Tapuwa Justice Mashangwa Agriculture column
WHEN agriculture became a multibillion dollar business, a revolution started: The Agribusiness Revolution.

Agriculture was no longer about subsistence farming, it became about huge profit margins and higher cost-profit ratios.

The 21st century saw agricultural companies being listed on the NYSE making millions of dollars quarterly and today agriculture is still one of the most unexploited sectors in the world economy.

An example of an agriculture company making strides is Marine Harvest.

On January 29, 2014, Marine Harvest, the world’s leading seafood company, became the first aquaculture company to be listed at the NYSE.

The company controls about 22 percent of the global production of farmed Atlantic salmon, the most industrialised and commercially developed aquaculture specie.

According to the UN, the world must increase its food production by 70 percent by 2050. As much as 70 percent of the globe is covered by water.

Yet, only six percent of the world’s protein supply, is sourced from the oceans today.

One may ask: Is it possible to participate in the international market? Can I achieve it? How do I go about it?

It is possible to participate and going about it simple

We simply have to move back to Business Class 101.

A business can be functional once the demand market and supply source exist. That is all there is to it.

There are 196 countries in the world so research is paramount in finding out what each of these countries need agricultural-wise then just supply them.

The agribusiness farmer does not even need to tap into the international market. There is an unsatisfied provincial, national, regional and continental market already. One of the crucial strategies involves “farming in reverse” instead of farming first then looking for the market.

Farming in reverse means farming to satisfy a target market.

It is a profit guaranteed move, most if not all farmers in Zimbabwe should adapt especially considering that there are indigenous companies like eMkambo in Zimbabwe that already deal with the national agricultural market and are able to provide real time data concerning agricultural commodity prices, shortages and supplies.

The best things in life are free and their information is free and accessible.

There are over 50 agricultural projects still unexploited fully and virgin to the Zimbabwean market and sector.

Some of these are; borehole drilling; dairy farming; fish farming; biogas production; crocodile farming; snake farming; mushroom production; market gardening; cattle fattening; egg production; compost and mulch formation and production; hydroponic farming; commodity trading; bee keeping; butcheries; duck, quail, geese, guinea fowl, ostrich rearing; sheep farming; goat rearing; warehousing; agricultural education/workshops; green housing; speciality flower production; fertiliser selling; herbicide sales; veterinary services; cereal production; dried food packaging and selling; producing and selling sheep cheese; llama, alpacas, guanacos or vicunas rearing for their pelts or wool; training and promotion of rural crafts.

For instance offering dry stone walling workshops; opening facilities for craft making and retailing; tourism such as opening land up for camping or a bed and breakfast, non-food crops (planting of bamboos, gumtrees for posterior resale or for making furniture); shell fish farming, lobster farming; game hunting (depending on the size of land one owns or leases.

Compost and worms for bait, pharmaceutical crops and related products (for example aloe vera); energy crops such as short rotation coppice and miscanthus and industrial fibre crops also come to the fore.

Other examples include hemp, flax and cereal straw; olive and almond farming; retail outlets and catering such as farm shop and tea rooms; rural tourism through farm attractions; making and selling non-agricultural products.

Adding value through smoked-food products, cheese and ice-cream; energy markets such as woodfuel projects; olive and almond farming and so much more come into play too.

All one has to do now is research and pick what tickles their fancy. Agribusiness is the new modus operandi and the future remains green.

l Tapuwa Justice Mashangwa is a young entrepreneur based in Bulawayo, Founder and CEO of Emerald Agribusiness Consultancy. He can be contacted on +263739096418 and email: [email protected].