Own land? Try investment farming

Investing is the act of taking money and placing it into property, shares, ventures and financial schemes with the expectation of achieving a profit. Investment farming can be defined as an agricultural operation that is purchased and operated with the intent of making a profit.

Investment farming does not entail the investor’s living on the farm but to occasionally hire labour to tend to the farm. The aim of the farm is to produce cash crops that will have high value in the market both in the short and long term.

An agricultural investment is one that is low risk, has high long-term value and adds to diversification hence investment farming is a smart choice.

If you own land, whether you purchased it or it was passed on to you, now is the perfect time to initiate investment farming. Here is a list of some cash crops that you can grow in your farm:

Coconuts (Cocos nucifera) —Ten years ago, a fresh coconut cost no more than $4 and a dry nut $1. Today, a cold coconut around the Queen’s Park Savannah costs $10 and a dry nut in the market ranges from $4 to $6. From coconuts, beside the water, many value added products can be derived such as coconut oil, creams, lotions, soaps etc. making investing in this crop worthwhile. We have many different varieties to choose from, some producing more water than others. Coconut trees are low maintenance and reap high rewards.

Soursop (derived from the Annona muricata tree)—I’m sure that everyone can relate to seeing an overpriced soursop in your local grocery and recollecting the days when they were once given away freely by neighbours. The soursop fruit has definitely grown in significance due to its anti-inflammatory properties, respiratory disease control, insomnia aid, cancer prevention properties and value added products such as skin care lines. In addition, the use of the fruit in exotic cuisine has increased the value of the crop.

Teak (Tectona grandis) and Mahogany (genus Swietenia)—These are two long-term, high-reward cash crops. The bark of these two majestic trees may not benefit you financially, but your children and grandchildren will benefit substantially. Teak and mahogany wood is and will always be needed for furniture making which makes it an excellent crop to invest in.

Other crops include cocoa, coffee, sugar cane and cotton. These crops can even be exported which gives the opportunity to earn foreign exchange. With proper pest and disease management, cash crops are ideal investments. I hope this article has encouraged you to start investment farming as a step towards financial freedom.

Send questions to rayannaboodram@hotmail.com.