Managed farmlands are farms run by organizations in collaboration with people who aspire to own a farm, but are unable to for various reasons. This article talks about the benefits of such managed farmlands.
There is a farmer in all of us. From wanting to grow our own little veggies in the backyard to frequent farmhouse trips on the town’s outskirts, we have all wished to live the farm life and enjoy everything it has to offer. The wish of owning and living on a farm, however, comes at a price. Acquisition of farmland is tricky. You’ll need people to work on the farm full-time. You’ll need the right resources to run your farm. You’ll need to study what is right for your farmland and how to grow it. And the list goes on.
Here’s where the concept of managed farmlands fits in. Managed farmlands are farms run by organizations in collaboration with people who aspire to own a farm, but are unable to for various reasons. The focus of the organisation is to look after the production and operations at the farm on other’s people’s behalf. This way, urban farmers can reap the fruit of farm life without having to leave their full-time jobs. Below are the various benefits of investing in managed farmlands.
1. Letting experts take the lead
Most managed farmlands are designed and operated by experts. They study the land and determine what is right for it keeping in mind your aspirations for it too. They know what they’re getting into and allow you to feel secure with your investment.
2. Part-time effort, full-time benefit
Money is not the only thing you will be investing in your managed farmland. You’ll be spending some time participating in building the farmland and understanding its needs. The effort is however much less compared to a full-time farm job. The returns will be as much as what you would expect from any farm.
3. More yield with fewer resources
A major part of running managed farmlands is resource efficiency. Growing more from fewer resources can be done by careful planning and experimentation. Designing the farm from the preexisting knowledge and keeping room for playful experimentation gives more yield with fewer resources, as opposed to conventional farming that relies heavily on fertilizers and an excess of natural resources.
4. Becoming a part of a larger farming community
Collaborating with other organisations can open up a whole new network of like-minded individuals. Associating with them can make you feel like you’re a part of something bigger than yourself. A community can help you get inspired and keep your energy alive.
Urban farmers face several challenges when it comes to owning a farm. Managed farmlands are a boon to a shared farming experience, where farming experts, locals, and city-dwellers can create a place of self-fulfillment. And there are organisations which offer managed farmlands for sale. Larger farmlands are even more beneficial as they home a ton of valuable resources that can be shared by a group. Splitting costs and sharing the benefits is a great way to create a more sustaining managed farmland.
Suhail Bagdadi is the Marketing & Communications Head of Beforest Lifestyle Solutions, a company providing managed farmlands in India. He holds an Advanced Permaculture Design Certificate from Aranya Agricultural Alternatives and runs a 15-acre alphonso mango orchard along the Konkan coast, which he is converting into a food forest.