Back to: Jss1 Agricultural Science (PVS)

A Farm Manager

A farm manager is a critical player in the agricultural sector who oversees, plans, and manages the production of goods and services. As managers, they are responsible for coordinating and directing the use of various production factors, including labour, capital, and resources, to ensure optimal output and profitability.

The farm manager plays a crucial role in decision-making processes related to the production process, such as determining the timing and types of crops or livestock to produce, assessing market demand, and identifying opportunities for growth and diversification. They are also responsible for organizing and supervising work activities, ensuring that production processes are efficient and that the labour force is effectively utilized.

Farm managers are also responsible for recruiting, training, and managing workers, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and maintaining a safe working environment. They must possess excellent organizational and communication skills, as well as the ability to develop and implement effective management strategies to ensure that the farm runs smoothly and profitably.

Functions of Farm Manager

1. Planning function: This involves productive activities such as securing suitable land for farming, deciding what to produce, determining the scale of production, procuring loans or capital for farming, recruiting or employing workers for the farm, and so on.
2. Administration function: The administration function is responsible for ensuring the smooth and effective working of all factors of production. This includes supervising the work on the farm, organizing work rosters, directing workers on day-to-day activities, ensuring staff welfare, organizing training of manpower on the farm, and so on.
3. Production function: The production function involves the right combination of the factors of production to ensure optimal yield. This includes purchasing and using farm inputs, ensuring the health of animals and crops on the farm, making arrangements for the general security of the farm, ensuring an adequate supply of feeds, adhering to modern farming techniques, and so on.
4. Marketing function: The marketing function involves meeting sales targets. To ensure this, the farmer determines the number of products to sell and the price at which to sell, decides on the best marketing channel to use to make maximum profits, determines when to sell to make maximum profit, monitors marketing trends, arranges for storage and warehousing of unsold produce, and so on.
5. Evaluation function: The evaluation function involves ensuring that all other functions have been done appropriately. This involves keeping general records of activities on the farm, supervising accounts and bookkeeping of all operations on the farm, analyzing farm operations with respect to targets and objectives, assessing staffing conditions, developing new strategies for further improvement of farm operations, and so on.
6. Risk management function: This involves identifying and managing the various risks associated with farming, such as weather-related risks, market risks, and operational risks. The farmer must develop strategies to mitigate these risks, such as purchasing crop insurance or diversifying the farm’s product portfolio.
7. Environmental stewardship function: As stewards of the land, farmers have a responsibility to manage their farms in an environmentally sustainable manner. This involves implementing practices that minimize the impact of farming on the environment, such as soil conservation techniques, water conservation, and reducing the use of harmful pesticides and chemicals.
8. Research and development function: Farmers must keep abreast of the latest agricultural research and developments to improve their operations. This includes researching new farming techniques, new crop varieties, and new technologies that can improve efficiency and productivity.
9. Community relations function: Farmers play an important role in their communities, and they must maintain positive relationships with their neighbours, customers, and suppliers. This involves communicating with the community, participating in local events, and supporting local initiatives.
10. Financial management function: Effective financial management is crucial for the success of any farm enterprise. This involves developing budgets, monitoring expenses, managing cash flow, and ensuring that the farm is profitable and financially sustainable in the long term.

Problems of Farm Manager

Problems which a farm manager may face during the course of discharging his duties include:

1. Limited Access to Information: A farmer may face challenges accessing vital information related to their farming activities such as the best sources of quality farm inputs, new innovations, market trends, and prevailing prices of farm produce. This could limit their ability to make informed decisions and stay competitive.
2. Marketing Difficulties: A farmer may struggle to identify viable market opportunities for their products, including determining the right time and price to sell their products for maximum profit. These challenges could arise due to a lack of market information, competition, or inadequate transportation infrastructure.
3. Shortage of Farm Inputs: A farmer may face challenges accessing adequate and affordable farm inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, chemicals, and animal feed. This could be due to various factors, including climate change, limited access to credit, and inadequate supply chains.
4. Financial Constraints: A farmer may struggle to access sufficient capital to finance their farming activities, leading to reduced production and profitability. This could be due to various factors, including high-interest rates, limited access to credit facilities, and fluctuating market prices for farm produce.
5. Human Resource Challenges: A farmer may struggle to attract and retain skilled personnel to work on their farm, leading to a lack of necessary expertise and experience. This could be due to inadequate remuneration, limited access to training and development opportunities, and competition for skilled labour.
6. Government Policies: Farmers may be affected by unfavourable government policies such as the importation of food that competes with their locally produced products, leading to reduced demand and profits. Such policies may also lead to high tariffs, taxes, or restrictions on exports, further impacting the farmers’ profitability.
7. Transportation Challenges: Farmers may face transportation challenges, including inadequate and costly transportation infrastructure, leading to delays in accessing inputs or delivering their produce to the market. This could also lead to increased costs of transportation, reducing the profitability of the farming business.
8. Administrative Difficulties: Farmers may face challenges in managing their farm operations due to inadequate knowledge and skills in technical aspects of farming, poor human resource management, and health challenges that affect their productivity. These challenges could lead to reduced efficiency, increased costs, and reduced profitability.