Record keeping is vital in farming
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
Record keeping in crop production helps farmers to keep track of their production performance.
According to Hanks Saisai, Agribank’s technical advisor for crops and poultry, records are a vital component of any farming enterprise and naturally that includes crop production enterprises.
He says records are usually kept to know, decide, manage and to thrive in the farming ventures of choice.
“As a crop farmer it is of critical importance to keep records and productivity.”
Saisai says these records mainly comprise of the type of crops grown, the planting date, size of the cultivated area, the yield obtained from the cultivated plot, yield per hectare and remarks on the yield obtained, such as aspects that may have contributed to a low yield.
“Plant nutrition records are valuable when managing a crop enterprise as they will provide pertinent information on the fertiliser type used, date of fertiliser application, quantity of fertiliser applied, dose per hectare, the unit price of fertiliser, costs of fertilising the cultivated area and the average cost per hectare.”
These records are essential as they have an impact on the yield potential of the cultivated crop.
Input costs
Similarly, pest and weed control are essential in crop production, hence farmers are encouraged to keep records on the treatment type applied to control pests or weeds, such as the date of applying the pesticide or herbicide used per hectare.
“Additionally, the farmer must keep records on the unit price of each treatment as well as the costs incurred to apply the pest and weed control on the cultivated area.”
He says that will enable the farmer to determine the average cost per hectare on weed and pest control.
Once the crops reach maturity, the farmer is advised to keep records on the quantity of the harvest and the selling unit price of the harvest per kilogram.
Furthermore, records of the amount of the harvest used for own consumption must be kept, as well as revenue generated from harvest sales and revenue per hectare.
“Moreover, records on the storage type used by a farmer must be noted and storage losses must also be recorded in a crop farmer’s records.”
Saisai further advises farmers to make use of good quality seeds and ensure proper cultivation of the soil to maximise yields and income.
“Lastly, it is also advisable for farmers to keep records on the agents used, such as input suppliers, buyers, and support services such as extension advisory services offered in order to succeed in your crop production enterprise.”
WINDHOEK
Record keeping in crop production helps farmers to keep track of their production performance.
According to Hanks Saisai, Agribank’s technical advisor for crops and poultry, records are a vital component of any farming enterprise and naturally that includes crop production enterprises.
He says records are usually kept to know, decide, manage and to thrive in the farming ventures of choice.
“As a crop farmer it is of critical importance to keep records and productivity.”
Saisai says these records mainly comprise of the type of crops grown, the planting date, size of the cultivated area, the yield obtained from the cultivated plot, yield per hectare and remarks on the yield obtained, such as aspects that may have contributed to a low yield.
“Plant nutrition records are valuable when managing a crop enterprise as they will provide pertinent information on the fertiliser type used, date of fertiliser application, quantity of fertiliser applied, dose per hectare, the unit price of fertiliser, costs of fertilising the cultivated area and the average cost per hectare.”
These records are essential as they have an impact on the yield potential of the cultivated crop.
Input costs
Similarly, pest and weed control are essential in crop production, hence farmers are encouraged to keep records on the treatment type applied to control pests or weeds, such as the date of applying the pesticide or herbicide used per hectare.
“Additionally, the farmer must keep records on the unit price of each treatment as well as the costs incurred to apply the pest and weed control on the cultivated area.”
He says that will enable the farmer to determine the average cost per hectare on weed and pest control.
Once the crops reach maturity, the farmer is advised to keep records on the quantity of the harvest and the selling unit price of the harvest per kilogram.
Furthermore, records of the amount of the harvest used for own consumption must be kept, as well as revenue generated from harvest sales and revenue per hectare.
“Moreover, records on the storage type used by a farmer must be noted and storage losses must also be recorded in a crop farmer’s records.”
Saisai further advises farmers to make use of good quality seeds and ensure proper cultivation of the soil to maximise yields and income.
“Lastly, it is also advisable for farmers to keep records on the agents used, such as input suppliers, buyers, and support services such as extension advisory services offered in order to succeed in your crop production enterprise.”
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