Strawberry business is a popular type of agricultural activity. In Russia, it is developing at a rapid pace, as investments quickly pay off, the berry is in great demand and brings good returns. Strawberry cultivation can be practiced throughout the year.
Benefits
The strawberry business quickly gained popularity among domestic summer residents for several reasons. Firstly, strawberries are a berry that almost everyone loves. That is why it is in great demand all the time. Secondly, this culture is quite demanding on growing conditions, and not every summer resident has the patience to engage in such a business. This means that you will have fewer competitors than tomato or potato producers. Thirdly, one kilogram of berries has a higher cost than the same amount of tomatoes or other vegetables and fruits.
Strawberry Growing Methods
How to start a strawberry business at home or in a greenhouse? With the definition of the method of growing the culture. This berry can be bred in several ways. Among the most popular methods are in the open field, in hydroponics, in bags and in a vertical way. The simplest of them is the cultivation of strawberries in the open field. This does not require large investments, the technology is quite simple. The result is a juicy berry with excellent taste.
However, this method is not suitable for people who want to earn on growing strawberries throughout the year, because in the open field, berries can be planted only in the summer months. In addition, the crop directly depends on weather conditions and climate. There is another drawback that this type of strawberry business has: it’s necessary to pick berries on its knees, for this reason labor costs will be quite large.
Strawberries need to be planted in neat rows, the distance between which should be about 35-40 cm. The soil must be covered with spunbond agrofibre. This will help prevent direct sunlight from entering the plant. In this case, the culture will receive a sufficient amount of air, moisture and heat.
Hydroponic strawberries
Another popular way to breed strawberries is to use hydroponics. This technique is used in greenhouses and at home. The strawberry business in Israel, for example, is built on this particular method of growing berries. In order to get a plentiful harvest, you need to purchase a pallet. It is filled with a nutrient solution, a grid is laid in it. A thin layer of peat or other organic substrate is placed on top, into which the culture is planted.
Hydroponics have many advantages. Firstly, the plant receives the necessary nutrients in sufficient quantities, as a result of which the strawberries grow faster. Watering the culture every day is not necessary, to acquire the soil for transplantation, too. In the process of growing, pesticides and pesticides are not used, so the berry is environmentally friendly.
A clear drawback is the amount that you need to invest in the business at the very beginning. Hydroponic installation is quite expensive. If you plan to grow 30 bushes, you will have to pay about 10 thousand rubles. In order for the business to develop, it is necessary to fill a hydroponic installation with a greenhouse of 50 m 2 . To do this, you will need to purchase so many plants so that 3000 bushes can be placed in them. It turns out that the value of the starting investment will exceed 1 million rubles.
Trukars
One of the most interesting devices for growing strawberries is trukar. It consists of a vertically mounted pipe with several pockets. They are intended for strawberry bushes. Trukar is connected to a drip irrigation system, which facilitates work in the greenhouse. This device significantly saves the room area. Each trumpet fits more than 90 bushes, and this despite the fact that it occupies an area of 0.5 m 2 ! Secondly, it is much easier to take care of strawberries when they are arranged vertically.
Business plan
Where to start a strawberry business so as not to “burn out”? For this, it is necessary to draw up a detailed business plan, which will describe each stage of strawberry production. This document should look like this:
- First you need to consider the construction of the greenhouse. Indicate the size of the room, the necessary materials and the cost of its construction.
- Then decide which seedlings you will purchase and where. Planting strawberries and caring for the crop also apply to this item - all this must be indicated in the business plan.
- Prepare and receive all the documents that you will need when registering an individual business. Do not forget that finished products must be certified.
- The business plan should indicate how the berries are planned to be marketed.
- Calculate how much of the money will go to staff salaries, taxes. Enter here how much money is needed to pay for utilities.
- Considering all the above points, determine what your monthly income will be. After that, calculate how much of it will go to the further development of the strawberry business.
What should be a greenhouse?
In the open field, strawberry cultivation as a business can only be practiced in the summer, and it does not generate income in the winter months. Therefore, in this article we consider how to organize a strawberry business, if you plan to grow berries in a greenhouse.
The dimensions of the room should not be less than 100 m 2 . If you intend to do business in the winter, keep in mind that you will need to equip the greenhouse with heating and water supply systems. They must function year round. Greenhouses are built using different materials, the choice depends on the climatic characteristics of the region. Film coating is not suitable for northern areas. It is best to give preference to a polycarbonate greenhouse, as this material preserves the microclimate of the room and is durable.
How to choose seedlings?
It is impossible to imagine strawberry business in Russia and other countries without the purchase of seedlings. You need to purchase them from certified suppliers and at breeding stations. So you can be absolutely sure that the seedlings are strong and healthy. At the station you will receive the so-called "Certificate of conformity for varietal characteristics." If you have this document, you will be able to quickly sell finished products.
Experienced businessmen are advised to purchase seedlings of two or three varieties that produce crops at different times. This will allow you to collect it without a break. The best strawberry varieties are considered as Alba, Queen Elizabeth and Gigantella. They have a high yield: from one square meter, you can get 12-50 kilograms of berries per month. The weight of the fetus is also rather big, it reaches 70 grams.
Required documents
How to do strawberry business? To do this, you need to collect all the necessary documentation in various instances:
- Registration of individual entrepreneurship in the category "Agricultural producer".
- Confirmation that the berry belongs to a particular variety. You will receive such a certificate at a breeding station.
- Type of fertilizer used and a brief description of its composition. Purchase this document from the fertilizer manufacturer.
- Register with the tax office and get the right to sell the berry.
- In the veterinary service get a declaration of compliance with GOST standards strawberries. Product quality information should also be listed here.
- In Rospotrebnadzor get a sanitary certificate.
Organization of sales of finished products
If you are building a strawberry business from scratch, then at the first stages organize the marketing of products yourself, in the market. In order to make the goods look more attractive, they can be neatly packaged in small baskets. When you begin to receive a large crop, you can turn to the owners of shops and supermarkets with a proposal for cooperation.
At first, you can rent a trading place in the local market. It should be small: 8 m 2 is enough to organize the marketing of products. On average, the cost of renting 1 m 2 is approximately 750 rubles, that is, for a full-fledged place in the market you will have to pay about 5-6 thousand rubles.
Costs
To start a business for growing strawberries, you need to make investments. At the initial stage, you will have to spend about 180 thousand rubles. About 100 thousand will be spent on the construction of the greenhouse and the implementation of all the necessary systems in the room. Seedlings cost from 25 rubles apiece, that is, if you get 500 seedlings, they will cost 12.5 thousand. Add here the cost of fertilizers (from 5 thousand), funds for processing the premises from pests (2 thousand). Documents are issued for 15 thousand or more. Every month you will have to pay about 30,000 rubles for utilities. Renting a trading place on the market will cost 6000 rubles.
The first income will go to business development, and the money that remains will be net profit. All investments are fully paid back in a year and a half.
Staff
It will be difficult for one person to care for strawberries, so a businessman will have to hire staff to work in a greenhouse. Employees must plant seedlings, harvest, take all measures to care for the plant. The staff is recruited depending on the area of the greenhouse. The more strawberries you grow, the more workers you will need. Hire people who have already dealt with this culture, as it is very gentle.
Since it is much easier to sell beautiful, unspoiled products, make sure that workers do not pour berries from one container to another and do not touch the fruits with their hands. It is best to collect strawberries in the container in which they will be sold. For this reason, packages or baskets for selling berries should be purchased in advance. At first you can work in greenhouses on your own, this can be done if you have a small strawberry business.