I employed a farm worker some time ago when I took a decision to go into farming. Employment terms wrapped up and I fulfilled my primary part of the agreement. We purchased farm implements, got him a telephone as well as modest accommodation near the farm. Not long after, the guy abandoned the farm and went away without any trace.
I thought that getting one farm worker for this would be okay then, little did I know that I was putting my money in a loose pocket! While I was ruminating on what happened and what to do next, I met a friend who shared his experience with me. He did not know that having yearly paid farm workers entails a lot especially with the current state of the economy and the cost of farm input. Both of us, novices if you care, found time to compare notes. What we discovered from our experiences was that getting a farm worker for your farm is not something you do without thorough consideration. It si happens that we leant our lessons the hard way. But we can now guide a newbie in farming on what to do.
A farmer must consider certain factors before hiring farm worker(s). these include:
The size of the farm.
The size of the farm determines the quantity of jobs available on the farm site, which can be used to measure the number of workers needed. If the size is small, and you, the farmer, has enough time to devote to it, then you may not need a regular worker. There are chemicals that can be used to weed the farm of a small size instead of hiring a farm worker.
So, what size of farm would need a farmhand? You need minimum of 10 to 15 acres of land, for you to consider getting a worker. This is necessary, so you can breakeven. To pay a farm worker whose pay is N600,000 apart from feeding, accommodation and other logistics throughout the year on a farmland of less than 10 acres may be difficult. It is, therefore, advisable for a farmer with five acres of farmland to give careful consideration to any step that warrants him getting farm workers, as a fulltime worker or workers may leave him with little or nothing after harvest. What may be necessary for him to do will be to take up a contract worker who gets paid for job done within a given time.
Other Cost of production:
These include such expenses on inputs like drugs, chemicals and fertilisers, which are very crucial for good yield. Here too, the farmer must be very careful, for he should be able to identify original products, as opposed to fake ones, when buying these items. Otherwise, the money spent on the inputs would go to the drains, just as the time spent on the exercise would have been wasted.
Guiding against theft
Another crucial factor involves the steps to be taken to mitigate theft of farm produce, either by farm workers or other people. Putting in place these steps will definitely affect the farmer’s bottom line at the end of the farming season. Guarantor for farm workers:
If the size of your farm supports getting a worker, then you must consider asking him to bring a guarantor. For instance, should you need a farm manager, it is important that you request that he should provide a guarantor. The worker would think twice before engaging in any shady deals on the farm, so, the consciousness that somebody was standing as a guarantor for him would serve as a deterrent. This may reduce stealing on the farm and also prevent sudden disappearance of the worker.
SECURITY
Employing a farm guard may be considered where possible.
TYPE OF FARMING
The type of farming/crops to be planted also determines whether you would need a worker or two before harvest. There are crops that a farmer can plant that would not require him to engage a farm worker. The crops can also be tendered without help, particularly if you use chemicals to weed. However, if the crops are those that require constant attention like tomatoes, onion, pepper, pineapple, cucumber and pawpaw, the farmer would need farm worker irrespective of the size of the farm. But in order to minimize cost, it is better to use the service of a daily-paid worker.
Other conditions
Educational and training qualification: Depending on the vacant position on the farm, a high school, B.Sc., Diploma or its equivalent may be required for the basic knowledge of farming practices and procedures. Training in equipment operation and safety protocols as well as certification in pesticide application, first aid or other relevant areas are also added advantage for a farmer who wants to get the best out of his efforts.
Physical requirements include endurance to work long hours in varying weather conditions, ability to lift 25 to 50 kg depending on the farm. Physical Stamina to perform manual labour in various weather conditions and ability to bend, stoop and kneel.
Personal qualities:
A strong work ethics such as integrity, reliability and punctuality plus attention to detail are parts of what the farmer needs. It is also expected that he would have the ability to adapt to changing weather conditions and priorities, as well as good communications skill and teamwork.
Computer Skills:
Now, wait for this. For those who assume that farming is that old, crude means of making money from which the educated elite should distance themselves from, here is the interesting thing they miss. The use of computer in modern farming practice. A farm Manager should be able to carry out basic computer operations. Such as the use of common application/software such as windows. This may be needed for analysis of reports to aid decision making.
Driving skills:
The ability to drive a car, tricycle or motorbike may be an added advantage. The farmer will definitely have to spend more on the farm, if he depends on a driver or others to get to the farm fast for inspection purposes or to get inputs to the farm or even get farm produce out of the farm after harvesting.
Specialised requirements depending on the farm:
The farmer is expected to have the required experience with livestock handling and care, in the case of livestock farming for instance. He is expected to have an appreciable knowledge of organic or sustainable farming practices. Not only that, he should also have a hands on experience with farm equipment operations and maintenance and certification in food safety or quality control. Of good note is that requirements may vary depending on the specific farm, location and type of crops or livestock.
Finally, farmers, fresh or experienced, should know that with the level of enlightenment on agriculture in the world, there are consultancy entities that can handle recruitment and training of farm workers for farm owners.
