya. It is a challenge that local farmers have been battling for years and it gets worse when unscrupulous middlemen are involved. Middlemen are not necessarily bad as most people think. They help farmers by buying produce from their farm and resell the same product at a higher price elsewhere. This is what they do. They are part of the agricultural value chain. They consist of individuals and companies.

The unscrupulous middlemen, on the other hand, are unprofessional. They harass farmers with extremely low purchase prices and unfair packaging options of produce which destroys the income of the farmer.

Other reasons that affect market access for farmers is infrastructure (Roads). Infrastructure goes hand in hand with market access but we will focus on this in another topic. Today I want to share with you how you can earn more by being smarter and strategic in how you handle your farm affairs. Tact is the only thing that will keep you in the game and save you a lot of headaches that come with selling crops.

Plan your farm the right way and make sure everything is working okay.

Starting a farm is not something you should take lightly. It needs detailed planning no matter how small it is. Think of it as a small country and you are its president. You need to come up with a budget plan for your farm, a growing calendar, irrigation system, management structure, and marketing strategies. Write everything down in a book so that you can be able to cross your checklist every time you finish a task.

Take a trip to various market locations near your farm/area and do market research.

Many new farmers make the mistake of planning their facility and learning to grow but neglecting a factor that defines the success of their farm: demand. As a small farmer, one of your greatest advantages is your ability to satisfy demand in a local way.

Visit your local marketplace and find out what people are buying the most of what customers are lacking and need. This will show you which crops you need to grow. Don’t grow crops blindly or because other farmers are doing so. Product demand is the foundation of not just farming but all businesses.

Cars need fuel every day in order to move. People need food in order to live. Which particular food do people need every day in your area? Grow these foods.

Sort your farm core planning, partition it into blocks and grow your crops in stages.

Once you have made up your mind on which crop you are going to grow, the next step will be the execution. Partition your one-acre farm (I am going to use 1 acre for explanation purposes) into small blocks complete with pathways and water points for irrigation. If you have not installed an irrigation system, this will be the best time to do it. Write down a simple business plan or steps that you will need to take from start to finish. Do fencing, plowing, harrowing, etc. Do everything to make your farm ready for planting.

Set aside an area for your nursery and partition it according to the crops you are going to grow on your main field. For example, if you have 1.5 acres: Set aside 1 acre as your main field and 0.5 acres for the nursery

Partitioning your farm into blocks will enable you to grow small portions of crops which will make it easier for you to sell once they are ready for harvest. Stage your crops using dates to know when to harvest, replant, etc. It is easier for you to take 2-5 bags of produce to the market every day and sell and get good prices than for you to take 20 bags all at once. If you take produce to the market in bulk you will either get extremely low prices or not be able to sell them at all.

It’s only okay to grow large areas if you have a contract somewhere or a 100% assurance that your crops will be purchased by person A or B.

Growing your crops in stages also keep the money flowing no matter how small. The money will keep trickling in.

Get a dedicated employee.

Hire someone who will tend to your crops religiously. This person will be in-charge of growing, maintenance and harvesting. Pay them well.

Get a larger team if your farm is big.

Inspect your farm regularly.

Having a loyal employee does not exclude you from your farm responsibilities. You should inspect your farm daily and ensure everything is running smoothly. You are the brains behind this venture and your employee is merely following your direction. If you show disinterest in your work so will he.

Secure a reliable transportation system.

You will need a reliable transportation system when your farm is making sales on a daily basis. This will be your greatest advantage. If you have affordable transportation means that can deliver 1 or 2 bags of produce to the market every day then your success is just around the corner.

Practice crop rotation.

Never stop doing research. As you do crop rotations, always make sure you are growing relevant crops that are bringing money into your pockets.

Be consistent.

Selling crops every day has its own challenges. You need to maintain consistency. Some buyers require you to deliver products as early as 6 am. Make sure you are always on time, never lacking with quality produce.

Only grow what you can handle.

Do not grow in excess. Don’t overestimate your selling capacity. This can land you in problems with your growing financial power and also delivery.