Farming is not for everyone but for anyone | WestMac Media

By Rita Shamboko 

I am an avid follower of posts in Small Scale Farmers(Farming As Business) facebook group and although I normally just watch from the terraces. I know some basics about farming and yes this post is quite long.

I am not into the venture by the way. However, I spent my early adolescent years in a peri-urban community where farming was the predominant way of life. I even participated in the family farming. At that time, I hated it because it felt like farming was only for those who were interested in Agricultural Sciences and those who failed to make much of their lives(villagers). But this is not the purpose of my post. 

What I have come to realize is that my childhood provided the privilege of having an alternative in life. 

The truth is we cant all get a fancy education, we cannot all get office jobs. But we can all in one way or the other turn raw materials into finished products. 

What does it take? 'Heart'! you could have a billion dollars to invest in farming but if you don't have the heart for it, you will never get further than having land and machinery. 

Do not be deceived, there is not one commercial farmer who started at the top; they started with their bare hands and worked their lives to create family and corporate brands and legacies. They failed, they lost but they never gave up. When they could, they got help from financial institutions(when their businesses were stable). 

So if you're thinking of venturing into farming today, sit down and ask yourself if you're ready to go all the way, take all the risks and make necessary sacrifices. Farming is not for everyone but it is for 'anyone'. 

“Do not despise the day of small beginnings” start with whatever you have, grow it and get rich in it. Do not be discouraged. Great farmers were not made in one day. Don't expect a loan from any financial institution when your farm does not even have a name. 

Instead of competing with bigger fish in the business, 'first learn' from them and create partnerships. Be ready to fail, to lose, but even more important, be ready to keep trying. All the best.