Ten Strategies for Farmers to Locate Farm Produce Markets

 The market for farm products is rapidly expanding, which is beneficial for farmers. However, it can be overwhelming for a farmer looking to market their crop. This is because there are so many variables to consider when attempting to promote your farm products. Some are logistical, such as the sort of packaging used, the appropriate box size, how the products are displayed in the store, and even how you approach the media element. Others are more marketing-oriented, such as determining who your target audience is and what they want.


Finding markets for your farm products is a critical step in developing a successful farming business. While there are various ways to sell your agricultural products, Here are some tips from successful farmers: 

1. Close the void in the industry:

A new market niche might be developed in one of two ways. The first is to close the gap in the current market. Developing a new market is the alternative.


Both strategies offer benefits and drawbacks, so if you want to succeed, you must select one over the other.

Filling the void in the current market: This strategy entails offering a product that either enhances or substitutes an existing product to give consumers more options and greater value for their money. As an illustration, some farmers sell their own milk, while others sell milk from other farms or use their own cow's milk to produce cheese.


Developing a new market: This strategy entails producing a product that is currently unavailable for purchase by anybody else. It could be as easy as keeping chickens that lay eggs with dark yolks (which are more expensive than white ones) or cultivating a specific type of vegetable.

2. Provide Rebates:

Farmers' goods require a speedy market, particularly perishable produce. Farmers are really not all that different from the rest of us. They simply don't have the time to sort it out, so they're not always sure what they should be doing.

A discount is the fastest and most effective strategy to increase sales.

Now let's examine the maths:

Let's say you are a product seller and you anticipate selling 100 units. Your profit margin is that.


By decreasing the price of those goods, you can boost sales. Accordingly, if your profit margin was $3, the following would occur if you dropped the price:
You make an extra 10% of the unit price ($2.55), which is a decrease from $3. However, it also reduces your profit margin from $3 to $2.50 (less than your initial figure), meaning that instead of making $3 for each item sold, your net profit is now only $2.50.

Discounts are popular with customers, and as a new farmer, this is a fantastic way to get started in the market.

3. Giving Presents to Women's Organisations in the Area:

By delivering gift baskets to nearby women's organizations, farmers can locate marketplaces. Giving consumers gift packages is a wonderful method to introduce them to farmers' products. Farmers can interact with consumers through gift packages, which also improves their chances of selling fruit.

You can use a variety of items to create gift packages, including your own food like veggies, tomatoes, and onions. To encourage them to visit your farm and purchase your produce personally, you can affix a card.

The primary goal of this is to raise public knowledge of the advantages that farmers' products offer to the general public. In this approach, consumers will be incentivized to purchase these things directly from the farmers as opposed to other vendors like supermarkets or stores that sell foreign goods.   

4. Farmers' Market:

The hub of agricultural communities is the farm market. They allow farmers the chance to meet other nearby farmers who might be interested in selling their goods, give them the chance to sell directly to consumers, and generate demand for their products in the communities where they live.


When you lack the funds to open a store, these places are an excellent method to locate consumers for your farm products. Because they provide inexpensive rates and allow you to observe what others desire, these markets are great places to sell your fruit and other things. Seeing what others do might also teach you how to market your products more effectively. 

5. Fairs and Agricultural Exhibitions:

Farmers attend agricultural trade exhibits in large numbers because it's a fantastic method for them to meet new customers and display their products. The Nairobi Agricultural Show took place in Jamhuri Park not too long ago. This made it easier for a great deal of farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs to communicate with their clients and make sales to those who were delighted with their goods. As a brand for agrotechnology, Synnefa also highlighted the agritech solutions we provide to farmers, like.


Farmshield Smart Greenhouse Drip 
Irrigation Kits with AI Power
Our agricultural management tool, 
agricultural Cloud
Services for Agronomy

Think about participating in agricultural fairs or displays that highlight regional or seasonal goods. These gatherings give you the chance to network with prospective clients and highlight your product lines at a time when demand is high.

6. Establish Connections with Distributors and Fellow Farmers:

Develop connections with other local farmers who raise livestock or comparable crops so that you can cooperate on joint advertising campaigns to support each other's brands and goods. Farmers who are already in the business can also help them find a market for their goods. You must first establish trusting bonds with distributors and clients to facilitate the direct sale of your farm's goods.

The majority of regional distributors and retailers assist farmers in locating a willing buyer for their goods. The majority of local farmers market their goods in this way. For instance, there are farmers in our isolated regions who concentrate on producing food that is subsequently sold to brokers or wholesalers who purchase products straight from the farm and deliver them to cities.

 7. Direct Promotion:

Reaching out to potential clients through direct marketing is a terrific strategy for farmers. Among these techniques are the distribution of newsletters, postcards, and fliers. Farmers can also erect booths during gatherings like fairs and festivals, where attendees may be interested in buying their goods.


Additionally, you can learn what your neighborhood farmers' market needs. Since you can speak with clients face-to-face and learn about their needs and desires, this is the most straightforward approach to get started. Speaking with them about it will also teach you about their production techniques, tastes, and preferences.

8. Social Media:

It's hard to imagine life without social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube as a regular part of your schedule because social media has taken over our daily lives. These websites provide farmers with a simple means of interacting with the public and providing them with information about their farms and goods.



By sharing details about their products and locations for sale, farmers and other agriculture enthusiasts can use social media platforms to locate the markets they need. Posts on these platforms can be of many different kinds, such as pictures of plants, animals, or farm products; videos that describe the raising or harvesting of specific plants or animals; or connections to websites that provide more details about specific plant species.

9. Online stores:

In Kenya, mobile phones have emerged as the essential device. They are being used by a lot of farmers to connect with markets, consumers, and investors. Based on the most recent data from the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK), Kenya has one of the highest rates of mobile phone penetration in Africa—95%.

Many Kenyans use their smartphones to get groceries and other necessary goods, as well as to access information from digital spaces. Products and services pertaining to food and agriculture are also making their way onto e-commerce platforms.  

Make a website containing images of your farm, details on how it was farmed or manufactured, costs, and delivery options (such as pick-up or delivery). For example, we have e-commerce sites like Twiga Foods that are exclusively for farmers. Similar to our Syneffa offering, agricultural businesses are also setting up their own e-commerce sites on their websites.

10. Billboard, radio, and television advertising:

Promotional materials still have a significant impact on product sales. Many audiences still get their content via billboards, local radio stations, and television. Since some farmers produce a lot, it is necessary to reach out to new clients and ensure that they are receiving the greatest benefit from their crops. To reach your target customer, these advertising formats are most effective. 


In summary
 
Farmers can discover markets for their products in a variety of methods, but the most crucial thing is to determine which ones would work best for your farm. Certain produce varieties may not appeal to some people since they don't think they taste or look attractive. It's possible that some people dislike the way they appear or smell, therefore they might not want them. Finding a good market for your items will be easier if you have a better understanding of what consumers desire.









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