Top 5 Richest Farmers In The World

When someone says farmer, we usually think of a person who works in the farm all day long. That may be true, but things have changed dramatically for famers with new tools and technologies. Current generation farmers utilize new scientific techniques and heavy equipment, which have helped them increase produce as well as improve quality of produce. Farmers have also started venturing into agribusiness and some of them are currently ranked among the richest in the world. To better understand their journey, here’s a look at some of the richest farmers in the world.

Gustav Magnar Witzoe – Continuing with his family business of fish farming, Gustav Magnar Witzoe has introduced several improvements through technology and innovation. His company Salmar ASA is one of the largest producers of salmon in the world. With his new farming techniques and business strategies, Witzoe has achieved better quality and higher margins. His net worth is estimated to be $4.6 billion.

Harry Stine – Starting out as a farm boy in Iowa, Harry Stine has now progressed into the business of seed-genetics. His father was a hardworking farmer and Stine could have gone through the same routine. However, his fascination with seeds changed his fortunes. His company Stine Seed specializes in advanced seed genetics that allow development of new crop varieties with higher yields and improved pest resistance. Harry Stine is estimated to be worth $5.6 billion.

Stewart and Lynda Resnick – Both individuals had different careers at the beginning of their professional journey. The shift to farming started in 1978 when Stewart purchased his first farmland in California. Since then, their agriculture business has grown by leaps and bounds. They own multiple farmlands that produce various food items such as almonds, oranges, grapefruit, etc. Their collective net worth is estimated to be $7.1 billion.

Liu Yonghao – Founder and chairman of New Hope, Liu Yonghao started his agribusiness career around four decades back. Along with his brothers, Liu started breeding chickens and quails. In the 90s, they ventured into animal feed business. As of now, the company is one of the largest agribusiness companies in China. It has operations in around 30 countries and nearly 70,000 employees. The company has invested in US agribusiness firms such as Ruprecht and Lansing Trade Group. Liu Yonghao’s net worth is estimated to be $8.9 billion.

Liu Hanyuan – Owner of Tongwei Group, Liu Hanyuan net worth is estimated to be $9.4 billion. His company is ranked among the world’s largest producers of aquafeed. Liu Hanyuan had started out in his career as a government employee. However, owing to his interest in agriculture, he quit his job. He started out in fish food business and has registered consistent growth.

With modern tools and equipment, farming can be a rewarding opportunity. You don’t even have to work on the fields, as you can hire professionals to do the job for you. If you own ample amount of agriculture land, you can consider farming as a full time profession. If you do things right, you could be on your way to make millions. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about demand fluctuations, as farming is largely recession proof. The above stories are evidence that farming can be quite secure and financially rewarding.