Thank you so much for your weekly column that educates us on matters of animal husbandry. I am about to retire as a primary school teacher, and I have already made up my mind to go into dairy farming, though not on a large scale.
I am considering hiring a farmhand to help with some of the work. I am not kin on getting a relative since I understand this is like any other business, and I want to give it the seriousness it deserves. Because I have a lot of time on my hands, I plan to be more of a farm manager, while the farmhand does most of the menial work. What should I look out for in choosing one? (Calistus Nyamori. Kisii, County)
Dear Calistus, it is great hearing from you and thank you for the compliment. It is such feedback that keeps us going.
Your question is quite unique. Hiring a suitable farmhand is an area which most “new” farmers fail to get right, bringing down their farming venture even before it takes off.
But before I go into addressing the factors to consider when selecting a farmhand, let me start by pointing out a good point you have highlighted in appointing yourself a farm manager. It is also impressive that you plan on treating this as a business.
You want it to be profitable, which requires you to put in the work.
I would have loved to know other details like how many animals you intend to keep, which rearing system you will use and how much land do you have.
However, I can still you give a general guide in choosing a suitable farmhand.
You are going to produce milk that will be bought at the farmgate or sold to a cooperative society. Clean milk production starts with a healthy milkman, in this case, your farmhand.
You must select a farmhand who is healthy. Depending on the farming system, dairy farming is generally a labour-intensive activity.
It involves a lot of work in feeding, milking and cleaning the cowshed, which can be time-consuming. If these activities are not carried out at all or are not done to the required standards, the result is poor animal husbandry, which is a major contributor to poor milk production.
Those who have been “telephone farmers” have a lot of examples of how employing a lazy farmhand brought their business to the knees.
A little training would help. Farming is both a science and a business; it is advisable to sensitise the farmhand on the basics of animal husbandry.
In their daily routines, farmhands need to carry out disease surveillance while ensuring animal welfare.
They feed the animals and will know if any of them are sick from their feeding habits.
They milk the animals and can point out cases of mastitis.
They are the custodians of the farm, and a knowledge of biosecurity can help them better control people and animals getting onto the farms to prevent the spread of diseases.
Farmhands have a great input in emerging issues like antimicrobial resistance.
When all is said and done, it is good to develop a good working relationship with your farmhand, making them partners and not paid labourers. As you grow your farm, grow the farmhand too.
[Dr Othieno is a veterinary surgeon and currently the head of communications at the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Kenya. The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of FAO]