BNZ launches First Farm initiative for new dairy farmers

BNZ is chuffed to be backing ambitious dairy farmers taking their first step into farm or herd ownership. Guy EnsorCharlotte (Charlie) Noble-BeasleyLouise DaviesDaniel TicknerPenny Ford

Buying your first farm is tough at the moment, but your journey doesn’t have to be lonely. Bank of New Zealand's First Farm mentorship program is backing new Dairy farm owners with financial support and mentorship. Exciting to see this level of support into the industry! https://lnkd.in/gpHCZEHf

Agriculture Is Not Just Farming. It Is a Business. Too many agribusiness owners are working hard but still struggling financially. The harvest comes, the market buys, money enters and disappears again. No clarity. No structure. No growth. Here is the truth 📌 Profit does not depend on how much you produce 📌 Profit depends on how well you manage the numbers that control your farm If you want your farm to grow, you must treat it like a business with systems, data, and accountability. These are the 7 numbers every farmer must track weekly 1️⃣ Total Sales Know how much came in. Sales are your starting point. 2️⃣ Cost of Inputs Seeds, fertilizer, feed, chemicals. If this is higher than sales, you are already in loss before harvest. 3️⃣ Labor Costs Include family labor. Real business counts every resource. 4️⃣ Transport & Logistics Market distance can kill profit if not managed wisely. 5️⃣ Post-Harvest Loss Spoilage and waste are silent profit killers. Track them to reduce them. 6️⃣ Cash on Hand How much remains in the business after expenses. This number reveals your financial health. 7️⃣ Personal Withdrawals Stop mixing business money with home expenses. It slowly kills growth. When farmers observe these numbers consistently ✅ They make better pricing decisions ✅ They stop working blindly ✅ They see the path to scalability ✅ Investors take them seriously Agriculture is the future. Agriculture is powerful. Agriculture is profitable when the money is measured. Your hard work deserves results. Your farm deserves structure. Your finances deserve clarity. If you want support building systems that turn your farm into a scalable and investment-ready business, feel free to reach out. I am here to help. Clarity first. Growth follows.

If you’re entering agriculture and agribusiness because you want quick money; let me save you the frustration now — DON’T. I’m saying this with love, but also with the honesty many people avoid. Agriculture will reward you, but it will not rush for you. And anybody who tells you “you’ll blow in 3 months” is either lying or selling something. Because of the way I am loud about agribusiness here on LinkedIn, a young guy sent a message to me saying, “I want to invest in agriculture because I heard it’s the fastest way to multiply money.” I just smiled. Fastest where? Fastest how? Fastest for who? Let me tell you the truth most people hide: Agriculture is profitable but NOT fast. You don’t plant today and cash out tomorrow. You don’t raise animals today and become a millionaire next week. You don’t open a farm and instantly become Dangote Foods. Agribusiness is a process, not a miracle. And the people who win are not the ones who expect quick returns… They are the ones who understand: 📌 Crops need time. 📌 Systems need time. 📌 Record keeping needs time. 📌 Staff training needs time. 📌 Market penetration needs time. 📌 Brand trust needs time. 📌 Consistency needs time. Everything that becomes big once started small, slow, and steady. Here’s the bitter part nobody wants to admit: Most people don’t have a FARMING problem. They have a PATIENCE problem A PROCESS problem A PLANNING problem A FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT problem. That’s why they get frustrated: They expected speed, but agriculture requires structure. The real money in agriculture is in the LONG GAME. Not in rushing. Not in hurrying. Not in “sharp-sharp profit. But in building: ⤷ A farm that can scale ⤷ A brand that people trust ⤷ A system that works without you ⤷ A market pipeline ⤷ A product that solves problems ⤷ A business with multiple income streams ⤷ A model that survives seasons and shocks Those who rush lose money. Those who understand timing, data, planning, patience, and strategy; they win big. So if you’re thinking about entering agribusiness, remember this: If you want quick money, try something else. If you want sustainable, scalable, generational wealth, build agriculture with wisdom, not speed. Your seed will grow. But it will grow at the pace nature designed not the pace your emotions desire. Now over to you: 😆 Have you ever expected money fast in agriculture and reality humbled you? What lesson did it teach you? #Agriculture #Agribusiness #Agriprenure PS: To everyone that always like, repost and engage with my content, I see you, I appreciate you. We are changing the narrative together. I am always grateful.

ECRDA and SEDFA Empower Farmers Through Over R5.2 Million Equipment Support to Eyoluntu Projects Market Agency in Mthatha The Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA), in partnership with the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA), recently participated in a Farmers Information Day hosted by Eyoluntu Projects Market Agency, led by Mr. Melinkqubo Ndabokutya, one of the successful beneficiaries under the ECRDA and SEDFA Blended Finance Programme. Through this partnership, ECRDA and SEDFA have provided over R5.2 million worth of equipment and business support to Eyoluntu Projects Market Agency. The contribution includes a brand-new truck, a 4x4 bakkie, opening trading stock capital, and business overhead support, all aimed at enhancing the agency’s operational efficiency, logistics, and overall market competitiveness. The Kei Fresh Produce Market, where Eyoluntu operates, serves as a vital trading hub for local producers. It ensures equitable access for previously disadvantaged and small-scale farmers to trade their fresh produce, in line with national market access regulations. This milestone marks a significant step toward transforming the agricultural landscape of the Eastern Cape. It empowers smallholder growers with a competitive platform to sell their produce, strengthens local agricultural value chains, and promotes inclusive rural economic growth. Through this initiative, the Eyoluntu Projects Market Agency will create 35 direct jobs and stimulate further employment opportunities indirectly through smallholder producers who now have improved market certainty and trading capacity. 🎥 Listen to Mr. Ndabokutya expressing his gratitude in the video below.

Five ways to build robust and resilient agriculture value chains: Lessons from Sri Lanka posted by James on December 09, 2020 By Tarek Kotb, Country Director, Sri Lanka and Nepal, IFAD Here are five ways to strengthen agricultural value chains: First, build capacity of producers and promoters to identify profitable technological solutions to improve production, storage, packaging and marketing. The government, financial institutions and insurers are crucial partners in providing well-informed agricultural extension and business development services, easy access to feasible financial products for both producers and promoters and, most importantly, crop insurance -- essential for some crops in particular agro-environments. Second, focus strategically on food security. The public sector is not always able to identify and encourage cash crop production in scenarios where smallholder producers prefer to grow food to consume at home. For example, 40 percent of legume farmers were expected to diversify into turmeric. But this did not happen, because the focus of the state extension services was more on legume production. Third, establish the know- how needed to successfully grow and market value chain commodities, especially those essential to food security. For example, during the pandemic period, the government banned imports of food products such as quality seeds of potato, maize, onion and chili. The IFAD-supported Smallholders Agribusiness Partnership Programme had to move quickly to bring in agents with field presence and the ability to move around during the lockdown, to facilitate partnerships for the production and marketing of seed potatoes and seed chili. Around 1,200 farmers were involved in these partnerships. We also learned the lesson about the need for seed banks for strategic food crops, but we learned it the hardest way. Fourth, make available financial instruments for value chain partnerships. Public financial institutions are typically reluctant to lend to agriculture because of the inherent risk in the sector and the low creditworthiness of most rural producers. This is the case even where IFAD offers a 100 percent refinancing facility. To address this, IFAD has put in place two value-chain financing products: one that allows financing institutions to issue bulk loans to companies involved in value chain partnerships so they can extend in-kind working capital loans to producers; the other, a large loan to cooperative rural banks for on-lending to value-chain partners. Both instruments are designed to minimize the risk involved in lending. source https://lnkd.in/dGJeZJdG

In today’s fast-changing agricultural world, success isn’t just about how hard you work it’s about how smartly you manage your farm. And at the heart of smart farming lies one powerful tool: Record Keeping. Many farmers overlook it, seeing it as unnecessary paperwork. But the truth is, record keeping separates struggling farmers from successful agripreneurs. It turns farming from guesswork into a data-driven business and that changes everything. 1. Turning Information into Profit Every decision on the farm from production to marketing depends on accurate information. With good records, you can: ✅ Identify profitable crops or livestock ✅ Eliminate wasteful expenses ✅ Plan effectively for future seasons When you keep track, you grow smart. 2. Your Gateway to Loans, Grants & Partnerships Banks, investors, and support agencies want proof not promises. Proper records show your farm’s performance, credibility, and consistency. In agribusiness, your records are your passport to financial support. 3. Monitoring Animal & Crop Health Accurate records help track: Vaccinations & feed schedules Planting & harvesting dates Fertilizer & pesticide use This keeps your farm sustainable, efficient, and market-ready. 4. Enhancing Productivity & Planning Ahead Comparing season-to-season data helps you set realistic goals, forecast yields, and make informed decisions. Because what gets measured gets managed — and what gets managed gets better. 5. Building a Legacy of Excellence At Adisa Farms Group, we believe farming is more than a business it’s a legacy. Record keeping preserves that legacy, telling the story of your growth, challenges, and victories for generations to come. Structure. Accountability. Sustainability. That’s how we build excellence in agribusiness. © Adisa Farms Group

DFCC Bank’s “Wyapara Hamuwa” Strengthens Banana Farming in Thambuttegama and Small Businesses in Kegalle DFCC Bank PLC has expanded its flagship DFCC Wyapara Hamuwa programme to Thambuttegama and Kegalle, supporting banana farmers and small business owners with financial knowledge, market insights, and practical tools to strengthen livelihoods and fuel regional economic growth. Conducted in partnership with Rajanganaya A-Park Ltd, the sessions provided farmers and entrepreneurs with guidance on financial literacy, entrepreneurship development, and sustainable business practices. Designed to move beyond theory, the programme offered practical solutions to common challenges such as limited access to finance, market linkages, and the need for modernised operations. Pradeep De Alwis, Vice President – Business Banking, DFCC Bank, said: “We are delighted to be involved in progress from the grassroots itself. Through Wyapara Hamuwa, we offer more than financial access. We support farmers and small businesses in building confidence, strengthening livelihoods, and becoming active contributors to national growth. Supporting banana cultivators in Thambuttegama and entrepreneurs in Kegalle means nurturing the roots of rural economies, ensuring that communities and future generations can thrive.” Participants also gained exposure to expert-led sessions on cluster-based business development, sustainable farming, and financial planning. These practical insights are intended to help them compete more effectively in dynamic markets while fostering resilience in their communities. With overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees, DFCC Wyapara Hamuwa is being recognised as a vital platform for grassroots entrepreneurship – linking financial literacy with opportunity and innovation. For DFCC Bank, the initiative reflects a long-term strategy to strengthen Sri Lanka’s MSME and SME sectors, while fostering inclusive growth that uplifts households, communities, and regions alike.

“Value Addition: The Missing Link Between Hard Work and Profit in Agriculture” Many farmers work tirelessly — from sunrise to sunset — yet still struggle to make ends meet. The truth? It’s not always about how hard you work on the farm, but what you do with what you produce. That’s where value addition comes in. When you process your raw produce — whether it’s turning tomatoes into paste, cassava into starch, or milk into yogurt — you move from being just a producer to becoming a business owner in control of your margins. Value addition doesn’t just multiply income; it opens new markets, reduces waste, and creates employment opportunities across the chain. Imagine how many post-harvest losses could be avoided if more farmers had access to small-scale processing or cooperative models. As agriculture evolves, the winners won’t be those who grow the most — but those who grow smart, process wisely, and market strategically. At Light Agribusiness Consultancy Limited, we believe that the future of profitable agriculture lies in helping farmers transition from raw production to agribusiness enterprises that thrive through value addition. Let’s turn “Farm to Table” into “Farm to Fortune.”

Understanding Risk in Agricultural Financing Agriculture plays a vital role in the economy by providing food, employment, and raw materials for industries. However, it is also one of the most unpredictable and risky sectors to finance. Many factors such as weather changes, pests, diseases, and market price fluctuations make farming uncertain. Because of this, both farmers and financial institutions must carefully consider risk before committing any funds to agricultural activities. Risk in agriculture means the chance that actual outcomes such as yields, income, or profits will differ from what was expected. For example, a farmer may expect to produce 100 bags of maize but end up with only 60 due to drought or pest damage. Such unexpected outcomes affect both the farmer and the lender, making agricultural finance a sensitive and risky investment area. To manage these uncertainties, farmers must conduct proper risk assessment. Risk assessment helps identify potential problems, measure their possible impact, and develop ways to reduce their effects. It is the process of understanding what might go wrong, how serious it could be, and how often it may happen. There are three key aspects of risk assessment that are important in agricultural financing which are frequency, severity, and uncertainty. The frequency 0f risk refers to how often a certain type of risk occurs. For instance, droughts may happen every three to four years, while pest infestations may 0ccur each season. By understanding the frequency, farmers can prepare better through measures like crop rotation, irrigation, 0r using resistant varieties. The severity 0f risk shows how serious the damage 0r loss could be if the risk occurs. Some risks cause small losses, such as mild pest attacks, while others lead to total crop 0r livestock failure. A good farmer must identify which risks are most harmful and take strong preventive actions such as insuring livestock 0r storing emergency feed. Source: Comr Ibharhim Ali Credits to the rightful owner Regards, Dr. Adarsha Gowda Food Expert Chairperson/Dean/Head (Former) Entrepreneurship, Startup & Consultancy Dept of Food Science Dept of Food Processing & Engineering. 💫