25.8.11

Young Farmers Cry of Lack of Capital - Here is Free Seed Capital

Many young farmers who are looking at earning an income through agriculture have "lack of capital" as their number one problem. Capital, they often mean is the seed money to start operations or expand their business.

Let us take a case study from a DENIVA report:

A youth farmer group in Ullepi subcounty of Arua district had Shs: 360,000 in their account (from member contributions). The group had 20 beehives, 10 from the Integrated Farmer Support Group (IFSG) of NAADS as seed capital (internal resource mobilisation), and another 10 from a PMA grant. Their own funds of Shs; 360,000 would enable them purchase another 10 beehives.
A hive yields about 12-15 kilogrammes of honey each at Shs 1,100 per kilogram for the previous season and has no other major input, when compared for example with crop production.


Against these facts the same youthful farmers are crying that their major problem is lack of capital!

Using the Ullepi youth farmers group as an example, below are ways how they can solve the lack of capital problem:

1. Members - Encourage more youth to join the youth farmers group with a paid membership. This will increase the amount of money in their account which can be used to buy more beehives or to add value to the quality of honey sold by the youth group. And the members group can invest in planting macadamia trees which produce the most expensive nuts very much sought around the world.

2. Skills of members - All the youth members in this group have different skills which can be tapped towards the progress of youth group. For instance some members could be skilled in using computers & Internet - hence they can help group with setting up websites, writing reports and training their peers to use computers, just like these 5 ways to make recurring income in Agriculture.

This way, the farmers group can develop much faster without unnecessary external spending. Members should fill a form where they fill in their skills, experience and level of expertise.

3. Business plan - this can clearly layout the financial position and future path that the youth in this group want to take. For instance, in a year there are 2 honey harvesting seasons. With the beehives producing to capacity, all beehives would yield (20 beehives x15kg x 2 =600kg of honey). An income of 600kg x 1,100/= would make the group 660,000/= richer!

4. Loans from bank - An organized youth farmers group asking for a loan with a clear business plan stands a great chance of receiving the money they ask for. This is easier now in Uganda considering that the government is trying to support the youth groups than before.

5. Sell to areas where honey is in high demand - For instance, in Kampala, 500grams of honey cost shs. 5,000/= If this youth farmer's group can transport the honey to Kampala, they would be making 10,000/= per kilo. This would leave them with an income of 600kg x shs. 10,000 = shs. 6,000,000!!

6. Add more value to the harvested honey
- Adding value to the honey can be as simple as extracting it from the honeycomb and filtering it. Also it can be nice packed in small 500grams plastic bottles and sold in local supermarkets. And the food waste from harvesting honey can be turned into fertilizers, wax and other products.

7. Extra services - The young farmer's group can consider offering other services to its members and the community at large. For instance, the group can set up classes on successful beehive farming, extracting propolis - very good cure of many diseases and illness, consultancy services on bee farming, workshops & seminars. These would contribute a steady income to the group including offering jobs to some members of this youth group. Here are 20 Ways to Make $25,000 per month running an Agricultural Business.

Beyond producing honey, insect farming is becoming popular for insect protein that is a highly demanded input in animal and poultry feeds. Are you a young farmer's group? What is your experience? Please share with us your experience about keeping beehive and combating poverty in your area.

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