How to start agricultural Business

 Agribusiness Introduction

When we do the agriculture at commercial level apart from subsistence agriculture it is called agriculture business. It  generates good amount of money, agriculture business including different forms , farming , dairy, poultry, green manures product, beekeeping etc.

In present world Our farmers still doing subsistence  farming and conventional farming and  who is doing agriculture business they need to update themselves. 

Agriculture business required dedication and hard work. You should passionate about your work .

Agriculture is the base of human life, human started farming in the ancient time.

Today world is full of industries , agriculture industry  also grow substantially. But  our farmers lacked behind. 

So there is revolution required in this industry people needs to educate.

Why to choose agriculture business

1. Fastest growing industry

It is the fastest growing industry where now big firms and companies entered such as Reliance.

India is the world's largest producer of milk, fruits, cashew nuts, coconuts, ginger, turmeric, banana, sapota(chickoo), pulses, and black pepper. India is the second largest producer of groundnut, wheat, vegetables, sugar and fish in the world. India is also the third largest producer of tobacco and rice, the fourth largest producer of coarse grains, the fifth largest producer of eggs, and the seventh largest producer of meat.

2. Low investment 

It has less investment as compared to other business. You can start business rs. 10000 to 1 lakh.

More investment more convenient and more income.

3. Broad Industry 

Such as nursery, poultry , organic farming, flowers farming, fertilizer products, mushroom farming

Hydroponic farming, bee keeping, dairy, fish farming , herbal plants farming, commercial farming etc.

4. Sustainable business

Farming do not harm the environment so that natural resources  are still available in the future.

5. High Return 

Agriculture business make you earn annually 1.5 lakh to 20 lakh but it depends upon your dedication , hard work , investment, land etc. If you 2 acres land you easily earn 4 lack annual.

It has high return can earn upto 80 % profit.

 

6. Become own Boss

Agro business make you become own boss. Its your choice how much time you have work and when daily 4 to 6hr is enough, but it depends on availability of facilities and machinery .

How much you work that much you earn.

7. Can become entrepreneur

You can provide jobs and employment to others it will help you get recognition in the society.

Every year state government and center government gives award and recognition to the such farmer

8. Government support

Govt. of India and state government helps in all aspects of farming to the farmerd

Govt.  also provides subsidy on agro machinery , equipment crop insurance , provide advice from Agriculture experts , training programs, krishi mela , kisan call centre, krishi kendra

APMC market , climate information etc.

Govt. also provide krishi loan and loan for commercial farming.

9. Can do anyone

Agriculture business not required any qualifications even if Don’t have any land or agriculture 

Baground  you can enter in this business, urban and rural any one can do.

10. Can make co-operation body or big company

In agriculture business can do community farming can make group of farmers

And grow desire crop can attract deal or can setup company.

Different factors and process for starting business

1. Aim and Commitment

    A. Define your aim how  much you want earn and work after you can make the decision to what to grow and when grow.

    B. Take commitment that I will do anyhow never step back.

   C.  Never listen to the critics use always use your knowledge take help with expects through internet and helpline no.

   D. Take Target that I will earn in maximum in crop for that I will give my 100%. 

2.  Land, Resources & Machinery

     Find out how much you have with and how much you can use for farming, Decide from how land you want to start business. First you should start minimum with 2000sq mtrs means half acres.

Check you have fencing around your farm because it is necessary there

lots stray animal how can ruined you crop .

Find out what you have resources like pound wells lake river cannels tractor cultivator rotavator trolley , transportation vehicle, agricultural equipment’s etc then make list of this.

Check what you more required if any there is anything then check budget, after that take decision that should be purchased or not.

3. Budgeting and funding

Decide your budget and find out the funding sources . Allocate your budget in seeds, land preparation, plantation and manpower, drenching , harvesting and transportation.

For fund if you have sufficient fund then ok if you don’t have you can borrow for others or you take loan on kcc from your nearest bank branch.there are some co operative body you can give loan.

Eg. If you have budget of Rs.10000 and have land 2000sq mtrs

Seeds cost 2000

Land preparation rs 1000

Plantation and manpower 2000

Drenching and irrigation 1500 rs

Fertilizer 1500rs

Harvesting and transportation 2000

For this you have reduce in every sector then you can manage in 10000

For seeds you have make your nursery own , for land preparation and plantation you should take part so manpower cost can reduced for drenching use least amount and go for organic neem oil and neem leaves , use cattle manures etc 

These easy practices reduce your cost if you have sufficient fund then you can use more manpower , machinery equipment’s which will reduce your time and efforts.

4. Prior Information and knowledge

Evaluate your self how much knowledge you have for agriculture eg about crops , crop management,

Irrigation equipment , rainy season, flood , about plants, agriculture vocabulary, soil and most important government body, if you are doing commercial farming on large should have knowledge about internet,

By internet you can connect the world , you can purchase and sell through internet, all information you can find on internet .

5. Soil and Their Testing

    There are many soil types exist in Indian continent. Each soil type has specific characteristics and suitable to grow only certain type of crop.

Based on color and other attributes, soil can be classified into the following:

Red and yellow soil

Black soil

Alluvial soil

Laterite Soil

Arid soil

Mountain & Forest soil

Desert soil

Saline and alkaline soils 

The soil consists of primary and secondary minerals.

Primary Minerals – Calcium, Sodium, Aluminium, Magnesium and Iron.

Secondary Minerals – Clay and Mineral Oxides.

A soil test is important for several reasons: to optimize crop production, to protect the environment from contamination by runoff and leaching of excess fertilizers, to aid in the diagnosis of plant culture problems, to improve the nutritional balance of the growing media and to save money and conserve energy by applying only the amount of fertilizer needed. any plantation soil testing it will help you about availability of minerals and nutrients your farm have.

Central government and state government set-up labs for soil testing 

Link. https://farmer.gov.in/stl.aspx

6. Market or Mandi study

 Check for local mandi ask for price and working form. If you have market nearby then you can contact fruit and vegetables seller, they can also pick directly from your farm. It will reduce your transportation cost. You can contact wholesale dealer through internet and also visit near APMC market aur private market it is setup by govt. For govt. Market you have registered your self to the market. There were some agent who take almost 5-6% commission and they sold your product.

Also we have to check that products market and mandi have available. You can plant that crop which you can sell easily.

You  check from below link.

https://agmarknet.gov.in

7. Crop Decisions

Crop Decisions depends on below factors.

A. Type of soil 

Soil hold micronutrients and minerals so it important for crop. Some crop can grow in special soil.

Eg. Loamy soil is ideal for growing crops such as wheat, sugarcane, cotton, jute, pulses, and oilseeds. Vegetables also grow well in this soil.

Red soil is suitable for growing groundnuts, pulses, millet, cotton and tobacco.

Black soil is ideal for growing crops such as cotton, sugarcane, tobacco, wheat, millets, and oilseeds.

Note  for papaya land should not hold rain water more than 24hr so it is necessary check land while deciding crop.

B. Income forecast.

Some crop give you good amount of profit so it is your forecast that how income you need , if wants more income you should plant exotic vegetables, if want to earn for you survival then you can grow season vegetables and fruits.

C. Available of irrigation

Some crops required more water there should be availablity of water required such us cannel , tube well etc

Eg rice plantation required more water .

D. Availability of market

List near by market names and distance , visit all market time by time and talk call to the vendors and dealers about type crops sells in market.

Eg If you want to grow broccoli and zucchini then you have check buyer for that in the market.

E. Budget

Budget is main factor while deciding crop , for example if you grow to tomato your budget will be less and you grow banana you required high budget as compared to tomato.

F. Availability of land

You should have land for farming , papaya required land which has low water holding capacity, rice required more water.

G. Season and temperature

According to the season you can grow crop such as wheat rice barley etc, broccoli required low temperature where watermelon and musk melon required high temperature and also can grow best in winters . 

H. Farmers personal interest.

Farmers should have personal interest in that crop. 

I. Local stray animals

You area have more stray and wild animal then it is necessary to check which crop they can affect, for example potatoes are easily attacked by boars , Papaya farm can attacked monkeys.

J. Availability of fencing

Some crop can’t grow without fencing because of thefts and animals,

Such as tomato , cucumber, melons etc. 

 

8. Fencing of farms

Fence is a structure that encloses an area, typically outdoors, and is usually constructed from posts that are connected by boards, wire, rails or netting

Diverse types of fencing offer various cost effective and environmental friendly fencing solutions.

Wooden fencing,

Stock fencing,

Wire fencing,

Synthetic fencing,

Synthetic fencing,

Rail fencing, and

Power fencing.

Among all the fencing systems, power fencing is the most effective and cheapest fencing and is widely used across the world. This is the most advantageous fencing practice but needs more awareness and training to be implemented in India.

There were lost companies who can install fencing , type of fencing decide on basis of your budget. You can upgrade in  future

Link. https://www.justfence.in/   

 9. Irrigation availability

Without irrigation crop can’t grow , so there should be availablity of irrigation . Such as tube well, Diesel engine cannel, ponds and lakes.

But for effective farming drip irrigation is best, it will reduce your fuel cost and it also money saving and will get best products.

If you have land where less amount of water present then we can’t grow watermelons. 

So it is necessary to availablity of irrigation system.

10. Land preparation

Basic land preparation is necessary for any type of crop , The purpose of land preparation is to provide the best soil conditions which will enhance the successful establishment of the tissue culture  plants. It is one of the measures used to control crop diseases & pest invasion. Land preparation is also called as tillage practice; tillage practice is the mechanical pulverization or manipulation of the soil to take about favorable conditions for the growth of crops.

Land preparation improves site conditions in one or more of the following ways:

 

Reducing weed competition for light and nutrients

Improving soil, water, and air conditions through & water cultivation

Loosening tight or compacted soils to allow

Reducing frost susceptibility during mounding.

By additional use green manures , compost and fertilizers.

Soil treatment with formalin is necessary so pest available is soil can control.

Making beds, pits and spacing of plants depends on crop. 

11. Plantation

Plantation can be done from available plants from your prepared nursery or purchase plants. Plantation method depends on crop and budgets

Most of the manpower required during plantation. Every crop has different plantation method so we have knowledge of plantation while we do agriculture business.

12. Weeds treatment

               Weed control is important in agriculture. Methods include hand cultivation with hoes, powered  cultivation with cultivators, smothering with mulch, lethal wilting with high heat, burning, and chemical control with herbicides

              Weeds compete with productive crops or pasture, they can be poisonous, distasteful, produce burrs, thorns or otherwise interfere with the use and management of desirable plants by contaminating harvests or interfering with livestock.

Weeds compete with crops for space, nutrients, water and light. Smaller, slower growing seedlings are more susceptible than those that are larger and more vigorous. Onions are one of the most vulnerable, because they are slow to germinate and produce slender, upright stems.

Weed treatment link. https://www.ecofarmingdaily.com/eco-farming-index/organic-weed-control/

13. Pest control

Pest is any animal or plant detrimental to humans or human concerns. The term is particularly used for creatures that damage crops, livestock and forestry, or cause a nuisance to people, especially in their homes. 

Agricultural and horticultural crops are attacked by a wide variety of pests, the most important being insects, mites, nematodes  and gastropod molluscs. The damage they do results both from the direct injury they cause to the plants, and from the indirect consequences of the fungal, bacterial or viral infections they transmit.

There is lots of pesticides and herbicides are available in market to control these types of pest and diseases . It is harmful for environment and human being.

For try to avoid use of pesticides or you can also use organic pesticides .

You can also consultant with experts and experienced farmers.

For organic pesticides and pest control 

Link. https://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Topic-Rooms/Organic-Production/Organic-Pest-Management

14. Harvesting

Harvesting needs knowledge you should have proper knowledge and method .

So it should be done by experts. First check that crop is ready for harvest  or not , how to harvest and when . 

Harvesting should be done by enquiring the crop price, try to harvest when getting good price if crop.

Harvesting can be done multiple times it depends upon crop.

For example tomato are harvested when it get red in color it should be harvest in the evening or early in the morning, and then it should transported directly to mandi and market before market opening.

15. Yield analysis

After harvesting yield  should be analyzed by weight . If correct weight is recorded then that is best.

Compare the data to the forecasted data.

If we planted 2500 plants of tomato and forecasted each plant will give us 5kg

Then total 75000 kg

It should be compared with actual yield.

16. Selling

Crop can sold directly from farm or from the local market and near by APMC market. Its depends on your relationship .

For APMC market you can hire agents you can sell your crop on commission basis.

Before sending crop to the market and mandi check current price of crop with the help of internet and you can also visit to the market.

Try sell when price is high.

After selling amounts should be recorded, if should be recorded after every harvest.

17. Analysis of profit

Record of harvesting should be prepared so it will help in profit analysis.

Total Harvesting times, harvested quality, total income earned.

After removing all cost from income we will get profit 

For example 

Total cost was 10000rs 

And we earn 50000rs 

Then profit is 40000rs 

And profit % 400%

You can do the analysis on forecasted income vs actual income

Note . This is graph of doing business  it will give idea and factor of business. You can visit on separate crop detail. 

Papaya farming

Tomato farming

Cucumber farming

Melon farming

Water melon

Chilli farming