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The first common trait of good managers is that they have a system to organize their work. Systems range from very informal, such as a note pad with “to do” lists, to complex computer programs synchronized to a smartphone. The important feature of any such system is that it gives the manager a way to store and retrieve information outside of their head. The best of these systems not only store information, but provide a mechanism for prioritization and a means of reminding the manager about important time-sensitive tasks.

The next common trait is the ability to communicate clearly to the team the what, how, when and why of the tasks needing to be done. The more complex and/or sophisticated the task, the more thorough the explanation should be, and the more need there will be for additional written procedures to ensure that those charged with completing the task can enjoy success. The “why” component of communication is very important, and often overlooked. When team members know why a task is being done, they have a sense of purpose that often inspires them to creatively explore better ways of accomplishing that goal.

--  Brad Ward,  EDN #120



  1. 20-07-2013 This article will share ideas of how to put your written farm plan to work. It will start with a brief outline of some basic project management principles. Next, it will cover a simple system used by the author to implement his farm plan. Finally, it will describe the process of ongoing planning...
  2. 20-01-2013 It has been said that a goal without a plan is just a wish. Studies have shown that individuals with clear, written goals are significantly more likely to succeed than those without clearly defined goals. For example, a study conducted by Gail Matthews, Ph.D., at the Dominican University, found...
  3. 20-01-2005 Plans should be drawn up before any effort is wasted. Think through your traffic routes and flow of materials. Integrate your resource recovery plan in this process. Set your goals and lay down the steps that you think are needed as you see it now. Write it down; it will be a flexible starting...
  4. Provided by Steve Hodges - African Agriculture Risk Management Services Within the internationally recognized field of agricultural risk assessment and management, risks can be evaluated according to three basic criteria : Impact: In other words, how severe will the risk event be if it actually...
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  6. Key Resource 10-06-2002 This book presents the findings and a comparative analysis of seven case studies that challenge current beliefs about good practice in the provision of business development services (BDS) to small and microenterprises. The book also highlights issues concerning the assessment of impact,...
  7. 01-01-2006 Known for its comprehensive coverage, Principles of Field Crop Production introduces students to over fifty species of crops and the most current principles and practices used in crop production today. Learn the botanical characteristics, economic importance, history and adaptation of various...
  8. Since 2000, CGAP's Microfinance Gateway has been a valuable resource for individuals and organizations working to advance financial inclusion for the world’s poor. The Gateway welcomes more than 1 million annual visitors from over 200 countries, who recognize the Gateway as the web's leading...
  9. This publication covers the proper operation and daily care of a tractor.
  10. 20-11-2004 An introduction to setting up and running a profitable nursery. Nursery Management second editionis an introduction to setting up and running profitable and efficient nursery businesses covering production, wholesale and retail nurseries at various scales of operation. The book discusses all the...
  11. Access Agriculture Training Video What steps can be taken to make sure that locally grown rice can compete against imports? Improving quality which can lead to increased profits for farmers. Available languages Ateso Bambara Bangla Bariba Burmese Chichewa / Nyanja English Fon French Kiswahili...
  12. Access Agriculture Training Video Managing coffee bushes well can make the difference between an average income and earning a good living. Stumping coffee bushes on a regular basis as part of your overall management plan, and pruning them each year, can help boost yields and income. Available...
  13. Access Agriculture Training Video Grasshoppers and snails can be a serious problem for any vegetable seedbed as they chew the tender stems of seedlings. Caterpillars can also cause damage, but more so on tomato and cabbage than on chilli.To protect their young crops many farmers use pesticides....
  14. Access Agriculture Training Video Row planting is very advantageous. When you sow sesame seeds in a row, you can thin the plants very well. When you thin the plants, the branches will multiply. You can count up to 20 pods on each branch, which is much more than broadcast sowing. When the plants...
  15. 20-01-2011 Dramatic changes are taking place in farming worldwide as a result of globalisation, liberalisation, and rapid urbanisation. Farmers are intensifying existing patterns of production and diversifying their farm enterprises in an attempt to improve their livelihoods. Technical know-how is not...
  16. 01-01-2010 Heritage farming bulds on the time-tried successes of the past to grow food that is good for you and good for the farmer. It is for people concerned about the taste of the food they eat, where that food comes from, and how we treat the land and waters we depend on to feed us. Heritage farming is...
  17. Access Agriculture Training Video A traditional Central American practice is to bend over the maize stalk to help dry the maize and to protect it from disease and pest damage. If you do this at just the right time, you will harvest more. Maize grains keep growing until a black spot appears at the...
  18. 20-05-2009 Gives smallholder dairy farmers the business management skills they will need to remain sustainable. Most countries in South-East Asia have established smallholder dairy farming industries through social welfare and rural development programs to provide a regular cash flow for poorly resourced...
  19. Access Agriculture Training Video The economic analysis allows farmers to know how much money they earn or how much they will lose by changing from one technology to another, or from one practice to another. This helps them make a decision for the following year as to which practice they want to...
  20. Access Agriculture Training Video Nematodes are dreadful worms that live in the soil and in the roots of many different crops and weeds. Nematodes are easier to prevent than to control. The secret is to: grow healthy seedlings; destroy all sources of nematodes in and near your vegetable field;...
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  23. Access Agriculture Training Video One fruit fly can lay a few hundred eggs during her life. Fruit flies puncture the skin of fruit to lay their eggs, which cause the fruit to drop prematurely and rot. The worms that hatch from these eggs leave the spoilt fruit after one week and crawl into the...
  24. Access Agriculture Training Video Flood tolerant rice is the solution for flood prone areas. In this video, we will take a closer look at how to select suitable rice varieties, use quality seeds, grow healthy and vigorous seedlings and manage your field after flooding. Available languages Bangla...
  25. Access Agriculture Training Video As individual farmers lack resources to invest in, or learn about, Conservation Agriculture. This video shows a group in Kenya that has come together to share knowledge and equipment and to assist each other. Available languages Arabic Bambara English French...
  26. Access Agriculture Training Video A well-managed passion fruit orchard can provide farmers with some good money throughout the year. In this video, we will learn how to stake passion fruit plants and prune the vines systematically so as to get good yields. Available languages English French...
  27. 19-01-1988 Farm management is the study and application of the principles of economics, management, and agriculture to farm production within a particular environment. A farm management text written for an African audience, therefore, includes management and economic principles and applications from the...
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