To prosper in Agriculture Make The Five Year plan!

You’re probably employed and it is reached that point, you actually hate it!! You feel you should be doing more with your life; you detest having to get to work at 8am after 2-3 hours of sitting in the Nairobi traffic. You don’t like the fact that for the last 3-5 years you’re still doing the same thing and it seems you will probably be doing the same thing 5 years down the line. Yes, you get annual bonuses and the mandatory 8% annual salary increase, but at this rate when will you ever reach your goal, the 6 figure salary? Your boss, he’s a nice guy, but heck he still stifles your life. You sit down and wonder, is this all I can do, is this all I can offer the world?

Off late the chatter around Agriculture is getting louder and more exciting, didn’t some guy just say the next millionaires or is it billionaires in Africa will be from the Agriculture industry? And aren’t you from Africa, plus there is that ka acre you inherited from your dad? What next?
How about a Five year plan to get you where you want to be in the Agriculture scene

Step 1: Create a vision
Where do you see yourself at the end of 5 years? Owning; 20-100 acres of land, an account balance of 20-30M, 15-27 huge green houses, having 40-50 dairy cows or 5000-10000 heads of chicken. Make the vision specific, measurable, attainable and tangible. If you know the end game (the what and the when), then all you need is to plan (The How)

Step 2: Research
Agriculture is huge; there are many facets to it. Explore the different options; green housing, poultry farming, dairy farming, fruit tree farming, fish farming, forestry, seedlings, mixed farming. What can you do that you will enjoy, within your capabilities and in the end it will achieve profitability. Attend classes, seminars; visit other farmers, read widely. You can have a whole year exploring. What will be your Products in terms of quality, perish-ability and pricing? Where will you sell your product? Who is your market and is it a reliable market? What is the competition like? Is your target market new, developing or saturated? Research Research Research!!!!!

Step 3: Formulate a plan
From your research and your vision, narrow down to what you want to do. Break this plan into smaller short term goals. For example the first year, start small maybe with 10-15 chicken, 1 green house and 1 sure customer. Year 2 pick-up pace by growing 50%. Year 3 grow 100%. Year 4 grow 200% Year 5 grow 300%
Consider additional items like Labor, Weather, Market trends, Technology in your Plan

Step 4: Action
Take a leap of faith start and run with it. Stick to the plan. Keep learning. Failure is not an option. Meet challenges head on. Navigate through the obstacles. Be flexible, if something doesn’t work, find what does and do it. Cherish the small wins. Grow.

Step 5 Asses, Adjust, Repeat
The good book says the race is not for the strong or mighty. Similarly do not consider this a one time thing that if it does not prosper in 2 years your out. Take it as a race, sometimes your ahead, sometimes you are at the back but at all times remain in the race. Asses each step done and learn from it, adjust whenever it’s necessary and keep doing what works.