There are two things a farmer needs to have for proper farm management, farm records and farm accounts, especially for commercial farmers. Keeping both farm records and farm accounts are vital if you are going to be successful in your farming business. In this post, we will be listing types of farm records and what each of them is used for.
What is a farm record?
A farm record is a document (in most cases a book) that is used to keep account of different activities, events, materials etc. regarding the farm operations. Farm records are different from farm accounts in the sense that farm accounts deal only with the financial aspects of all farm operations. Farm accounts deal majorly with the farm expenditures and income and help the farmer to calculate how his business is doing. Most Nigerian and African farmers don’t keep farm records and accounts, so they have poor farm management. Mainly it is influenced by the fact that most of the farmers in Nigeria are illiterates and can hardly read or write.
Why should a farmer keep farm records?
Before we start listing the types of farm records, let learn their importance;
1. Farm records help a farmer to keep stock and manage each aspect of the farm properly.
2. They are important for planning and budgeting. They provides a farmer with enough information needed for proper planning and budgeting at every point in time.
3. They help farmers know the progress and contributions of each aspect of the farm to its overall success.
4. They are important for proper farm management.
5. They can be very helpful when a farmer needs to access financial aids from banks or other financial institutions.
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Types of farm records and their uses
There are different types of farm records a farmer should keep to run a successful farm business. They include:
1. Daily farm records
These are the records of all important daily activities and events that happen on the farm. These records help the farmer keep track of past farming activities and plan for future activities.
2. Records of farm implements and equipment
This is used to keep an inventory of all the equipment on the farm and their quantity. It can also contain the date of purchase of the equipment and sometimes their description.
3. Record of agricultural inputs
This record is used to keep track of all agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, etc. The record often also contains the amount of that was bought, the amount that has been used, and what is left.
4. Records of livestock and livestock products
Farmers keep different records of livestock for each type of livestock on the farm. Also, for livestock that have products e.g. eggs from chickens, the farmer keeps a record that accounts for the number of eggs laid every day. If a farmer has cows for milk production, he keeps record of the amount of liters of milk produced per day.
5. Records of animal feeds
This record is used for keeping an inventory of the types of animal feed and the quantity purchased, used, and also quantity in stock on a daily basis.
6. Production records
Production records are used to document everything that is produced on the farm. These records are prepared every week. And then summed up at the end of the month and also at the end of the year. Thus, there is a weekly record, a monthly record, and an annual record of everything produced on the farm. They help the farmer to keep track of how well the farm is doing.
7. Records for farm use
Used for recording the date the land was prepared for farming, the number of plots or hectares used in planting, the plants planted on the farm and where they are planted.
8. Farm expenditure records
Farm expenditure records are used to keep a record of all expenditures.
9. Workers records
This type is used to keep the record of staffs, their salaries, and payment. It is also known as labour record.
10. Vehicle records
It is used to keep a record of all vehicles used on the farm, petrol and oil used, and also any repairs and servicing and the dates of the repair or servicing.
11. Sales record
Sale records are used to keep a record of all sales made from farm produce.
Since the importance of farm records in proper farm management have been highlighted here, farmers are encouraged to start keeping them at the beginning of every farming season or cycle. An organised farm recpord, good management and success go hand in hand.
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Source: Naij.com