Topic outline

    • The course series "Hire Services as a Business Enterprise" aim to present the provision of farm mechanization services as a viable business opportunity, in an environmentally sensitive and responsible way.

      The series consists of the following six courses:

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      Small-scale agricultural mechanization hire services as a business enterprise

      This course aims to present the provision of farm mechanization services as a viable business opportunity, in an environmentally sensitive and responsible way. It introduces the benefits of mechanization for smallholder farmers, the role of hire services in farm mechanization and the characteristics of a hire service business, in the context of sustainable crop production and with a focus on Conservation Agriculture (CA).

      1 h

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      Local area and market assessment

      Managing or starting a hire service business requires a deep understanding of the local context in which owners/managers work or intend to work. This course defines practical steps for conducting a local area, support services, and financial assessment, providing examples of findings.

      20 m

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      Selection, assessment and purchase of power sources and implements

      As households that own equipment and draught animals are monetizing agricultural support services, a hire service business is increasingly being viewed as a viable career option for small-scale farmers and aspiring entrepreneurs. This course provides guidance on the technical aspects as well as the business acumen required to set up and run a successful hire service business.

      1 h 25 m

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      Operation and maintenance of agricultural equipment for hire service businesses

      This course aims to present the general aspects of operation and maintenance of the agricultural equipment used within a hire service business. It introduces the concepts of proper operation, maintenance and repair service provision of machineries, equipment and tools. It explains the main principles of use and maintenance/care of agricultural power sources (including draught animals), implements and machines most likely to be of interest to mechanization service providers for smallholder farmers.

      2 h

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      Managing a hire service as a business

      Mechanization hire service managers and machinery service providers need to know well the running of a hire service as a business, considering the essential concepts of organizational management. This course analyses the areas of diagnosis, planning, organization, leadership and control needed to manage a mechanization hire service business in an environmentally friendly way. The course covers the concepts of entrepreneurship and management, as well as organization, operations, and the correct financial management of the mechanization hire service business.

      1 h 15 m

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      Farm machinery and equipment for harvest, post-harvest and storage

      The course provides an overview of the harvesting and post-harvest handling machinery that can enable small- to medium-scale farmers to harvest and process their crops quickly, while significantly reducing drudgery – and more importantly, losses. Such machinery can also help farmers to store their harvested products to keep them safe, nutritious and optimal for sale and self-consumption.

      45 m

    • Depending on the interest of learners, the self-paced course series can be completed as a whole, or as individual courses, taken independently.

      Throughout the course series, references are made to specific courses or lessons where certain subjects are covered more extensively. Each course is complemented by exercises and links to additional material, instructive videos and websites for further reading.

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