Problems new farmers are facing to start a farm.

Ahmed Bilal (P.Ag.)

M.Sc.(Honours) /M.Phill

Plant Breeding & Genetics

DO I START A FARM BUSINESS:

Three things need to be done

•Do a self-assessment•Ask yourself “what should I produce•Build a farm enterprise plan

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• Resources

• Abilities

• Knowledge

SELF-ASSESSMENT

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WHAT SHOULD I PRODUCE

• What I can sell

• What I can produce

• Do I buy or lease a farm

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Build a farm enterprise plan

• Marketing plan

• Production plan

• Financial plan

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Financing

There is old saying in business“Cash is king”

• Land• Building• Equipments• Soil improvement

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CHALLENGES

Obtaining loans

• Fewer and fewer commercial leaders are in Agri. Leading business

• Loan officers who are not familiar with farming are less inclined to make farm loans

• New farmers who wants alternative or non-traditional products even have tougher time…high risk loan

• 25% down payment• Easy to get home…hard to get farm

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Failure of small businesses

• Over expansion• Poor capital structure• Over spending• Lack of reserve funds• Bad business location• Poor execution & internal controls• An inadequate business plan• Failure to change with times • Ineffective marketing • Underestimating the competition• Owners give up too quickly

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BENEFITS OFEXTENSION OF SEASON

• Early Harvest

• Increased Yield

• Higher Quality Produce

• Soil Moisture Retention

• Reduce Disease Pressure

• Reduce Fertilizer Leaching

• Increased Long Season

• Weed Control

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PRODUCTION SYSTEM

• Innovation in Production System

• High Cost of Inputs

• Mechanization

• Organic Crop Production

• Introduction of New Crops

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RESEARCH & EXTENSION

Specialty Crops

Development of New Varieties

• Adaptation to Climate Change.• More Nutritional Value• Resistant to Insect Pest• High Yielding

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POST HARVEST STORAGE AND QUALITY

• Development of Storage Technologies• Packing• Shelf Life

FOOD QUALITY AND FOOD SAFETY• Trends to Consume more Vegetables• Traditional Crops

MARKETING• Competition with Foreign Markets• Promotion: Buying Local Produce

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Ahmed B., M. A. Khan, M. Ali and M Qasim 1998. Genotype- environment interaction and stability analysis of tuber yield and other traits in potato (Solanum, Tuberosum L.) J. Agric. Res., 36(1):25-29, 1998

Ahmed B., M. Ali, A. Navid and A. Masood 1999. Evaluation of Red skinned potato genotypes for their yield potential and other characteristics. J. Agric. Res., 37(2-3): 199-137, 1999

Title: Pythium root rot: An appraisal of prospective measures to control the root born disease in hydroponically grown cucumber.

Title:Implementation of ‘Integrated strategies’ for the control of weeds in Cabbage.

Title: Evaluation of pre-emergence and post emergence weed control strategies for Bupleurum{Bupleurum falcatums} under open field conditions.

Title: Rhizoctonia crown rot: An appraisal of prospective measures to control the root and crown born disease on coconut dust grown larkspur under green house conditions

Title: Implementation of ‘Integrated strategies’ for the control of ‘Western Flower Thrips’ (Frankliniellaoccidentalis) in out door sunflower.

Title: To evaluate pre-emergence and post emergence weed control strategies for Bupleurum{Bupleurum falcatums} under open field conditions.

Title:Evaluation of different growth retardant on Chinese lanterns (Physalis alkekengi) under field conditions.

Title: Using high tunnels for producing early season field grown Celosia (Celosia Cristata var. Bombay pink), Flowering Kale (Brassica oleracea) and poppies (Papaver somniferum) as cut flowers

Title: The effect of different mulches on raised beds with drip irrigation

system in the production of outdoor Asclepias (Asclepias tuberose) and Celosia (Celosia cristata)

Title: Evaluation of different cultural methodologies to obtain good seed germination of Bupleurum(Rotundiflorum griffitt) and Larkspur (Consolida orientalis) under field conditions.

Title:How different thickness of Coconut fiber layers affect the growth of ornamental crops in greenhouse conditions.

Title: Influence of different methodologies of pre-emergent herbicides on broad and narrow leaf weeds in Larkspur (Consolida orientalis) under field conditions.