How can you increase crop yields while keeping costs low?

Healthy and better seeds is an important component of achieving enhanced crop yields. Seeds with agronomic traits like yield enhancement, disease and pest resistance, drought, heat and water stress tolerance, increased root growth, better photosynthetic rate, coated with biologicals can help achieve increased yields and food security.

-Optimize planting density to make the most of available space. -Use efficient irrigation practices to conserve water and reduce costs. -Implement crop rotation and soil health practices to enhance fertility without relying heavily on expensive fertilizers.

Selecting the appropriate location for production in Ghana is crucial. From experience, it has been observed that growing crops in mountainous regions yields better results compared to lowlands. Additionally, the rainy season proves to be more favorable for tomato cultivation, leading to higher yields compared to the dry season. Thus, strategically choosing the right location or season for cultivation can enhance yields and minimize costs effectively.

Reverse engineer. - Understand the agro-climatic zone and prevailing weather and climate conditions. - Look towards market and its demand - Establish market connects and sell where returns are high - Source optimum varieties working closely with KVKs and Agri Universities - Use IPM and INM for pest and nutrition management - Mechanise and use technology to your advantage. Upskill where needed - Reduce waste at every step - Learn to store and then sell at best pricing conditions.

Soil health is a key indicator for crop health & yields . Off late this aspect is neglected to a larger extent & it’s imperative that all stakeholders start working on this from a futuristic prospective . Key actionable can be balanced nutrition , higher nutrient efficiency , adding biologicals for nutrition requirements .

Decarbonised agriculture is crucial for future sustenance and inclusive development. The new inputs that we use in agriculture impart overall development without negatively impacting the soil ecosystem.

Melhorar a saúde do solo pode contribuir para o aumento da produtividade das culturas, melhoria da eficiência produtiva, redução de doenças, maior tolerância das plantas a estresses hídricos, aumento da tolerância das plantas às pragas, dentre outros. A melhoria da saúde do solo engloba diversos fatores, como o cuidado com a sua estrutura física, que pode ser obtido pela implementação de diferentes espécies vegetais, com sistemas radiculares distintos, com a rotação de culturas entre a soja e o milho e a aveia e a canola por exemplo. Outro ponto é a produção de palhada para a proteção do solo e o aumento do seu teor de matéria orgânica, que traz estabilidade aos agregados do solo e promove o seu desenvolvimento biológico.

One thing I have found overlooked is the use of the natural soil microbiome as a means to improve soil health not only for current use but for future generations.Research into PGPRs as well as understanding mechanisms of plant microbe interactions will go a long way to support this initiative. A model for where this has shown results is the extensive use of PGPRs in agriculture in Brazil

Soil test and tissue test so you know what nutrients to apply and what not to over apply. Over applying wastes money and can hurt yields.

Goal is not to make most yield but to maximize profit on every piece of land. Concept of a customized solution is not new in agriculture. It is being used for years, to optimize fertilization. But technology has made it much accurate and easier to implement for decisions related to crop, seed, fertilizer, herbicide, insecticide, irrigation and so on. Precision agriculture = know your assets (soil, weather, water) > customized inputs > maximize profits

Precision agriculture is a very good alternative due to its accuracy & precision. We need sincere efforts from Govt. & respective companies to promote the concept & create awareness. Cost is a limiting factors for small farmers so community based options can be explored with the help of KVKs at grassroot level. PPP options can be explored to cover larger areas

One major aspect of precision agriculture is to be precise in fertilizer use. You need to know when, how and how much fertilizer you need to add to your cultivation.

▪️ Utilizar Tecnologia para Monitoramento e Manejo Eficiente das Lavouras ▪️ Reduzir Custos de Mão de Obra, Combustível e Produtos Químicos ▪️ Aumentar Rendimento e Qualidade das Culturas ▪️ Empregar Ferramentas como Sensores, Drones, GPS e Análise de Dados ▪️ Coletar e Analisar Informações sobre Solo, Culturas e Clima ▪️ Tomar Decisões Informadas em Irrigação, Fertilização, Controle de Pragas e Colheita

Precision Ag is a data driven strategy to optimise farming practices, by enhancing efficiency and reducing waste and production costs and promoting environmental sustainability. Real time data from sensors give growers vital information to make informed decisions on all facets of agriculture. Ultimately, it plays a crucial role in ensuring global food security by maximising agricultural productivity while minimising environmental impact and resource consumption.

Good levels of calcium and silicon in plant tissue can make plants less susceptible to many pests and diseases. Indiscriminate use of calcium and silicon inputs, or upping soil levels has limited impact on some parts of plants due to unequal distribution of those two elements (they are less mobile than other nutrients and move with water up and through the crop from the soil). Well-timed and placed foliar silicon and calcium inputs, using good quality products can reduce the need for expensive agrochemicals. The key is ensure they hit the right place in the plant to be effective.

IPM is the cornerstone of any farming business! Combining monitoring of pests and beneficials, setting thresholds for intervention and managing a controlled response. Timing interventions and regular monitoring optimises effectiveness. Record keeping and community collaboration and adaptability enhance IPM!

Em relação ao MIP, ao fazer amostragens periódicas na lavoura, é possível obter um panorama da dinâmica populacional das pragas ocorrentes na área e tomar decisões com base em dados, podendo muitas vezes optar pela não aplicação de algum produto químico, quando a população da praga está baixo do seu "nível de dano econômico". Junto a essa questão, o controle cultural se torna um grande aliado para reduzir os custos de produção, sendo que a implementação de uma cultura no inverno por exemplo, promove a cobertura do solo com palha, o que reduz a epidemia de doenças na cultura de verão, pela redução dos respingos de chuva com inóculo de fungos necrotróficos, o que gera redução de custos com fungicidas e aumento da produtividade.

This is the one option on this list that has little or no additional cost to the grower to implement, unlike most of the others listed. This would primarily be a knowledge/understanding increase alongside a time investment of proven scouting techniques. While some aspects can increase costs, such as preventative beneficial releases, managing of native beneficial populations and monitoring pest populations and understanding relationships can cut chemical costs while other simple cultural modifications and crop rotations can reduce pest pressure alone.

▪️ Combinar Métodos Biológicos, Culturais, Mecânicos e Químicos para Controle de Pragas ▪️ Reduzir Dependência de Pesticidas Convencionais ▪️ Implementar Técnicas como Rotação de Culturas e Consórcio ▪️ Utilizar Cultivos de Armadilhas e Insetos Benéficos ▪️ Aplicar Biopesticidas para Prevenção e Gerenciamento de Surto de Pragas

En el negocio de fruta fresca es común alcanzar cierto nivel de aprovechamiento, quedando subproductos y mermas en el camino. Es muy importante abordar negocios industriales basados en el congelamiento y deshidratación de pulpas, así como la generación de modelos de negocio complementarios de economía circular, buscando generar valor con las mermas en toda la cadena.

"Não coloque os ovos na mesma cesta!". Diversificar é fundamental principalmente para que o agricultor possa se proteger em caso de adversidades climáticas e/ou comerciais. Contudo, por vezes, é aplicado o mesmo sistema de produção ao longo dos anos. Essa prática pode ocorrer devido à experiência adquirida com os negócios que são realizados há vários anos, pela facilidade de comercialização dos produtos ou pela segurança oferecida. Todavia, creio que agregar valor aos produtos produzidos seja a maior oportunidade do agronegócio. Com isso podemos elevar a estabilidade comercial dos produtos e aumentar a rentabilidade, visto que boa parte dos produtos exportados são importados beneficiados e com valor agregado muito maior.

I strongly recommend this approach, it's a great strategy and it has worked for us and still keeping us relevant in the agribusiness industry. When you have multiple sources of income, there's that ease of balancing productivity with respect to resources so as to get enormous results. This is simple to do for every young agribusiness professional, you can make this happen by focusing on some crops which demands less inputs and gives regular cash, and also get to do short terms so they can always assist in managing the long term project hence, reducing cost of inputs on your production.

In modern agribusiness, If you keep relying on Crops as a major source of your income you need to think twice as tall my friend. You can try this instead, Agri-tainment ( Agriculture + entertainment ) - Integrate the element of entertainment in your farm as a new source of income. eg, kids play, video shooting, content creation, and many more Agri-tourism ( host people on your farm to learn and also you can sell something to earn ). -eg Farm to table, Online Consultation and courses eg, E-books, Courses. Agribusiness is a game of risk, being flexible and creative is a way to success

Es muy importante aplicar el dicho que dice, ¡No hay que poner todos los huevos en la misma canasta! El diversificar los ingresos nos permite tener una amplia de posibilidades de incrementar los ingresos, podemos diversificar en ña cadena de valor que estamos trabajando, esta puede ser para adelante o hacia atrás, evaluar en qué eslabón de la cadena podemos invertir, o bien con otro negocio que no esté dentro de la cadena de valor que estemos trabajando, pero que podemos aprovechar las infraestructura u otros recursos que ya tengamos.

It's ok, but don't forget or unseen precision leveling of agriculture fields, because Precision land leveling can save/ reduce time of irrigation, water saving, weeds control, crop management, and more benifits.

▪️ Focar nos Conhecimentos, Habilidades e Competências dos Colaboradores ▪️ Reconhecer a Importância do Capital Humano para Inovação, Produtividade e Competitividade ▪️ Proporcionar Treinamento, Educação e Mentoria ▪️ Oferecer Incentivos para Desenvolvimento Profissional ▪️ Interagir com Outros Profissionais do Agronegócio para Troca de Experiências e Aprendizado

Participating in agricultural field days, agribusiness expos, seminars and workshops to boost your knowledge. Important to ensure that not only the owner but also the key farm workers attend and get the knowledge.

Pienso que de la mano va todo, invertir, capacitar el capital humano aquellos trabajadores que sean excepcionales, con habilidades y destrezas que se requieran para la empresa. También obtener, escuchar las sugerencias, ideas de los empleados.

La organización opera y vive a través de su gente y es elemental seleccionar e involucrar a personas comprometidas con el negocio, dónde se persiga la mejora continua y la búsqueda de la optimización. Es importante también contar con equipos de avanzada que estén involucrados con la investigación, desarrollo e innovación. En ambos frentes la raíz de la buena ejecución del equipo está en encontrar las iniciativas destinadas a despertar la motivación intrínseca de cada miembro.

The question has two components 1) Increase yields 2) Keep costs low There's conflict in the question and it's answer, because increased yield requires cost. Moreover, the yield alone is not the only aspect that generates income. Quality of yield is a stronger driver of profit. Ask the right questions first, then integrate answers the specific context of the crop production unit. Example Mandarin farming for the export market Requirements: Unblemished rinds Good colour Specific brix/acid ratio Within required weight/size class If trees are pushed for yield only they will give massive yields (90+tons/ha) of unmarkatable small fruit. Some fruit even not suited to local market, leading to loss for the farmer.

Extension officers, need to be educated on cost benefit analysis and this knowledge is passed on to farmers, especially last-mile farmers. Productivity has to be commensurate with the right market prices, if not, farmers will not be able to sustain their livelihoods or reinvest in farming.

The biggest factor that contributes to improved yield is soil health. Over the years nutrient response ratio has decreased drastically. The foremost action required is to evaluate the soil health and take corrective actions. Some actions will help in immediate crop and some will show incremental gains over a period 3-4 crop cycles. Focus on the proportion of inputs required for the specific crop. Choose inputs that the soil lacks and crop needs. Do not use fertilisers just because those are being used over years. Balanced nutrition basis soil health evaluation is the first step towards the journey of improving crop yields.

Understanding what parameters help hit a higher market value can make a big difference. Upping the fraction of the yield that fetches the best market price can be more lucrative than simply pushing headline yields. This is particularly true for fruit and vegetable crops. Size, color, and flavor parameters can all add to profitability more than additional headline yield numbers. Focussing on agronomic practice and inputs that favor the best marketable yield fraction can improve returns. Knowledge is king here. Understand the crop; learn what the best farmers are doing; adapt and implement.

Chose only the best varieties and the best quality seed for sowing. They are often the same or similar price like other available seed at the market.