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Wallis, TX | What story y'all want to hear? The one about needing two 'operators' for any equipment? Or the stealing of an acre of rice, by hand, one night? Or having to payoff everyone to get anything? Or one third of the labor at any time either sleeping or eating on the job?
We always figure costs are 1.5 to 2 times what they are here. Machinery needs are also 1.5 to 2 as to what you would find on a farm here. If you every hear anyone say 'Africa time' they mean it will get done or they will show up when they are good and ready no matter what you were promised.
With all that said, the worst is land ownership, or should I say lack thereof. Our operation rented land that was also rented to others. The concept of renting something and giving up control is just not there. They think if they own it they can rent it to the next guy and the next and the next. We consulted for two different operations that each thought they had the same piece rented, at the same time. In the end neither had it, it went to a third party.
I do know of several successful operations, all of them large. You have to be big enough to have everything you need. A tractor dealership, a seed & chemical dealership, a fertilizer dealership, your own elevator, processing, etc, etc, etc.
E-mail is good if you have any questions.
Pics below are from a project a co-worker was on this summer. One is of security guard on duty and the other is an 'operator' cultivating. Note the tractor position in the rows, he would drive it like that and never move over.
Edited by twraska 12/3/2012 22:44
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Farming in Africa
