Roland Wear: Destination - Scotland and Sicily. Cyrchfan - Yr Alban a Sisili

Collaboration mutually beneficial to farm diversifications, study finds

Farmers are being urged to work collaboratively with other producers and organisations to maximise the effectiveness of their farm diversifications.

Roland Wear, who embarked on a Farming Connect Management Exchange programme study to explore additional income streams for his family’s traditional hill sheep farm, says many diversifications can benefit from collaboration.

He saw this in action on farms he visited in Italy and Scotland during his study.

Roland’s farm has been in his family for at least eight generations and, as he looks towards the future, he is keen to develop a sustainable business for subsequent generations. This has so far included creating a new holiday cottage business venture.

He also hopes to put to use his background in the catering and hospitality industry.

The farms he visited had developed thriving diversifications, from one that produced goat’s cheese and yogurt, olive oil and producing pasta from their own wheat, to another that provided five star accommodation and meat box sales.

“A diversification project can prove to be more profitable that the current farming practices and open other funding streams,’’ he says.

“One successful diversification can take you in other directions.’’

But some can take substantial investment and commitment too, he adds.

Roland says the study had helped develop his understanding that welcoming guests onto a farm can create great interest, enthusiasm and, most importantly, an additional income.

He has a broad skillset from his previous career in hospitality and through his current role, promoting entrepreneurship to young people as a regional executive at Big Ideas Wales.

But the study reinforced his belief that support through training is essential for developing skills.

And the most successful diversifications are those where a farming family focusses on the skills and interests personal to them, he says.

“Having a unique selling point and being different will attract interest from prospective customers.’’

It is also important to consider what the next generation might like to be involved with, he adds.

As a result of his study, Roland now plans to explore whether financial support and advice exists for developing on his own farm some of the projects he saw.

“I am also keen to look at what I could offer on farm as an experience, using my own skill set, identifying any gaps and potential training opportunities and support required,’’ he says.

Mae cydweithio o fudd i arallgyfeirio ar ffermydd, yn ôl canfyddiadau astudiaeth

Mae ffermwyr yn cael eu hannog i gydweithio â chynhyrchwyr a sefydliadau eraill i wneud y mwyaf o effeithiolrwydd arallgyfeirio eu ffermydd.

Dywed Roland Wear, a gychwynnodd ar astudiaeth rhaglen Cyfnewidfa Rheolaeth Cyswllt Ffermio i archwilio ffrydiau incwm ychwanegol ar gyfer fferm ddefaid fynydd draddodiadol ei deulu, y gall llawer o arallgyfeirio elwa o gydweithio.

Gwelodd hyn ar waith ar ffermydd yr ymwelodd â nhw yn yr Eidal a'r Alban yn ystod ei astudiaeth.

Mae fferm Roland wedi bod yn ei deulu ers o leiaf wyth cenhedlaeth ac, wrth iddo edrych tua’r dyfodol, mae’n awyddus i ddatblygu busnes cynaliadwy ar gyfer cenedlaethau’r dyfodol. Hyd yn hyn mae hyn wedi cynnwys creu menter busnes bythynnod gwyliau newydd.

Mae hefyd yn gobeithio defnyddio ei gefndir yn y diwydiant arlwyo a lletygarwch.

Roedd y ffermydd yr ymwelodd â nhw wedi datblygu arallgyfeirio llewyrchus, o un a oedd yn cynhyrchu caws gafr ac iogwrt, olew olewydd a chynhyrchu pasta o'u gwenith eu hunain, i un arall a oedd yn darparu llety pum seren a gwerthiant blychau cig.

“Gall prosiect arallgyfeirio fod yn fwy proffidiol na’r arferion ffermio presennol ac agor ffrydiau ariannu eraill,” meddai.

“Gall un fenter arallgyfeirio lwyddiannus fynd â chi i gyfeiriadau eraill.’’

Ond gall rhai gymryd buddsoddiad ac ymrwymiad sylweddol hefyd, ychwanega.

Dywed Roland fod yr astudiaeth wedi helpu i ddatblygu ei ddealltwriaeth y gall croesawu gwesteion i fferm greu diddordeb mawr, brwdfrydedd ac, yn bwysicaf oll, incwm ychwanegol.

Mae ganddo set sgiliau eang o’i yrfa flaenorol ym maes lletygarwch a thrwy ei rôl bresennol, yn hyrwyddo entrepreneuriaeth i bobl ifanc fel gweithredydd rhanbarthol yn Syniadau Mawr Cymru.

Ond atgyfnerthodd yr astudiaeth ei gred bod cefnogaeth trwy hyfforddiant yn hanfodol ar gyfer datblygu sgiliau.

A'r mentrau arallgyfeirio mwyaf llwyddiannus yw'r rhai lle mae teulu fferm yn canolbwyntio ar y sgiliau a'r diddordebau sy'n bersonol iddyn nhw, meddai.

“Bydd cael pwynt gwerthu unigryw a bod yn wahanol yn denu diddordeb gan ddarpar gwsmeriaid.’’

Mae hefyd yn bwysig ystyried yr hyn yr hoffai’r genhedlaeth nesaf ymwneud ag ef, ychwanega.

O ganlyniad i’w astudiaeth, mae Roland bellach yn bwriadu archwilio a oes cymorth a chyngor ariannol yn bodoli ar gyfer datblygu ar ei fferm ei hun rai o’r prosiectau a welodd.