Publication: Tayo Solagbade’s Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Page (PSIP) Newsletter

Date: Monday 14th October 2013

No:111

Title: Farm Business Owners Can Speak to Influence Research

Author & Publisher: Tayo K. Solagbade [Tel: +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria) or +229-66-122-136 (in Benin Republic) ]

Blog URL: http://www.tayosolagbade.com/blog

Archive (For E-mail only version started 14th May 2012): Click here to view

Archive (For Blog version started 24th September 2011): Click here

Hi,

Please find below the latest issue of my Speaking IDEAS newsletter.

No. 111: Farm Business Owners Can Speak to Influence Research

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NB: If you ever find yourself wondering what else I’ve written, some days after you’ve read THIS Speaking Ideas newsletter I send out on a Monday, here’s what you can do to find out: Point your browser to www.tayosolagbade.com/sdnuggets to read at least ONE new post added to my SD Nuggets blog on a different category from Tuesday till Saturday (sometimes even Sundays) in line with this publishing schedule

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I recently got another email from my “Professor of Agriculture” friend.

This one contained details of a “Call for submission of brief papers, case studies and synthesis papers”. A quick online search led me to the website where the call originated. It was made by an organisation covering “smallholder agriculture” across Africa, Carribean, and Pacific regions of the world.

In the email, my friend proposed that we jointly submit a proposal (as co-authors) for a research paper on “Feed Formulation”, in response to the call.

The organisers aim to publish documented experiences and success stories, to encourage “rejuvenation of smallholder agriculture”.

They called for papers in either English or French, on 3 broad categories of issues.

One of the issues (which I chose) was “Extent of ICT adoption by farmers”.

This had to do with analyzing the rate and extent of adoption of PC based (not mobile phones) software applications, for specific agriculture-related purposes.

You May Wonder Why My Friend Chose “Feed Formulation”…and Why He Proposed Co-Authoring With Me (?)

After all, I’m not an academic. Compared to him, all I have is a B.Sc degree in Agricultural Extension Services.

He, on the other hand, is a Professor of Agricultural Extension – and Director of his university’s school of Agricultural Sciences in South Africa!

So, why did he choose that topic…and why did he choose me?

NB: I sent him a draft proposal, which – post updates – he submitted to the organisers.  He’s since forwarded their acknowledgement of receipt, to me. If all goes well, and they accept the proposal, we’ll do the field work, and send the final paper in.

And the PAY Is Not Bad

Research write-ups on agriculture, as I’ve said in past articles, can attract pretty remuneration. Below is a screenshot of fees authors of accepted papers will be paid:

What follows below is based on excerpts from a section of the proposal I wrote.

Authors were required to explain “why they were the right persons to write the proposed paper“.

The details below are some of those I gave. And I believe they are what made my friend choose me.

Since 2003, I Have Maintained a Growing Library of Cost-Saving Farm Business Ideas articles – and Information Products.

Many visitors to my website, discover it (i.e. the website) via my articles, which turn up on their search engine results pages.

My popular Feed Formulation Handbook is promoted via such articles (and videos), on the website and via other online channels.

All of the above brings me in frequent contact with farm business owners, feed manufacturers, policy makers and farm support experts, in and out of Africa.

Today, some are past buyers of my farm support products/services. A growing number are subscribers to my weekly newsletter and blog – while some follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Following requests by an increasing number of my handbook’ buyers, I used my Excel-Visual Basic programming skills to develop a Ration Formulator software.

It enables persons who understand the principles and practice of feed formulation, to quickly formulate balanced rations for livestock, automatically – using the PC.

I also offer a service to help farmers establish best practice systems, to make their farms run more predictably, and profitably.

It’s called development of a Best Operating Process Management System(BOPMS)™.

A key component of a BOPMS™, is the use of customisable software, for tracking, and analysis of Farm Operations’ Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) e.g. Hen Day Production percentages.

During the last 30 days, I developed a Poultry Layer Farm Management software for a client’s farm – in South West Nigeria – and trained his two farm managers to use it.

My Professor friend is familiar with aspects of my above mentioned work. And I believe that’s what convinced him I could author this paper.

That…AND the fact that he knows I have formal training, as an Extension Services professional.

You see, we both graduated from the SAME Agricultural Extension Services department, of the SAME university, in the SAME year (1992). I emerged top of the class, and he was second best graduating student.

[NB: Don’t ask me why I didn’t stay in formal academic circles like he did. That’s a story for another article ]

My Experiences Tell Me Farm Business Owners, Need to Do Public Speaking to Influence Farm-Related Research!

In the process of working with farmers (as a mulitpreneurial Farm Research & Extension Advisory Services provider with a bias for Best Practice Solutions Development), I’ve gained deep insights into their unique needs and challenges.

That’s why I believe they need to educate those who “serve them”, about the unique experiences they have, and challenges they encounter.

We outsiders are unlikely to see as much as the farmers see, on THEIR farms – in their day to day operations.

Our short visits to interview them for research, and other purposes, are unlikely to reveal enough insights, to develop the best possible solutions – for their real world!

It if for this reason, that I propose farm business owners be formally invited to present, brief experience-sharing papers, at agricultural development fora – and related events.

Specifically, Farm Business Owners Should be Encouraged (Even Challenged):

1. To learn to compile data and information on their farm based experiences, and deliver lectures on lessons learned to the academia, policy makers etc.

NB: Farmers who use Excel-based recording of farm operations data, including chart based trending of KPIs will have no problems collating such data, for discussion in their talks.

2. To learn to THINK up, and SPEAK on, specific areas they want research done, to help them – more frequently.

The above will create opportunities for collaboration, between policy makers, the academia, farm support experts, and farm business practitioners.

This is likely to result in more useful research publications/solutions, that farm business owners can put to immediate, practical, and profitable use, with minimal help!

Are You a Farm Business Owner Interested In Learning How to Author & Give Talks/Lectures Based On Your Experiences?

If yes, click here to read more about Burt Dubin’s range of speaker mentoring products you can purchase. Burt works with experts who want to be speakers, and with speakers who want to be masters.

If you need more specific details of how to make use of the ideas I’ve shared in this newsletter,send me a message using this request form – with “Re: No. 111: Farm Business Owners Can Speak to Influence Research” in the subject line.

Have a lovely week!

Tayo K. Solagbade*

Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist

*Sole Agent For Burt Dubin’s Speaker Mentoring Service In Africa

Mobile: +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria) or +229-66-122-136 (in Benin Republic)

http://www.tayosolagbade.com

Self-Development/Performance Enhancement Specialist – Tayo Solagbade – works as a multipreneurial freelance writer providing  zero risk article and report writing support for website owners, while travelling slowly across West Africa as a Location Independent Entrepreneur.

He’s presently based in Benin Republic, where he’s preparing an English-French Language Guide, City Travel Guides, and a Commercial Rabbit Farming Guide.

In a previous life, before leaving to become self-employed, Tayo served for seven years as a high performing manager in Guinness Nigeria. He rose from Shift Brewer, to Training & Technical Development Manager, then later acted in senior management roles as Production Manager and Technical Manager.

When he’s not amazing clients with his superhuman skills (wink), Tayo works as the creative force behind his Self-Development Nuggets™ blog, and Public Speaking IDEAS newsletter (which he publishes to promote Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring service to experts working across the African continent).

For a limited time, Tayo is available to speak to your group or organization for a moderate fee. Send e-mail to tayo at tksola dot com. You can also visit www.tksola.com to learn more.

Connect with him on Twitter @tksola.com and Facebook.

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Have you been undecided about whether or not to become a paid speaker? Or have you been trying to get your speaking career off the ground with little success?

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Comments?

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