Current Structural Chain in Agriculture: The global food and agribusiness industry is in the midst of major changes.
Changes in product characteristics, in worldwide distribution and consumption.
In technology, in size and structure of firms in the industry.
And in geographic location of production and processing.
And the pace of change seems to be increasing.
Current Structural Chain Agriculture: https://ag4impact.org
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Current Structural Chain in Agriculture
Responding to these changes is difficult.
Because of three fundamental characteristics of the agricultural industry.
First, it is highly volatile, both in production and market conditions.
A combination of biological production processes.
That are subjected to unpredictable biological predators (disease, insects, pathogens, etc.).
Combined with variable climatic/weather/heat/rainfall patterns.
Results in significant variability in production.
And processing conditions and thus efficiency and output.
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Current Structural Chain in Agriculture
This fluctuation in output or supply combined with the inelastic or non-responsive demand.
For food products results in dramatic price fluctuations.
Particularly at the crop and livestock raw materials stages of the supply chain
Current Structural Chain in Agriculture
The biological production processes for raw materials.
Are also characterized by long production cycles.
And batch rather than continuous flow of production/processing.
Which means that in general production adjustments to changing conditions are lethargic.
And the time delays between a new idea.
And a commercially viable product are much longer than in industries.
Characterized by continuous flow processing and short production cycles.
Current Structural Chain in Agriculture
The food and agribusiness industry is also characterized by very complex supply chains.
That are not well coordinated.
Particularly among the up-stream stages in that chain.
The production sector in general is very fragmented.
Which provides challenges for those firms.
Further downstream that desire traceability or guaranteed and consistent quality attributes.
Current Structural Chain in Agriculture
Changes and innovations that require adoption/adjustment across the entire value chain.
Example systemic innovations is much more difficult to adopt and implement.
If that value chain is not only complex.
But also fragmented and not well coordinated
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The agricultural Structural chain
Concept has been used since the beginning of the millennium.
Primarily by those working in agricultural development in developing countries.
Although there is no universally accepted definition of the term.
It normally refers to the whole range of goods and services.
Necessary for an agricultural product to move from the farm to the final customer or consumer.
Current Structural Chain in Agriculture
As with all agricultural growth, two things appear essential for successful value chain development.
Creating the right environment for agriculture.
And investing in rural public goods.
An enabling environment implies peace and public order.
Macro-economic stability, inflation under control.
Exchange rates based on market fundamentals rather than government allocation of foreign currency.
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Current Structural Chain in Agriculture
Predictable taxation that is reinvested in public goods and property rights.
There is a positive correlation of agricultural growth with investment in irrigation.
Transport infrastructure and other technologies.
Governments have a responsibility to provide essential goods and services.
Infrastructure, such as rural roads, and agricultural research and extension.
Structural chain development is often constrained by corruption.
Both at a high level and at the ubiquitous road blocks found in many countries, particularly in Africa.
Many measures to improve value chains require collaboration between a wide range of different ministries, and this can be difficult to achieve.
Current Structural Chain in Agriculture
If you want Structural chain development in agriculture.
There are certain measures you need to undertake.
In order to move toward that goal.
And if you’re looking for a farm that practices sustainable methods/structural chain.
Then you can use these steps as your criteria.
1. Don’t confuse “sustainable” with “organic”.
An organic label means that the food was grown or raised without the use of synthetic chemicals (but there are exceptions).
- Lots of people confuse sustainable agriculture with organic farming.
- Both are aimed at using more ecologically sensible practices.
- But they are judged by a distinct set of standards.
- Organic farming, especially when carried out on a large, industrial scale, can still damage the environment and threaten public health in a variety of ways: Ecosystems can still be ruined by widespread monoculture; pesticides can still be applied; soils can still be depleted of nutrients and organic matter; pollution can still be created; and exorbitant amounts of fossil fuels can still be spent (and wasted), all under an organic label.
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2. Know what sustainability means:
In order to move in this direction, a farm has to:
- avoid irreversible changes to the land (for example, erosion)
- withdraw no resources from the environment that cannot be replenished (for example, not using more water than can be replaced regularly by rainfall)
- produce enough income to remain on a farm in face of worldwide farm consolidation and infrastructure development
Current Structural Chain in Agriculture
3. Consider the source.
Determine where your resources come from and whether you’re taking more than can be replaced, either through natural processes or your own practices.
- Where are your resources and inputs coming from? Think specifically about water, energy, soil amendments, and feed (if you have livestock). Also think about long-term, capital investments, such as structural building materials, tools, etc.
- Keep in mind that no farm is an island: complete self-sufficiency is not a requirement of sustainable agriculture. Long-term stability and productivity is. The more renewable and varied your resources are, the longer your farm will last.
Current Structural Chain in Agriculture
4. Eliminate waste.
There is no “away” to “throw” to. Everything is connected. The three “R”s apply here more than ever: reduce, reuse, recycle. It’ll not only be more sustainable, but it’s cheaper, too.
- Examine every bit of garbage and waste that your operation produces and ask “What else can I do with this?”
- If you can’t do anything to do with it, try to think of ways someone else in the community can use it. Be creative.
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Current Structural Chain in Agriculture
5. Encourage diversity within the farm.
Choosing “poly culture” over “monoculture” results in less waste and often, reduced fossil fuel consumption.
- Use varieties and breeds that are well-adapted to the conditions in your locale.
- Rather than bred for maximum productivity and storage (with a sacrifice in hardiness and flavor).
6. Rotate crops and pasture.
Use companion planting and green manures to keep the land perpetually fertile.
And to prevent topsoil loss. Don’t let any one piece of land lose an irreplaceable amount of nutrients.
Current Structural Chain in Agriculture
7. Keep plants and animals around
Keeping plants and animals around that indirectly benefit the farm’s stability and productivity.
For example, yarrow and nettles add to the nutritional value of plants grown near them.
As well as increase the volatile oil content of plants grown for oils.
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8. Plant extra basil to serve as an insecticide
Plant extra basil to serve as an insecticide, and keep guinea fowl around to keep ticks at bay.
As they roam your farm (and the surrounding countryside).
Guineas eat the ticks left by browsing deer off tall grasses
9. Current Structural Chain in Agriculture
They are traditionally reputed to kill or keep rattlesnakes away as well.
- If guinea fowls are not common to your area.
- Try growing ducks (if you have a fish pond) and/or chickens.
- Chickens can eat crop trimmings and vegetable waste.
- If they can’t eat them all, they claw and step on it.
- Enough to make it into organic fertilizers rich in nitrogen (especially when added to their poop).
- Raise both livestock and crops, and set up a mutually beneficial relationship between them.
- The simplest way to do this is to use manure from your livestock to fertilize crops.
- And use some of your crops to feed the livestock.
- If you are unable to raise both, find a neighbor who’s specializing in the opposite and set up an exchange.
Current Structural Chain in Agriculture
10. Encourage the diversity surrounding the farm.
The ecology of your farm does not end at the property lines.
- Plant trees around the farm that act as windbreaks.
- And also provide habitat for local birds (which can prey on insects that prey on crops).
- Tolerate natural predators that keep pests at bay (for example, snakes that feed on gophers, ladybugs that feed on aphids, spiders that feed on insects which spread diseases to crops).
Current Structural Chain in Agriculture
11. Diversify financially.
An ecologically sustainable farming operation won’t do anybody much good.
If it can’t generate a profit and keep itself running.
Unless you or someone else is willing and able to sponsor the farm with an off-farm day job.
Or another external source of income.
You’re going to have to crunch the numbers until you’re in the black.
- Take advantage of the options available to you as far as direct marketing is concerned.
- That includes: CSA/subscriptions, farmers markets, roadside stands, and even the Internet.
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12. Current Structural Chain in Agriculture
Adding value to products is a smart way to differentiate this farm’s lettuce from that farm’s lettuce.
When you take your lettuce and make it part of delicious burger.
Made from healthy meat that was pasture-raised in your own fields.
And top it with a slice of tasty, red tomato that grew in your own soil.
You stand to appeal to a wider audience and rake in more profits.
In other words, don’t just grow a wider variety of stuff.
Do a wider variety of things with the stuff you grow.
And consider selling it from an on-farm store or restaurant (as well as on the Internet).
Current Structural Chain in Agriculture
13. Cater to every economic level and ethnic group in the community.
People of varying wealth seek different things from a farm.
Certain ethnic groups value farm products that the mainstream community has no interest in.
For example, many Caribbean immigrants seek male, uncastrated goats for meat as well as amaranth.
A widespread weed, which they use to make a dish called Callaloo).
Current Structural Chain in Agriculture
14. Publicize.
Talk to everyone about what you’re doing at the farm.
Provide educational tours and workshops.
Keep your farm looking nice, because if it ever comes down to it.
The local community may fight development proposals.
Because they perceive your farm to be a haven of agricultural heritage.
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Current Structural Chain in Agriculture
15. Find good, reliable labour.
Find people who are committed to sustainable agriculture (not just dabbling in it) and who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty as they apply their minds.
- A reduced dependence on fossil fuels means an increased dependence on human labour.
- And not just physical, manual labour.
- You’re going to need knowledgeable workers.
- Who understand the complexity of the system you’re running.
- And can enhance it with every decision they make.
16. Enjoy your life.
Farming is hard work, but the most successful farmers know when to call it a day and circumvent burnout. Remember why you’re farming and why, in particular, you’re aiming for a sustainable operation.
For most people, it’s because they like knowing they’re leaving land in better shape than they found it.
17. What is the relationship between global warming, soil erosion and desertification?
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18. More tips
- The farmers who are most successful at applying the ideas discussed.
- Are those who can incrementally observe, experiment, observe, adapt, and repeat.
- In addition to this, keep detailed notes about what works best where, temperatures, rainfall and supplemental water used.
- And any other notes which may help you in future years.
- It’s these farms which overcome various challenges.
- And, slowly but steadily, continue to grow in both complexity and stability.
Current Structural Chain in Agricultur
- Practicing sustainable agriculture on a large scale calls for a very different approach than on a smaller scale. Tailor your sustainability practices accordingly.
- Don’t try to produce 20 kinds of vegetables and raise seven kinds of livestock over a plot of 30 acres unless you have the labor, knowledge and experience to manage it sustainably.
- Many farmers and ranchers who operate more than 50 acres mimic natural grazing systems that build soil and animal health through carefully thought-out rotational systems.
- If you’ve found a great worker but you can’t afford to pay them enough for them to make a living.
- Be flexible and creative. Consider profit-sharing and/or equity building.