{"id":38364,"date":"2023-07-12T09:46:40","date_gmt":"2023-07-12T09:46:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/?post_type=start-a-business&#038;p=38364"},"modified":"2025-08-18T09:45:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T09:45:12","slug":"farming-business","status":"publish","type":"start-a-business","link":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/start-a-business\/farming-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Farming business"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"38364\" class=\"elementor elementor-38364\" data-elementor-post-type=\"start-a-business\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3b3fcd2d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3b3fcd2d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-78c7fa95\" data-id=\"78c7fa95\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55d0851d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"55d0851d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIs it your dream to run your own farm? If so, you\u2019ll need to have the relevant experience and be prepared to put in the work to boost the chances of your farm being profitable. This guide takes you through the necessary steps to help you understand how to start a farm. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6dda3f4d elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"6dda3f4d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-md\" href=\"https:\/\/namibia.swoopfunding.com\/stage\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Get a quote<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-67e369c2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"67e369c2\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1d6348ef\" data-id=\"1d6348ef\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fccb0a7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-ucaddon_aivoov_player\" data-id=\"fccb0a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"ucaddon_aivoov_player.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"aivoov-player-block\">\n\t<div class=\"read_this\">Read this article to me<\/div>\n\t\t\t<style>\n\t\t\t.plyr__controls .plyr__controls__item:first-child{\n\t\t\t\tbackground:#2e9c8e !important;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t:root{\n\t\t\t--plyr-color-main:#2e9c8e;\n\t\t\t--plyr-audio-controls-background:#f0f2f4;\n\t\t\t--plyr-audio-control-color:#546a7b;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t[data-plyr=\"mute\"]{color:#2e9c8e !important}\n\t\t\t.aivoov-text-color{color:#546a7b}\n\t\t<\/style> \n\t\t<div class=\"audio_player\">\n\t\t<audio class=\"js-player\" controls=\"\">\n\t\t\t<source src=\"https:\/\/monky-voice-over.s3.amazonaws.com\/aivoov\/781640cc-7bc1-4bbf-9492-22dedc19678b\/8327c2ce-dde4-46f0-8859-29129a49fd05.mp3\" type=\"audio\/mp3\">\n\t\t\t<source src=\"https:\/\/monky-voice-over.s3.amazonaws.com\/aivoov\/781640cc-7bc1-4bbf-9492-22dedc19678b\/8327c2ce-dde4-46f0-8859-29129a49fd05.mp3\" type=\"audio\/ogg\" \/>\n\t\t<\/audio> \n\t\t\t\t <div class=\"powerd_by aivoov-text-color\"><p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/aivoov.com\/?um_source=plugin_powered_by\" style=\"color: inherit;\">Powered by AiVOOV<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cd90bca elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cd90bca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why consider starting a farm?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a934957 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a934957\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You might want to start a farm if you like the idea of working for yourself and enjoy spending a lot of time outside. Although farming can be challenging, if you plan well, it\u2019s possible to earn a decent profit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What\u2019s more, there\u2019s a wide range of different farming types to choose from. You could consider poultry farming, vegetable farming or dairy farming, for example. You could also think about growing cereals such as barley, oats and wheat, or fruits such as apples, strawberries and raspberries. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12a3a37d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"12a3a37d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Is farming profitable?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b3bb6e8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7b3bb6e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Farming can be profitable, but you need to plan carefully. The covid-19 pandemic hit farming incomes hard and they have struggled to recover. That said, figures<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show that Total Income from Farming (TIFF) in Namibia for 2022 was over N$417 million, an increase of 15.2% from 2021.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As well as the pandemic, the farming industry has also been affected by extreme weather, such as heavy rain or prolonged dry spells in recent years. Farming can be unpredictable so you need to ensure your farm is resilient, that you\u2019re producing maximum yield and that you\u2019re selling your crops for the highest price possible.<\/span><\/p><h3>What are the different types of farms?<\/h3><p>Farms cover a wide range of types, each focusing on different agricultural activities:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Produce farms<\/strong>: Specialise in fruits, vegetables, and grains for consumption.<\/li><li><strong>Dairy and livestock farms<\/strong>: Focus on rearing animals for milk, meat, or other products such as wool or leather.<\/li><li><strong>Fish farms<\/strong>: Dedicated to aquaculture and raising fish for food consumption.<\/li><li><strong>Flower farms<\/strong>: Grow flowers for commercial purposes, including floral arrangements, bouquets, and decorative purposes.<\/li><li><strong>Specialty farms<\/strong>: Deliver to niche markets with unique products or practices, such as organic farming or rare breeds.<\/li><li><strong>Energy farms<\/strong>: Produce renewable energy sources such as wind or <a class=\"waffle-rich-text-link\" href=\"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/business-loans\/asset-finance\/solar-energy-installations\/\">solar power<\/a>, contributing to sustainable energy production.<\/li><li><strong>Entertainment farms<\/strong>: Offer agritourism experiences for visitors, providing educational and leisure opportunities related to farming and rural life.<\/li><\/ul><h3>What are the most profitable types of farming?<\/h3><p>The most profitable types of farming depends on factors such as location, climate, soil quality, market demand, and individual expertise.<\/p><p>Generally, high-value <a class=\"waffle-rich-text-link\" href=\"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/sectors\/crop-finance\/\">crops<\/a> such as fruits, vegetables, herbs, and specialty crops like microgreens or mushrooms can generate high profits, especially when grown using sustainable or organic practices.<\/p><p><a class=\"waffle-rich-text-link\" href=\"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/sectors\/cow-livestock-finance\/\">Livestock farming<\/a>, including poultry, dairy, or fish farming, can also be profitable, particularly with efficient management and access to niche markets for premium products. Additionally, niche or specialty farming businesses such as organic, agro-tourism, or value-added products like cheeses or honey can command higher prices and attract customers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d869bae elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"d869bae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/namibia.swoopfunding.com\/stage\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Apply now<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0ab841d elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"0ab841d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a32811 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3a32811\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What skills are required to be a farmer?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bdcfce8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bdcfce8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to be a farmer, there are a number of skills that can help set you up for success. These include:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>People skills:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> During your time as a farmer, you\u2019ll need to network and build good relationships with a wide range of people.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Organisation skills:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> As part of your role, you\u2019ll need to carry out a range of tasks including working on the land, completing paperwork and manging staff. That means you need to be organised and know how to prioritise tasks.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Management skills:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Even if you\u2019re starting a small farm, it\u2019s likely you\u2019ll need to employ one or two members of staff. You might need to hire more staff as your business grows. You\u2019ll need to be able to manage your team members and be able to motivate them.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Fitness:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Farming is a physically demanding job so you\u2019ll need to be fit and healthy.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having a driving licence will also be useful and it pays to have some technical knowledge so that you know how to handle machinery. You could even consider completing a diploma or degree in an <a href=\"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/sectors\/agricultural-loans\/\">agricultural<\/a> subject.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55b9509 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"55b9509\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/namibia.swoopfunding.com\/stage\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Apply now<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-674a3245 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"674a3245\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4ce089dc\" data-id=\"4ce089dc\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3cbc3a0 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3cbc3a0\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2732a05 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2732a05\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What are the steps to starting a farm?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10cdfcf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"10cdfcf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><strong>Step 1: Start small and expand<\/strong><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Farming can be hard work, so it\u2019s best to start out small and then expand once things are going the way you hoped. If you\u2019re growing vegetables, for example, start by only growing something simple like tomato plants or a variety of salad of leaves, before expanding and starting a farm as your primary source of income.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re having animals on your farm, start with a few chickens or one goat and then increase the number of animals you have over time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Starting small means that any mistakes you make will be on a smaller scale, and learning from these mistakes means you\u2019re more likely to have success as your farm grows.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h3><strong>Step 2: Learn by doing<\/strong><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you start running your own farm, it\u2019s worth gaining some real-life experience on a working farm so you know what you\u2019re getting into and how the business work. Ask around to see whether you could volunteer on a local farm.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reading books and taking courses will also help you to learn more about the industry and, if you can, look for a good mentor who can teach you more about the job and give you valuable feedback.<\/span><\/p><h3><strong>Step 3: Decide on and research your niche<\/strong><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decide on the type of farming you want to do and then spend time researching it in detail. If you\u2019re only growing food for you and your family, you won\u2019t need to spend quite as long researching. All you\u2019ll need to think about is the fruit and vegetables you and your family eat that would be easy to grow in your climate.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, if you want to sell the produce you grow to earn an income, you\u2019ll need to do a lot more research. Think about how many different goods you want to produce and whether there is sufficient demand. Who are you planning to sell your produce to \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/sectors\/restaurant-loans\/\">restaurants<\/a>, shops or consumers? Make sure you also consider which items sell for high prices and which might not be so profitable. You need to have a good idea of who your customers are and how much they will buy.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re raising animals, again you\u2019ll need to consider whether you want to rear cows and goats to produce milk for sale, or whether you\u2019d prefer to raise pigs for pork products and so on. Consider which has the highest demand and which is likely to earn you the most <a href=\"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/business-glossary\/profit\/\">profit<\/a>. To help you, check out farmers\u2019 markets, meet other local producers and speak to customers as you shop.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h3><strong>Step 4: Secure your land<\/strong><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019ve worked out what you\u2019re going to farm, you need to decide whether you want to buy land or lease it. Buying land gives you complete control over how you use it, but it also comes with higher financial risk. It\u2019s also likely to be more costly.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some farmers (or other landowners) will have extra land that they are not using and might be willing to lease to you. This can be a low-cost way to get things up and running and it will be lower risk.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When looking for land, you\u2019ll need to consider a range of factors, including whether you will have access to a steady supply of water and the quality of the soil. It\u2019s sensible to carry out a soil test so that you can assess whether it\u2019s chalky or sandy, or full of clay, for instance. This can help you work out whether you need to invest in certain fertilisers or other supplements.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also look at whether there are already any structures on the land, such as processing facilities or barns or chicken coops. Different crops and animal products will need different processing and storage facilities.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, you\u2019ll need to consider how close you are to where you\u2019ll be selling your goods. After all, you don\u2019t want to be driving for hours just to reach the nearest town.<\/span><\/p><h3><strong>Step 5: Get finance for equipment and product<\/strong><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most of us won\u2019t have the cash readily available to help get a farm up and running, so you\u2019ll usually need to turn to finance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One option is to apply for a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/business-loans\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">business loan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with a high-street bank or online lender. This will enable you to borrow a lump sum of cash that you then repay in monthly instalments, with interest, over a set term.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s also worth finding out if you\u2019re eligible for a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/business-grants\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">business grant<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This is a sum of money awarded to a business to help it grow and develop and, unlike a loan, it does not need to be repaid. Business grants are usually awarded by the government or other companies and there are hundreds of different grants you can apply for across Namibia. These will often be targeted to specific industries, community groups or types of business, so check carefully.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/business-loans\/asset-finance\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asset finance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can also be used to help you acquire farm equipment. The two main options are hire purchase and leasing. Hire purchase means you hire the equipment from the lender and then make the agreed monthly payments. At the end of the term, the equipment is yours.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alternatively, leasing lets you rent the equipment from a finance provider and then pay a regular fixed fee over a set term, with interest added. At the end of the term you might be able to pay a lump sum to buy the equipment, continue to lease it, or cancel the agreement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h3><strong>Step 6: Sell and distribute your product<\/strong><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019ve completed the above steps, you\u2019re ready to start growing and selling your products. Provided you\u2019ve carried out your research, you\u2019ll know where you\u2019re going to sell your goods and the amount you want to sell them for.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Farmers\u2019 markets can be a good option, but you could also set up a farm shop or partner with local businesses. You could even partner with other producers to sell your products under one brand. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc5c737 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"bc5c737\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-723e564 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"723e564\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How much does it cost to start a farming business?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1bd0f4d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1bd0f4d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The cost of starting a farming business can vary a lot depending on factors such as the type of farming, scale of operations, location, <a class=\"waffle-rich-text-link\" href=\"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/sectors\/farm-equipment-financing\/\">equipment needs<\/a>, land, and regulatory requirements. Small-scale or niche farming businesses may require minimal initial investment, focusing on essential tools, seeds, or <a class=\"waffle-rich-text-link\" href=\"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/sectors\/cow-livestock-finance\/\">livestock<\/a>, while larger operations or specialised businesses may have high upfront costs.<\/p><p>Common expenses include land purchase or lease, infrastructure development such as fencing, watering systems, and storage facilities, equipment purchases or rentals, seed or livestock acquisition, and operating expenses like labor, utilities, and insurance. Additionally, regulatory compliance costs, such as permits, licenses, or certifications, should be considered.<\/p><p>Farmers may also need to invest in marketing and distribution channels to reach customers effectively. It&#8217;s important for new farmers to conduct thorough market research, develop a detailed <a class=\"waffle-rich-text-link\" href=\"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/business-glossary\/business-plan\/\">business plan<\/a>, and budget accurately to estimate startup costs and ensure financial sustainability.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-daad523 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"daad523\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to continue growing your business<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5f7e16 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d5f7e16\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve got your business off the ground, now is not the time to take a backseat. Instead, you need to start thinking about how your business will grow and what you need to do to achieve this.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media can be a great way to get the word out about your business and attract new customers. Instagram and Pinterest can work well as they are visual and let people see what\u2019s happening on your farm. But you could also consider using Twitter and LinkedIn to share articles about the farming industry and encourage discussion. Facebook Messenger is also great for responding to customer queries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, it\u2019s worth creating a website for your farm so that people can easily find out more about it. Using website builders <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can make your life a lot easier initially, but you might want to hire a web developer as your farm grows.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also think about attending industry events to network with other farming industry professionals, as well as advertising through radio, brochures and newspapers. You might even want to expand into new areas \u2013 you could set up a camping ground on your farm, for example, or you could start growing \u2018pick your own\u2019 flowers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb59f30 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fb59f30\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why do some farms fail?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1916cdf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1916cdf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There can be a lot of reason why some farms fail. These include:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Economic challenges<\/strong> such as fluctuating prices, high startup costs, and market volatility can strain profitability, especially for small or family-owned farms.<\/li><li><strong>Environmental factors<\/strong> like unpredictable weather conditions, drought, pests, or disease outbreaks can impact crop or livestock health, leading to financial losses.<\/li><li><strong>Bad planning<\/strong>, management, or no access to resources such as capital, land, or labor can also hinder farm success.<\/li><li><strong>Changes in consumer preferences<\/strong>, regulatory requirements, or industry trends may require adaptation or investment in new technologies or practices, which some farms may struggle to implement.<\/li><li><strong>Personal factors<\/strong> such as health issues, family dynamics, or succession planning challenges can affect the success of a farm.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be64ab0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"be64ab0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Get started with Swoop's business funding platform<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71b77e22 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"71b77e22\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finding the right type of finance for your new business won\u2019t always be an easy decision. So if you need help, the team of experts at Swoop will be happy to talk through your options and work out the best solution. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/namibia.swoopfunding.com\/stage\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get started today<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39dc8861 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"39dc8861\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/namibia.swoopfunding.com\/stage\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Apply now<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","start-a-business-sectors":[369],"class_list":["post-38364","start-a-business","type-start-a-business","status-publish","hentry","start-a-business-sectors-business-ideas"],"acf":[],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","image_blog":"","image_podcast":"","image_banking":"","image_blog_internal":"","image_blog_medium":"","image_single_banking":""},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"<p>Is it your dream to run your own farm? If so, you\u2019ll need to have the relevant experience and be prepared to put in the work to boost the chances of your farm being profitable. This guide takes you through the necessary steps to help you understand how to start a farm. Get a quote Why consider starting a farm? You might want to start a farm if you like the idea of working for yourself and enjoy spending a lot of time outside. Although farming can be challenging, if you plan well, it\u2019s possible to earn a decent profit.\u00a0What\u2019s&hellip;<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"","author_info_v2":{"name":"Rachel Wait","url":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/author\/rachel-wait\/"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/start-a-business\/38364","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/start-a-business"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/start-a-business"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/start-a-business\/38364\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44593,"href":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/start-a-business\/38364\/revisions\/44593"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"start-a-business-sectors","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/na\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/start-a-business-sectors?post=38364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}