7 Interesting Agric Jobs Beyond Farming That Require No Agricultural Experience.
Say the word “agriculture” and a lot of people’s minds immediately go to one thing: farming. But actually, getting involved in agriculture does not have to mean becoming a farmer. In fact, farming barely scratches the surface where agricultural job options are concerned as there are hundreds of agriculture-related jobs that you can engage in whether or not you are from an agricultural background. Needless to say, there is a lot of money to be made from the sector and an abundance of entry opportunities because of a serious talent shortage in agribusiness.
So, whether you are a young person trying to figure out what to do, or a person with no agricultural background simply looking for a main or a side hustle in the industry, or whether you have some experience and are looking for other ways to practice your craft besides farming, we have gone to work to bring you a buffet of non-traditional options in the sector to choose from.
They include:
- Agricultural blogger:
If you wanted to look up information while reading this post or you had to do research for a project proposal, chances are google would be your go-to resource. In the same vein, anyone looking for information on any agriculture related topic would most likely turn to the internet for information and they often do.
The agricultural industry is a vast one which spans across various sectors so there is always the need to put out more information as well as update existing ones. As information is constantly being sought after, you can take advantage by creating and putting out relevant content to meet the demand. With time, you’ll be able to monetize your blog through affiliate marketing or selling digital products.
You also do not need to be an expert on the subject to create content around agriculture. Simply expressing your personal opinion on agriculture-related topics and how the events in the industry affects you as a consumer could make for great content. The possibilities are endless!
Lastly, this option works perfectly as a side hustle too so you can make some extra income creating content for companies or for your personal blog without having to quit your day job.
2. Agricultural accountant:
If you have an accounting or financial background, this one right here is right up your alley.
Just like every other industry, the agriculture industry needs the numbers people to count the money and keep track of expenses. This position includes working as a loan officer for farm lending institutions or providing accounting services such as setting budgets, bank statement processing, payroll organizing, balance sheet reconciliation and managing farmer loan repayments. There are certain accounting principles that are unique to agriculture and require a level of expertise though, but there is plenty of room to learn and improve when you get your foot in the door. Working as a CFO for an agribusiness is also a great option if you are looking to go into this full-time.
3. Ag social media:
We live in a digital age, so any good job that can be done from the comfort of a phone is always a plus and this is a prime example of that. Want to work from your phone? Borrow a leaf from thriving agricultural “fan” pages on social media and create a page dedicated to posting or reposting agricultural related content. You gradually build your own online community of agriculture enthusiasts by posting relevant, insightful and engaging content in any niche of your choice and start earning money by reviewing agricultural products, posting sponsored content and collaborations.
This social media page can also be leveraged for your future business(es). Suppose that you plan to start a related business a year or two down the line, by the time you are ready to launch, you’d have built a community of people with whom you already have a connection. Converting them to eager buyers becomes a lot easier for you.
If you do not want to take the fan page route, another way to put your social media savviness to good use is as an in-house or online social media strategist for agribusinesses.
4. Grant writing:
If you are great at persuasive writing and researching companies and initiatives is your idea of fun, a career in grant writing could be for you. A lot of agribusinesses and NGOs in Africa seek grants from government, corporations or NGOs to be able to expand their operations and grow. You can launch a side business as a freelance grant writer, working with such establishments to apply for grants and earn extra income without having to quit other work you love.
5. Agricultural sales/Dropshipping:
Selling products to farmers; farm machinery, fertilizer, feed, seed and other agricultural technologies is another agric career worth considering. And the best part is, it can be done either online or from a brick and mortar location. For a brick and mortar store, it is advisable to set up your farm shop in regions where farming is predominant for easy accessibility. Examples of such locations in Ghana would be Ashanti region, Eastern region, Brong Ahafo region and some parts of Greater Accra region.
The online alternative to this is dropshipping. In this case, you do not stock the goods yourself instead you transfer customers orders and shipment details to a third party who could be a manufacturer, supplier or another retailer. They in turn ship the goods directly to the customer while you earn a commission.
6. Agricultural consulting:
Do you consider yourself an expert at conducting research, analyzing and processing data, and do you have the ability to provide strategic advice on a wide variety of subjects? Then you’ll be able to fill this role seamlessly.
Agribusinesses are usually in search of consultants from diverse backgrounds including public policy, economics, international relations and many others. Here at Complete Farmer for example, asides from working with agricultural consultants, we work with consultants from other fields including tech, insurance and legal consultants. You can work in-house or as a freelancer consulting for agricultural establishments.
7. Crowdfarming:
Granted, farming is involved here but not in the traditional sense. At least not for you. Crowd farming is participating in growing food and enjoying the benefits of it (such as profits) from the comfort of your home. And this is what we help you do here at Complete Farmer. We build and manage the farms on your behalf and after harvest, sell the produce to global commodity buyers. After which you earn a percentage of the profit realized. So if you are looking to get involved in agriculture without having to commit to buying land or handling the day to day logistics, this is one option you should be paying attention to.
A lot of the jobs mentioned here work well as a side job as well as a full-time job. So choosing which route to take would come down to individual needs and preferences.
But whichever route you choose, a combination of smart work and the willingness to learn and grow would set you on the path to a very successful and financially rewarding career in any of these fields regardless of your level of experience in agriculture.
You can find out more about job opportunities available in the agricultural space by keeping an eye on job websites, social media or the agric media.
