Africans just love farming! Give them land and support and they will do wonders- after all farming is the oldest entrepreneurship sector on the continent. Of course there are challenges in terms of access to latest technology and others such as access to capital, markets and other resources. So from our 50,000 strong online community, we advertised for those interested in crowdfunding and the response was overwhelming!

Crowdfarming is the future of farming on the continent as it involves members interested in pooling resources together to enjoy economies of scale and other benefits. One of our forum admins offered the use of his farm to the ZBIN community and technically the forum members now own a piece of land.

Last Suturday witnessed a small group of our members touring the farm located in Beatrice about 37 kilometres from Harare and what an eye opener!

Our proposal for the initiative is the formation of a company wholly owned by interested members and the next proposal is brainstorming on a horticulture business idea which will be conducted by an independent business consultant.

Once this is done we will review the business plan and then contribute funds for the project. Shared resources means we reduce the risk of failure and the pooling of resources means that capital will nolonger be a hurdle in farming! So this is the biggest buzz on our forums and we believe only the sky is the limit.

We are not recruiting too many new members for logistical purposes. We will come and invite more once the project becomes a success and then we will scale it up across the country.

Talk of the power of unity!

So how do you move huge volumes of your products through leading retail shops? Dont you think this question should have been part of your high school topics? Getting an assignment to approach local shops and engaging them in pushing your products?

Worry not if you missed this at high school and college. Our forum recently tackled this important area and we had brilliant responses which we feature below;

Frank Mzondiwa What I know is you need to have

A registered company with tax clearance

Barcode your products

Quality packaging

And also your products should have a huge probability of being bought.

So it’s best to start with small supermarkets until you have a huge clientele so as to convince the buyer that your products will move than just to waste space on the shelves

Harry Nyakatonje Good rapport with the buyers, products should be of good quality,if u need licensing or registration do so,be tax compliant,have capacity to replicate the orders they want in as many branches….be able to be consistent….don’t push for cash,hear out their terms….some prefer that u leave a product then they pay u later to reduce risk on their side….to reduce risk on your side employ merchandisers and brand ambassadors,run promos so that the shop sells more and u have good turnover …. repeat until u no longer have to introduce yourself……don’t be greedy if let’s say u supply oranges ,u run out of stock,take your friend’s orange if they make the cut for consistency

Above all be good with people,it doesn’t matter u own a farm,a company ,the latest SUV ,neat suits…… Be humble ,wear the perfume of the buyer to fall in their favor….you don’t have to bribe but be accommodating , professional and friendly

On large chain store remember they are big ,head office centralises buying power so be ready for beaurcracy and redtape, patience is needed .You may be lucky to be given cash,they may ask for your last price ,don’t lower your price at once,flinch a little ,hold your ground,tell them to make an offer and top something on that offer knowing it’s in your comfort zone, effective negotiation skill.I know most things are going paperless but at least have a name ,a receipt book, invoice book etc

Know your numbers and product.. .do not be like a fly by night… people will undervalue you….know in figures how much u can produce and supply….if there is a possibility of venture capital or franchise….we all have seen OK Pot “o”gold products…. sometimes they want it to carry their name coming from your factory….if u sell strawberries know what strawberries do,how to best preserve etc…..carry samples …hapana anoda kunzi mastrawberry ekwa OK haana taste.

Mohamed Adam You need to be prepared to give credit unless its a product that they see does well for them, they then pay you on delivery. In today’s economic system, i would not advise one to start with trying to get their products in these shops, buy the time they pay you, your money would have halved in real money.