In today’s world, many farmers are trying their luck with telephone farming — managing their farms remotely through phone calls. It sounds convenient, right? You stay in town while your farm “runs itself.” But here’s how it often plays out in real life.
☎️ The Daily Phone Updates
Farmer: “Juma, have you fed the chickens?”
Juma: “Yes, I have. They’re eating well.”
Reality: You’ve just reminded him, he had actually forgotten to feed them!
Farmer: “What about the medicine? Did you give it to them?”
Juma: “Yes, I did. They’re lively now and eating well.”
Reality: The medicine hasn’t been given yet. But thanks to your call, now he’ll remember to do it.
Then one evening...
Juma: “Hello, boss, some chickens are very sick. Even after giving them medicine, they’re not eating.”
Farmer: “How many are sick?”
Juma: “Nine of them. It looks serious.”
You spend the night restless. By morning...
Juma: “Those sick ones didn’t make it, but the rest are fine. We also need more medicine and feed. Oh, and I’m out of food myself.”
Farmer: “(Sigh)... Okay, I’ll send the money.”
And just like that, the losses pile up, and the expenses never stop.
🐔 The Tricks Behind the Calls
Let’s be honest — not all caretakers are bad, but telephone farming can easily become a one-sided game.
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When chickens get sick – That’s when you’re most likely to “get played.” You’ll keep hearing, “another one has died,” yet those birds might already be sold off.
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The feed scam – You send sacks of feed, but only half reaches the coop. The rest is sold or mixed with cheap stuff like bran.
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The Sunday clean-up show – If they know you’re visiting on Saturday, expect miracles! The place will sparkle, chickens will be fed, and everyone’s busy. Sick ones? Hidden. You’ll even be served beans and greens just to keep you smiling.
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The surprise visit – If you show up unannounced, reality hits different. No water. No feed. Sick chickens. Loud music. Friends chilling in the compound, and sometimes, the “dead chickens” are being fried for lunch.
💡 The Hard Truth
Farming by phone rarely works. It’s easy to lose money, birds, and peace of mind. If you can, run your project yourself — or at least make unannounced visits and keep strict records of feed, medicine, and stock.
Remote management can succeed, but only with trusted supervision and proper accountability systems. Otherwise, telephone farming will drain you faster than the chickens eat their feed.
🌱 Final Word
Farming is a business, not a side hustle you can manage by phone. Your presence on the ground makes all the difference. If you must hire help, train them well, supervise regularly, and use digital farm-monitoring tools where possible.
Because in the end, nothing replaces your eyes on the farm.
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