Lessons in management: Happy farmers lead to bigger yields
Tando Soomro's farm offers best farmer awards, bonuses and recognition
The banana crop grown at Asim Agricultural Farms use leaves with high quality Potash. PHOTOS: EXPRESS
TANDO SOOMRO:
There is a very simple reason why the farmers at Asim Agricultural Farms in Tando Soomro have huge grins on their faces as they work on the fields under the scorching sun: they are happy.
One of the farmers, who belongs to the Bheel community, said the farm management is generous towards its employees. “The appreciation we get from the landlord encourages us to work tirelessly for higher crop output,” said farmer Photo Mal.
Owner of Asim Agriculture Farms, Raees Imdad Ali Nizamani, shared his belief in ensuring a happy workforce. “People do not want to invest [in areas] where they are earning and avoid giving back to those who help them earn money,” he said. “We should invest in our employees and improve their working conditions, which is their right and a way towards success.”
Rewards system
The way that Asim farms are keeping these labourers happy is paying them competitive salaries. “The labour charges are really high in the area but Asim Agricultural Farms have set a benchmark,” explained Nizamani. “All the landlords in the area are bound to pay the same daily wages to their daily wagers.”
They also hold a gathering every year in April, after closing the yearly transactions, and appreciate their efforts. The farmer with the highest yield is titled ‘Man of the Year’ and given a cash prize of Rs25,000, along with a Boski turban. The runner-up gets a cash reward of Rs10,000 and a Sindhi cap, while the second runner-up gets Rs6,000 and an Ajrak.
According to Nizamani, this reward system has been in place for many years to develop positive competition among farmers. It is an attempt to admire their work and the traditional rewards make them hold their heads high, he explained.
All the farmers, gardeners and supervisors also get two bonuses - ranging between Rs15,000 to Rs50,000 - depending on the profits made on the 500 acres. The farm kitty also takes care of 50% of the medical expenses of the farmers.
The farmers have to wear uniforms at work. Nizamani reasoned that it affects them psychologically and has a positive impact on their attitude.
The farmers also enjoy recreational trips. Two years ago, 150 farmers went on a three-day field trip to Karachi and the management took care of the expenses, which came down to around Rs1 million, pointed out Mal. “We are currently planning a trip to Punjab with all the farmers,” he said.
Accommodation
The farmers also enjoy housing facilities at a separate labour colony built by Nizamani on his private land. A gated housing is spread over four phases, two of which are complete. Each 120-square-yard house has two rooms, a bathroom and a veranda, along with running water, electricity, natural gas and an internet connection. All the houses have wind catchers so they are airy in the summers.
The residents are not allowed to keep cattle inside the house as there is a dedicated area for the cattle in every phase. “Raees does not spare anyone caught stealing electricity,” said Khalid Nizamani, a small-scale landlord. “The punishment is no electric supply for six months and a penalty of Rs2,500 on the household.”
Mal said that Nizamani charges a monthly rent of Rs1,500 from each household so that the farmers take ownership and feel responsible for maintaining the house.
Modern farming techniques
All the data and monetary transactions on agricultural output and expenditure are managed through software in Sindhi language which is easy for the farmers to understand. “The checks and balance of every single penny invested on the farm is documented properly,” said Mal. All the official work is managed from a modern secretariat building inside the farm.
Even the fields are designed in a way to achieve maximum efficiency. The crops of bananas, mangoes and vegetables are distributed evenly with wide alleys in between. Mobile toilets are also present in the middle of the fields for the farmers.
The fields are watered with the help of 12-km-long water channels and five tube wells. Asim farms are also the first farm in Sindh to employ laser levelling machines. The synthetic fertilizers used in the fields are tested in the chemical labs and there is a preference for organic fertilizers. “We also utilise the banana leaves that carry a high level of Potash,” said Amolakh Malhi, incharge of banana crop.
To encourage research, the farms are open to researchers from abroad and Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, whose students often come for thesis work. Nizamani claimed he is proud to teach the young generation of farmers on management and improving agricultural practices.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 23rd, 2016.
There is a very simple reason why the farmers at Asim Agricultural Farms in Tando Soomro have huge grins on their faces as they work on the fields under the scorching sun: they are happy.
One of the farmers, who belongs to the Bheel community, said the farm management is generous towards its employees. “The appreciation we get from the landlord encourages us to work tirelessly for higher crop output,” said farmer Photo Mal.
Owner of Asim Agriculture Farms, Raees Imdad Ali Nizamani, shared his belief in ensuring a happy workforce. “People do not want to invest [in areas] where they are earning and avoid giving back to those who help them earn money,” he said. “We should invest in our employees and improve their working conditions, which is their right and a way towards success.”
Rewards system
The way that Asim farms are keeping these labourers happy is paying them competitive salaries. “The labour charges are really high in the area but Asim Agricultural Farms have set a benchmark,” explained Nizamani. “All the landlords in the area are bound to pay the same daily wages to their daily wagers.”
They also hold a gathering every year in April, after closing the yearly transactions, and appreciate their efforts. The farmer with the highest yield is titled ‘Man of the Year’ and given a cash prize of Rs25,000, along with a Boski turban. The runner-up gets a cash reward of Rs10,000 and a Sindhi cap, while the second runner-up gets Rs6,000 and an Ajrak.
A view of the crops grown at Asim Agriculture Farms in Tando Soomro village.
According to Nizamani, this reward system has been in place for many years to develop positive competition among farmers. It is an attempt to admire their work and the traditional rewards make them hold their heads high, he explained.
All the farmers, gardeners and supervisors also get two bonuses - ranging between Rs15,000 to Rs50,000 - depending on the profits made on the 500 acres. The farm kitty also takes care of 50% of the medical expenses of the farmers.
The farmers have to wear uniforms at work. Nizamani reasoned that it affects them psychologically and has a positive impact on their attitude.
The farmers also enjoy recreational trips. Two years ago, 150 farmers went on a three-day field trip to Karachi and the management took care of the expenses, which came down to around Rs1 million, pointed out Mal. “We are currently planning a trip to Punjab with all the farmers,” he said.
Accommodation
The farmers also enjoy housing facilities at a separate labour colony built by Nizamani on his private land. A gated housing is spread over four phases, two of which are complete. Each 120-square-yard house has two rooms, a bathroom and a veranda, along with running water, electricity, natural gas and an internet connection. All the houses have wind catchers so they are airy in the summers.
The residents are not allowed to keep cattle inside the house as there is a dedicated area for the cattle in every phase. “Raees does not spare anyone caught stealing electricity,” said Khalid Nizamani, a small-scale landlord. “The punishment is no electric supply for six months and a penalty of Rs2,500 on the household.”
Mal said that Nizamani charges a monthly rent of Rs1,500 from each household so that the farmers take ownership and feel responsible for maintaining the house.
Modern farming techniques
All the data and monetary transactions on agricultural output and expenditure are managed through software in Sindhi language which is easy for the farmers to understand. “The checks and balance of every single penny invested on the farm is documented properly,” said Mal. All the official work is managed from a modern secretariat building inside the farm.
Even the fields are designed in a way to achieve maximum efficiency. The crops of bananas, mangoes and vegetables are distributed evenly with wide alleys in between. Mobile toilets are also present in the middle of the fields for the farmers.
The fields are watered with the help of 12-km-long water channels and five tube wells. Asim farms are also the first farm in Sindh to employ laser levelling machines. The synthetic fertilizers used in the fields are tested in the chemical labs and there is a preference for organic fertilizers. “We also utilise the banana leaves that carry a high level of Potash,” said Amolakh Malhi, incharge of banana crop.
To encourage research, the farms are open to researchers from abroad and Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, whose students often come for thesis work. Nizamani claimed he is proud to teach the young generation of farmers on management and improving agricultural practices.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 23rd, 2016.