Gone are the days of farming for subsistence living as the cost of living nowadays has risen and everything costs money.
 
These are the words of Senior Agriculture Office in Macuata Kanito Matagasau as training for over 200 farmers in the Macuata Province continues to ensure that they carry out their farming activities as a business.

Matagasau said Macuata farmers have been working closely with the Department of Agriculture in learning the skills for developing their farming activities into a business venture.

He said they have conducted five trainings so far and the response was great as most farmers are now realising the value of farming for business as it is a great source of income and most of the farmers and their family members depend on proceeds from the farm.

Matagasau said farming also has the capacity to employ more than one family member and should be treated like any other business as there are profits to be made and costs incurred.

During the trainings, farmers were taught of time utilization as well as working smart and how to be innovative whether it is livestock or crops farming.

Matagasau said the farmers also learnt that they need to have the necessary tools and equipment as well as the need for planning, budgeting and marketing skills to be included in their whole farming as a business approach.