The population boom in recent decades has rapidly increased the urgency of food demand in various parts of the world. This, coupled with the expectation of even higher demand in the future increases dependency on the environment which is already spread thin catering to the present population. This brings us to an important question. How can farmers use tactics to increase productivity in meat production to match this increasing demand?
The use of technological solutions is a great way to combat pressures on the environment and the need for much higher crop yields. Andrew Dorward, in Agricultural Labour Productivity, Food Prices, and Sustainable Development Impacts and Indicators says “Technical innovation and new technology … is a major driver of global increases in cereal yields.” Similarly, other sources such as the Government of Queensland have expanded on why it is so important to use technology to not only meet the demand but also to do it in a sustainable fashion.
On one hand, it is necessary for the agriculture industry to keep up with this large and ever-increasing growth in population, but on the other, it is also facing a huge problem of labor shortage. As labor is already scarce in livestock and agriculture companies, equipping the present labor with the right and most productive skills is crucial to sustaining one’s success in this industry.
Listed below are some methods to ensure high productivity in livestock farming through human labor:
Gather the Best Team
Putting together the perfect team of qualified individuals is very important to be able to expect the best quality of work from them. Thus, people who are skilled in the relevant field of livestock farming should be prioritized.
However, as farm labor is a profession that can also be learned through practice and stewardship, it is very important to look for employees who promote and display the best work ethic. This work ethic can be seen through characteristics such as the commitment the candidate shows towards their work, their attitude with coworkers and subordinates, and their reliability.
Furthermore, gathering a team that is able to adopt the use of technology on the farm is a great way to retain and sustain the workforce. Presently, technology has a large impact on the way the agriculture industry works, and it’s safe to say that in the near future, it’s going to have an even greater stake. Therefore, retaining the right team members who know the present technology and are open to newer technological solutions would be highly beneficial for the farm owner.
Commitment to Stewardship
Now that a manager has managed to collect a good team of people to work with, as mentioned above, it is important to understand that the employees need to know more about the work at hand within the context of the company. Therefore, it is crucial to lead by example as it is one of the best ways to train and coach new employees into one’s company.
This is one of the key factors that makes a good manager. If a ranch manager is able to show his subordinates the way to work within the ranch through the right corrections and teachings, the workers will be able to see a direct example of good performance. The commitment to help one’s subordinates for them to excel in their performance can have positive impacts on the productivity of the farm.
Stewardship also includes being open to giving necessary and timely feedback or corrective and constructive criticism in the hopes of improving one’s performance at work. This requires commitment from supervisors to ensure work efficiency. Furthermore, providing the right kind of education and material related to the work can give an employee the skills to adapt in their performance for maximum productivity.
Commitment to Innovation
Using technology to solve problems is a result of innovative thinking, and as mentioned above, it’s quickly becoming a popular tool to acquire. Hence, encouraging such innovative thinking, or thinking outside the box, can be a great way to find even better solutions for the numerous problems that may arise while working with livestock. This is also a great way to show one’s confidence in their workforce by using creative methods suggested by employees to solve the problems they face on a daily basis.
Prioritize a Healthy Work Environment
A healthy work environment is also paramount to productivity in the workplace, which is reflected in the level and quality of meat production for livestock and meat-processing companies. If a workplace is perceived to be toxic by the workers, their commitment to the work will be extremely low. Hence, ensuring that the workforce is treated well is vital to a company’s productivity.
For example, if a manager is unable to effectively communicate or delegate the right work to an employee, the employee may not know what the employer expects of them. This kind of miscommunication can lead to further miscommunication between the employee and the employer and can result in incomplete work, and a lack of confidence in the manager. This situation can be easily subverted if the manager is able to define his expectations from the employee in a clear manner. Hence, open communication is a great asset to ensure efficiency and a comfortable work environment.
Conclusion
Producing sustainable innovations through technology is extremely useful in increasing productivity in meat production. This use of technology, paired with an efficient workforce will be able to meet the global demand for meat in the present as well as the future. Using the strategies explained above can be extremely useful in managing one’s workforce effectively for quality farm productivity.
