DISCOVER COLEAD’S NEW SELF-PACED COURSE ON BUSINESS PLANNING IN AGRICULTURE

Discover COLEAD’s new self-paced course on business planning in agriculture

COLEAD is pleased to introduce through the FFM+ programme  a new educational offering: a self-paced course designed to equip agricultural professionals with the skills to produce effective and compelling business plans. This course is specifically tailored to the agricultural sector, with a focus on horticultural businesses, and aims to enhance participants’ ability to secure funding, optimise management and stimulate innovation within their organisations.

Course outline

The new course provides a comprehensive introduction to the importance of business plans in the agricultural industry. Participants will learn not only the importance of understanding these plans, but also how to produce a document that is compelling and workable. The course is designed to help learners anticipate risks, ensure organisational harmony and communicate their ambitions both internally and externally.

The first courses benefited from online tutoring, which worked very well. There are plans to continue this.

Learning Objectives

At the end of the course, participants will be able to;

• Identify the purpose and appropriate timing of a business plan.
• List the essential elements that make up a sound business plan.
• Describe the step-by-step process of writing a basic business plan.
• Explain the unique aspects of business plans tailored to horticultural and agricultural businesses.

Course structure

The course is divided into four modules:

• Business Model – Understanding the framework of your agricultural business.
• Components and purpose of a business plan – a detailed exploration of the elements that make up a business plan.
• Writing a Business Plan – Practical guidance on writing your business plan.
• Optional module for horticultural businesses – specific considerations for applying business planning principles to the horticultural sector.

Each module offers the flexibility for learners to progress at their own pace and includes offline access to accommodate different learning environments. Modules are available at any time to suit different schedules and commitments.

Assessment and certification

To reinforce learning, the course includes mini-quizzes at the beginning and end of each module, culminating in a final certification test. A score of 70% or above is required to pass, ensuring that participants have mastered the content to effectively apply their new skills.

This course offers a significant opportunity for agricultural professionals to develop essential skills in creating compelling business plans. We encourage all those interested to take this course to maximise their potential for project funding and overall business success.

This activity is supported by the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, implemented by COLEAD within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union. This publication receives financial support from the European Union and the OACPS. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of COLEAD and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the OACPS.