Farming is not a bed of roses
Pests and diseases can strike anytime and destroy crops on the entire farm. These days Uganda is host to a number of crop diseases that have no known cure such as cassava brown streak disease, banana bacterial wilt, and coffee wilt disease, among others.
What you need to know:
- Farmers often worry about theft of their property which includes crops, livestock, farm tools, fertilizers, medicines, and other inputs.
- Thefts may lead to heavy losses which could make it hard for the farmer to fulfill commitments like regular servicing of bank loans and wages payment.
Nobody should deceive you that farming is a bed of roses and that it always leads to riches. Like all other occupations, there are big challenges that farmers face in form of risks and uncertainties.
Anybody planning to go into farming must be determined to work hard and to face the challenges as they come.
So many things over which man has no control can take place anytime with dreadful consequences for the farmer.
Pests and diseases can strike anytime and destroy crops on the entire farm. These days Uganda is host to a number of crop diseases that have no known cure such as cassava brown streak disease, banana bacterial wilt, and coffee wilt disease, among others.
Some crop diseases can be fought with the use of pesticides but they must be bought with money which reduces the farmer’s profits.
If the rains delay or if they are too early crop yields may reduce resulting in lower income than was expected.
Irrigation is often about further overhead expenditure and reduced profits. An efficient irrigation system may exist on a farm but it will not stop a prolonged rainy season or a destructive rain storm or flood.
Farming is mainly an open air business where animals and crops are out in the field and far from the farmer’s constant watch.
Farmers often worry about theft of their property which includes crops, livestock, farm tools, fertilizers, medicines, and other inputs.
Thefts may lead to heavy losses which could make it hard for the farmer to fulfill commitments like regular servicing of bank loans and wages payment.
An unexpected wild fire in the neighbouring bush could spread to your farm and burn the crops and even livestock.
Farmers also worry about price fluctuations of their farm products. The harvest of a crop like maize may be very good.
However if all the other farmers had a good harvest the sale price of the commodity may become lower due to reduced demand.
Fortunately insurance companies are nowadays beginning to work among farmers but it involves regular payment of premiums by farmers.
