Organizing a highly profitable agricultural business in Russia is quite realistic. In the article we will talk about how to equip greenhouse farms, what crops to grow and how to properly organize work in them.
An approach
Many experts acknowledge that the
greenhouse business is one of the most highly profitable segments of agriculture. This market is not yet full, so those who decide to invest in its development will not encounter obstacles in their way in the form of fierce competition with other domestic manufacturers. And competing with imported vegetables and berries is not so difficult.
Before you build greenhouses, you need to decide on the crops that you will grow. It can be tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, radishes. Also, one of the profitable areas is growing greens: dill, parsley, basil, lettuce and so on.
It is very important to find a suitable place. To optimize costs, your farm should be close to the sales market, the main communication systems - sources of electricity, water, gas. In addition, it is worth paying attention to the traffic intersection.
Types of farms
Depending on the size, several types of greenhouses can be distinguished. So, if you want to grow vegetables in small volumes, coping with the processing of the site on your own, then you will need a small area, even your personal plot will do. It will be possible to install 2-3 structures on it. It will be a small greenhouse farm. Making such an auxiliary production as entrepreneurship is not necessary, even if you plan to sell surplus products.
If you have a medium-sized farm, then such a business must be formalized at the local tax office. This is necessary even in cases where you manage on your own, but produce enough products for sale.
Large greenhouse farms in Russia occupy large areas. They can only be processed with the involvement of employees. Owners of such farms must register an individual business or register another form of business, such as a limited liability company.
Selection of options
If you have decided on the location of the greenhouse and what exactly you will grow, then you can proceed with the construction of the structures themselves. So, they can be purchased or made independently. At the same time, note that film greenhouses are not able to provide the optimal temperature and humidity necessary for crops in cold periods. The best option is a structure made of polycarbonate or glass. It is clear that the purchase of a finished greenhouse will cost more than its independent construction.
But it’s important to know that film options are the cheapest, safe, and easy to dismantle if necessary. Glass transmits sunlight well. This material adds strength to the structure itself. But he is unreliable, it is easy to break. Polycarbonate is durable, well transmits sunlight. Greenhouses made of this material can be operated year-round, but a foundation is required for their construction.
Project preparation
One of the stages in the development of any business is the creation of a business plan. The greenhouse project should include information on its location, transport interchange, types of crops grown, possible markets for products, and competitors. In addition, the plan should be calculated all potential revenues and costs, considered possible unforeseen situations. It is also important to immediately calculate how much the construction of greenhouses will cost you, how water will be supplied to them, how to heat and light them. Also, the expenditure part must include all expenses for equipment, seed or seedlings, means for the destruction of weeds and pests, fertilizers. If you plan to attract employees, you need to calculate their wages. We should also think about transportation costs.
After calculating the potential costs, you can begin to determine the possible income. To do this, you need to know the potential yield of crops that you plan to grow, and the purchase prices for them. It’s better to immediately make several calculation options, because you can’t hope for the maximum yield in the first year of doing business. A properly drawn up greenhouse plan will help optimize all costs and evaluate revenues. With the right approach to business organization, investments pay off in less than 2 years.
Location
Particular attention should be paid to the place where your greenhouses will be located. It is necessary to consider not only transport interchange and proximity to markets. It is important to evaluate the land on which you plan to place greenhouses. If they are flooded during the spring floods, they automatically become unusable. You should also avoid areas where frosts can continue for a long time. These include deep valleys, ravines. Do not place greenhouses in the hills.
Attention should be paid to the possibility of summing up communications. To do this, it is advisable to visit the electricity, water and gas supply companies for an approximate calculation of the cost of connection. Before building greenhouses, it is advisable to check the quality of the supplied water. If it turns out to be bad, then you will need additional equipment for the greenhouse, which will clean it. For watering, it is advisable to use only that water, which contains an allowable amount of iron, salts, a normal pH level, and there are no microorganisms that cause rotting.
Necessary equipment
The development of the greenhouse economy requires quite large investments at the start. This is not only the construction of the structures themselves. It is important to properly approach the arrangement of the greenhouse. So, first of all, you need to organize its heating. This item is especially important if you plan to establish a capital construction in which vegetables will be grown year-round. It is also necessary to pay attention to watering. Ideally, for a greenhouse with an area of more than 100 square meters. meters, it is desirable to organize drip irrigation. Do not forget that in the winter season the day is much shorter, so you will have to provide additional electric lighting.
Have to spend money on inventory. It will be necessary to buy tools for tillage, carts, buckets, sprayers and other equipment for the greenhouse.
Staff recruitment
If you do not have experience in the agricultural business, then it will be difficult for you to assess how many people you may need. Of course, you will not need anyone if you are building a small structure on your site. And if your complex will include greenhouses with an area of several hectares, then it is better to take care of the selection of people in advance. It should be borne in mind that the required number of personnel depends on the types of cultivated crops. For example, 1 person can grow 0.3 ha when growing tomatoes, and 0.2 ha when cultivating cucumbers.
Mode of operation
Before starting your business, you need to look at the most profitable greenhouse farms in Russia. Ideally, to get maximum income, you need to harvest several crops a year. This can only be done if you immediately spend money on the construction of capital facilities. In this case, it will be possible to grow vegetables in a greenhouse both in summer and in winter. True, in the cold season, you will have to additionally heat the room, and in the warm - to ensure maximum air flow from the outside. For these purposes, it is desirable to make a greenhouse with windows that can be opened.
But the buildings covered with a film can be used from February-March to November. During the period of winter frosts, they are not able to protect plants.
The nuances of doing business
Before starting work, it is necessary to decide how exactly you will grow your chosen crops. So, at present, advanced farms use modern hydroponic technologies. This allows you to get maximum yields. The indicated technology of the greenhouse economy is aimed at creating ideal conditions for plants, accelerating their growth and obtaining products of better quality.
But growing vegetables on ordinary soils is a more time-consuming task. In addition, hydroponic technologies also provide a more rational use of water and nutrients needed by plants.
Alternative business
Most people who decide to start farming think only about food. But growing vegetables or even berries for many is not the ultimate dream. Some people think about for what purposes you can still use the greenhouse. Flowers are one of the alternatives. They are in demand throughout the whole year.
In developed countries, they know that the creation of flower greenhouses is one of the most profitable projects. You can do breeding roses, tulips. And you can choose a slightly different focus. No less profitable is the cultivation of indoor plants in pots and their subsequent sale. It can be violets, orchids, various palm trees, citrus trees.