Once again, we turn to the challenges facing farmers. We have already discussed:

1. How to increase yield per acre? 
2. How do I reduce waste and take quality to the next level?
3. What choices do we make in terms of mechanization?
4. How do I keep my costs as low as possible?
5. How do I cope with weather extremes? 

This is the last post in this series, and we will be discussing a challenge that depends on everything we have discussed in the previous 5 installments.  The last challenge Hope mentioned is; How do I stay flexible? 

This is a very important question, and one many ignore.  It is often assumed that if we have a plan and a strong will, we do not need to be flexible, because we will do what we want to do, what we set out to do.  This is unrealistic, as we discussed in posts on the other challenges.  There are so many things you do not have control over, no matter how good your plans are.  The weather takes a different turn, you may lose a key person from your team, a pest may show up and plague the area, etc., etc.

If we have written out goals and objectives, set a plan, created a budget, and written out an action plan, that is, done everything right, then why do we need to be flexible and change all this, incur additional expenses, and loss of time? 

Well, we do not control everything.  We do not control the weather, the economy, other people, or nature.  Therefore, we always run the risk of, no matter how well our plans are done, how carefully we have detailed our budgets and action plans, not being able to execute what we set out to do.  These situations call for FLEXIBILITY.  Almost all of us are flexible to an extent.  But most of the time we become flexible because we are forced to, that is we are reactive.

I’d divide FLEXIBILITY into two areas:

1. Mindset.   This is the attitude you have for your business.  If you want to increase your FLEXIBILITY, you want to be proactive instead of reactive, you want to make the decision, and plan for it but not to be forced into it.  There are a few areas to think about here.
   1. Do not take anything for granted.  Even if you have always done it in a certain way, try to think about how it could be done differently.  In this way, we can train ourselves to think creatively and constantly have plan B at the ready. 
   1. Willingness to let go.  When we see something is not right, we have put a lot of effort into a project, but we see it is not going the right way.  Then we must be willing to cut our losses and change plans.  Too many people will hold on to the last moment and lose much time and money in the process.
   1. Analytical:  The PDCA (Plan-DO-Check-Act) cycle we spoke about in Challenge #4, is a perfect tool to help us become more flexible.  By analyzing the progress and outcome of our projects, we can determine what we are doing well and where we need to improve.  Also, we can see, when comparing to past results, if the project is on track. 
2. Planning.  The second part of FLEXIBILITY is the planning.  Here I am not talking about planning the usual way, but how we plan our lives and the future.  There are at least three areas we should pay attention to in this case:
   1. Planning.  When we are looking at our farm (as we discussed in Challenge #1), we must minimize risk by diversification.  Selecting a range of crops that complement each other.  It also requires us to plan for rotation, intercropping, and other planting methods that will allow us to withstand the impact of adverse events.  This goes beyond planning a project but is a long-term vision for our farm.
   1. Education.  Education is often overlooked as something important in our daily activities.  We learn in school and from our parents, and that is supposed to last us our lifetime.  It’s not so, and we should make education part of our daily lives.  We should study every day.  Read about soil science, disease, and pest management, field maintenance, soil nutrients, and irrigation.  We should study our crops, their vulnerabilities, optimal conditions, etc.  And we should study management, accounting, marketing and sales.  Improving your farming skills will increase your flexibility.  Stay up to date with the industry by constantly studying and reading up on material related to your field If we make education part of our daily lives, we can be much better prepared for anything that comes our way.
   1. Networking.  “It takes a village…” is a popular saying, when something is complicated or needs cooperation.  Create your own village!  Modern technology allows us to connect with people all around the globe.  If you are the only one in your area cultivating, say, cucumbers, you do not have to be alone with your project.  There are thousands of people cultivating cucumbers in different countries under different circumstances.  Use the technology and connect with them.  Then support each other, learn and teach, exchange information, and talk about your projects.

Being FLEXIBLE in your farming operation is important.  You may expect the best, but you prepare for the worst.  Your flexibility as a farmer is like your planning, it is not a single task, it is a process woven into the fabric of your operation. 

It starts with your crop selection.  You must make sure you diversify your crops enough to reduce the risk of diseases and pests, as well as the risk from climate change and extreme weather events.  Your cultivation practices also play a part in your flexibility.  Using intercropping, rotation crops, and other methods, will result in healthier fields and more flexibility with less risk.  And like that, you can build flexibility into your operation.  And so it goes throughout everything you do until harvesting, storing, marketing, and sales have been done, and culminates in your plans for next season.  That is, it never ends.

Remember, you cannot control everything.  Control what you can, and plan for the things you cannot control.  What should I do if the rainy season is delayed for 3 weeks or a month?  How do I manage if my best worker leaves me tomorrow?  Having a plan B ready will save you time and money.

Forget your past expectations.  Answers like, “This is the way we have always done it”, or “Everyone does it this way”, are not universal answers, and you should let go of them.   It will increase your creativity and improve your problem-solving skills.

Creating a community of farmers with similar interests is also very useful.  Having a group like that is helpful to answer questions, and share ideas, and may function as a general information bank.

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