Producers
Producers of all types of agricultural products.
Associated Challenges:
Pests and Plant Diseases | Insufficient services and high costs for pest management make it challenging for small farmers to protect crops from pests and diseases. This leads to lower productivity and increased financial strain on producers. |
Complex Food Safety Compliance | Small farmers face difficulties complying with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and other food safety standards. The cost and complexity of compliance prevent many from accessing certain markets and limit their ability to scale. |
Aging Producer Workforce | With an average age of 61 and reduced access to extension services, Hawaiʻi Island's agricultural workforce faces a challenge in transferring knowledge and skills to new farmers. This creates gaps in productivity and sustainability. |
Inadequate Technical Assistance | Limited access to technical support services, such as extension programs and research institutions, constrains farmers' ability to implement modern farming techniques and business practices, particularly among small farms. |
Lack of Available Data and Market Information | Insufficient access to reliable market data and demand information constrains decision-making for both producers and buyers. This results in inefficiencies in pricing, production volumes, and market opportunities. |
Limited Cold Chain Capacity | Inadequate cold storage and distribution infrastructure for perishables (especially fruits and vegetables) result in post-harvest loss, lower quality produce, and missed opportunities in high-value markets. |
Workforce Housing Challenges | A lack of affordable housing and allowances for farmworkers to live on the farm creates challenges for attracting and retaining labor. These housing barriers make it difficult for workers to remain in rural farming areas. |
Inadequate Aggregation and Processing Facilities | Hawaiʻi Island lacks sufficient aggregation and processing facilities, making it difficult for small-scale farmers to reach markets efficiently and profitably. This infrastructure gap exacerbates post-harvest loss and limits access to markets. |
High Input Costs | The high costs of imported agricultural inputs, such as seeds, fertilizers, and equipment, significantly raise production expenses. This reduces profitability and scalability, especially for small and beginning farmers. |
Permitting and Regulatory Delays | Lengthy and complex regulatory processes, such as building permits and environmental compliance, disproportionately affect small farmers. These delays hinder the timely expansion of farms and limit infrastructure development. |
Cost and Availability of Farm Labor | The high cost and limited availability of farm labor are critical barriers to farmers' ability to maintain operations. This issue stems from competition for labor with higher-paying sectors and unattractive employment conditions for farm labor. |
Misalignment of Supply and Demand | There is a frequent misalignment between farm production and market demand. Poor demand forecasting and issues with harvest timing lead to inefficiencies, resulting in food waste and revenue losses for small-scale producers. |
Producers are at the heart of the value chain, responsible for producing agricultural products under challenging conditions, including high input costs and threats from invasive species. Some key statistics of note about the island's producers includes the following.
Advanced Age of Farmers: The average age of farmers is 61 years, with a significant portion (around 46%) of producers being 65 years and older. This raises concerns about the sustainability of the farming population, as fewer younger producers are present (only 6% are under 35). This advanced age signals potential challenges for future farming capacity unless younger farmers are encouraged to enter and remain in the sector.
Number of Beginning Farmers: The data shows 951 producers have been operating their farms for 5 years or less, which accounts for about 15% of the total producers. This indicates some level of new entry into farming, though it is relatively modest compared to the overall producer population.
Gender Distribution: Male producers account for about 57% of the total producers, while female producers represent 43%. This suggests a notable presence of women in farming, although men still dominate slightly in terms of producer numbers.
Internet Access: There is a strong presence of technology adoption, with 2,896 farms (about 80%) having some form of internet access. The predominant methods of access include broadband and cellular data plans, highlighting a reasonable level of digital connectivity which could support innovations and market linkages.
Off-Farm Employment: A significant number of producers (65%) work off-farm, with many (about 34%) working more than 200 days off-farm. This suggests that a large portion of farmers may rely on off-farm income, potentially indicating challenges in achieving full-time viability from farm operations alone.
Land Tenure: The majority of farms are fully owned (2,623 farms) compared to part-owned or leased land. This level of ownership provides stability but could limit opportunities for new entrants if land availability is restricted.
Income from Farm-Related Activities: The data reveals income diversification through farm-related activities, such as custom work, agri-tourism, and gross cash rent. However, income from these activities varies widely, with some categories like agri-tourism showing significant growth potential ($9,338,000 in 2022 compared to $1,569,000 in 2017).