Technical advancement has opened an enormous window for farmers to develop a profitable Agro business.
Entrepreneurs should think about ideas like microgreens, bee farms, and rooftop gardens when picking between lucrative ventures.
Today we will talk about some of the best small farming business ideas
What do you need to consider before starting a successful Agro Business?
The mode of the farm business is dependent on a few aspects like place, environment, temperature, etc. For example, if you live in a remote area, it is crucial to choose a domain that will be convenient for a rural place. Otherwise, there will be a heavy chance of backfire.
Countryside Profitable Small Agro Ideas
Rural farms are situated in remote areas of the country. The vast land area is convenient for cultivating food crops, rearing livestock, and hunting, although farming activities are highly dependent upon the seasons and natural weather conditions.
1. Tree Nursery
A tree nursery can be an excellent investment when done right. Generally, most farmers start with 10 to 20 seedlings on a small acre, and with the right marketing strategy, they would have the baby trees sold out before they mature. You can get small trees for around $20 each, or raise them from scratch.
First of all, you need to research how to source the trees you want to cultivate organically.
Fruit tree propagation, for instance, can be performed by grafting or budding (joining parts from multiple plants), and this boosts your scope of producing the same variety of trees as opposed to using seeds.
2. Fish Farming
Fish Farming nowadays is a very popular mode of business that is seeking to start a fresh startup, Although, fish farming is a suitable business idea for people who have their land.
You can simply begin a fresh fish farm by forming fish ponds or investing your penny in fish tanks.
Moreover, this business has the potential to transform into a really big one, Once you have the proper knowledge of fish raising.
Fish such as tilapia, cod, and catfish are trendy choices because they are quite easy to raise and are generally in high demand. Small-scale businesses are the usual suppliers of fish in their local supermarkets and restaurants.
3. Growing Mushrooms
Generally, Mushrooms are a harvest that most people don’t think about when it comes to farming.
However, there’s a significant demand for them, and very often a scarcity of supply depending on location.
During developing mushrooms, you can make use of vertical space to get high yields in a small area.
A single room is sufficient to generate a full-time income’s worth of mushrooms.
Mushrooms grow rapidly as compared to others. To be precise, you can get many crops in the same amount of time that it would take to produce one season of wheat or corn.
4. Organic Farm GreenHouse
The ever-growing demand for organically grown farm products has led to the growth of this agricultural business. As there are many health concerns in foods grown with chemicals and fertilizers, people are growing organic food.
5. Aquaponics
Aquaponics is a farming process that combines aquaculture with hydroponics. It means farmers produce crops without requiring as much water or land area. It translates to a minimal investment cost and more potential for profit as it’s known to produce crops faster and in higher volume. Experts suggest beginners start small and expand as they learn how to maximize their production.
Some consultants can assist you in starting a commercial aquaponics system in a 1,200 square feet greenhouse for as little as $1,000. When done right, farmers can sell $25,000 worth of crops in a year.
6. Growing Microgreens
Microgreens are the stage a tree proceeds through after they’re a coral, but before they become an infant, green and begin to grow into a full-sized vegetable.
Likewise, mushrooms and microgreens are another crop that doesn’t require a lot of room to get started. You can begin growing microgreens on a short scale.
What you need is just a couple of trays in your greenhouse or basement. Then your business can reach up as your confidence and need for your product start to grow.
Microgreens can be considered a tremendous way for tiny scale farms to grow something in the winter when it can be too cold to develop many other crops.
7. Dairy Farming
According to the research of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, factory farms do provide more than 80% of milk in the market. However, there is a continuous downfall in the number of licensed dairy farms, which opens the door for fresh entrepreneurs with available land in rural areas to explore.
Make a note that dairy farms lesser than 100 cows are treated small but still require considerable investment, not to mention the plenty of rules they must follow before being awarded a license to conduct.
Those who are interested in going into this type of farming business will also have to learn how to enhance milk volume production to make further inroads in this business.
8. Bee Farming
Apiculture or beekeeping often starts as a hobby, and the great thing about this is it does not need tons of money to get started.
Beginner beekeepers can begin operating a bee farm with $500-$1,000. With this amount of startup capital, they can sell bee byproducts such as beeswax, bee pollen, royal jelly and of course, honey, that’s very prominent among consumers.
Royal jelly and Bee pollen are considered superfoods and are sold at a high price. You only need a small place in your backyard, but you still have to check with your local government rules first to see if they allow beekeeping in your area.
9. Vegetable Landscaping
Starting a landscaping business can be costly, but farmers who are determined to opt for a greener path should enter this world of edible landscaping.
This option creates more flexible opportunities, so your required startup capital will be comparatively lower. You will mostly be investing in tools to grow vegetables either on freshly tilled soil or in containers. When using pots, remember to buy the ones that are eight to 12 inches deep; also, space them out evenly, so you can maximize your yield.
10. Hydroponic Farming
Hydroponics is the procedure of growing harvest with nutrient-rich water kept in contact with the plant roots instead of using soil. This process significantly decreases the threat of wastage and pollution that can harm the product and cause diseases, making it accessible to health-conscious consumers. Like aquaponics, the small use of land area needed also makes hydroponics a low-cost investment while boosting the growth rate of plants to 25% of a well-designed garden; this means you will have more products as an option available to capture the market.
There are various hydroponic methods farmers can learn and try:
Static: Plants elevated in tubs or plastic buckets. Water may be unaerated or only gently aerated (water infused with gas).
Continuous flow: The nutrient-rich water solution continuously flows past the roots so that plants can absorb oxygen better.
Aeroponics: Plant roots misted with a nutrient solution instead of submerged in liquid.
Ebb and flow: Plants are flooded with water and then drained multiple times a day.
Hydroponics is all about the safe management of the environment for your plants. So while it seems like an accessible business to try as a beginner farmer, take your time analyzing your options and knowing about hydroponics from experts before you start your own.
11. Cannabis Farming
If you live in an area where cannabis use is legitimate, then you should take advantage of the available space and start your small cannabis farm. Although you can produce superior quality plants in a controlled environment, the easiest way to start is by growing them outdoors. Having a large backyard is a preference; It helps keep your investment under control while giving you a flexible space with which to work.
Farmers should hope to spend $10-$17 per square foot of area used to grow weeds outdoors. After a while, you can raise your business by building a small greenhouse, and the things you learned when you started farming cannabis can help you design an efficient, controlled environment.
12. Rooftop Tea Garden
In towns, maximizing space is essential, and this includes being able to balance air quality by creating more space to plant greens. While rooftop gardens are already common in city areas, there are still several ideas that you can try and turn into a business venture. One of which is starting your rooftop tea garden. You can farm a variety of aromatic and medicinal herbs and greens to sell directly to consumers.
Another great choice is to find an associate to help you start a rustic coffee and tea shop directly on the rooftop. participants can be those who have access to a rooftop so they can invest less money or someone who is knowledgeable in starting a coffee shop.
Some essential things to assess before designing your rooftop garden:
13. Review building codes
Inspect your local government to see if there are particular rules about creating rooftop gardens in your area. Also, ask about possible limitations that can invade the kind of business you want to put up.
Observe how much the roof revealed to the elements
Sun and wind exposure is critical if you want to grow your tea garden properly. Make sure that your plants will get enough sunlight and shade and be protected against strong gusts of wind; it’s a good idea to include solutions for these issues in your business plan.
Determine your rooftop’s loading capability
Rooftops do have the highest limit to the weight they can hold, and it is essential to know and take this data into account when designing your garden. Talk with a structural engineer who can decide this information accurately and keep the building and your business safe.
Low-cost Agro businesses can be lucrative and have lots of possibilities for growth. What’s best about opening small is having the opportunity to learn and become an expert in your chosen field and build your brand alongside your plans for expansion.
14. Snail Farming
Snail farming can be a very profitable business venture if it could nourish adequately. Most large snails are edible and can sell at a high price, but certain types are preferred over others; it mostly depends on your location, so it’s essential to learn the basics. This includes identifying the right habitat for the snails you plan to use, knowing their food source, understanding their mating process, and managing their surroundings.
Snails gain in places like California where the climate and well-tilled soil matched their growth, and since they are considered agricultural pests, you can effortlessly ask organic farm owners to let you harvest them.
15. Poultry Farming
Poultry farming accommodates you to supply poultry products to other businesses. As there is a consistent need for poultry products, it remains a desirable investment option for potential farm owners.
The drawback is that poultry farming is highly regulated to ensure the safety and health of the residents within the community. It is essential to learn as much about the business as possible. It will decrease the amount of risk.
Moreover, running a poultry farm can be an exhausting task; it’s conducive to using automation tools to make inventory and sales more trackable. QuickBooks Desktop Pro is QuickBooks’ dedicated desktop accounting software for small businesses. Its properties include invoicing, inventory monitoring, and expense tracking that’s suitable for tracking cash sales and farm expenses.
16. Flower Farm
Flower farms are a popular destination for tourists, but apart from that, this type of business is versatile. It can create other avenues for income, such as supplying flower shops and connecting with event organizers for decorations. You can even start a low-cost flower farm in your backyard for about $2,000 and grow from there. Like other businesses, research is key to increasing your flower farm.
17. Animal Petting Farm
Most cultivators get into the petting farm business to enhance their earnings from selling eggs, dairy, and livestock.
Petting farms are not only for student field trips; families like them, because they provide a more interactive experience for their children.
Some businesses use them as a scope to hold team building events. Consumers who pay the entrance fee expect an educational experience, so have them engage with the animals while taking care of your staff.
Also, be open to giving customers a sample of the products (eggs, dairy) you get from each animal. Don’t hesitate to put up a small store where they can buy more food products to bring home. Safety will be your priority when you invest in an animal petting farm. Make sure your staff is the first train to instruct and supervise. They will also need to know how to administer first aid.
18. Fruit Picking Farms
Fruit picking is an in-demand weekend operation for families, and small farms have found this to be a worthwhile venture. Most entrepreneurial farmers who consider offering fruit picking have had a running farm for some time and are looking to expand their income method. Some hobbyists are interested in starting from scratch, but they are more focused on generating income from the tourism aspect of the farm.
19. Vermicompost Organic Fertilizer Production
It requires a tiny amount of investment and hence can be considered profitable for the startup agricultural business. You can quickly start this business with the proper know-how of the production process.
20. Dried Flower Business
Flower manufacture is one of the rapidly growing crop trends in today’s agriculture. It requires all types of flowers, especially unique and hard to grow varieties.
21. Fertilizer Distribution Business
One can get this business underway with modest capital investment. The government mostly controls it.
23. Beekeeping Business
It demands day to day monitoring with close management of the bees. The beekeeping business is done for selling honey and other products like wax. Not to forget, the demand for babies is growing globally. Opting for this business is a solvent venture which requires a small investment.
24. Fruits and Vegetables Export
One can start the export of fruits and vegetable business by fetching them from local farmers. It can be accomplished through accessible communication means like a telephone conversation, or a computer with an internet connection.
25. Florist
It needs a retail space and connection with the flower growers. It is one of the most profitable retail agriculture business ideas that can also be done online by supplying customers with doorstep delivery of flowers.
26. Botanical Pesticide Production
It is requisite and mandatory for organic farming. As the demand for this product is immense, it is considered as one of the most profitable agriculture business ideas.
27. Broom Production
It is a convenient and profitable business idea as brooms have been used for centuries for cleaning purposes. It is a straightforward business and can be done with modest capital investment.
28. Basket Weaving
One requires thoughtful planning and a high level of inventive mind having a flair for design. It can merely be done from home space with modest capital investment.
29. Rabbit Rearing
There is no law prohibiting the keeping of rabbits in Towns and Cities. A backyard can distribute as a good origin of additional income, food and employment; thus reducing poverty, starvation and idleness.
Rabbit does not stand against humans for food, as kitchen leftovers, cut grasses and formulated or compounded feed can sustain them. Rabbit keeping does not require numerous amounts of capital for investment and maintenance. As the little area is needed, most rabbits could be kept in the backyard or the abandoned sheds.
30. Foodstuff Retailing or Grocery Service
As nowadays people get very less time due to their work, convenience has become a real business opportunity. Foodstuffs like rice, beans, yams, plantain, potatoes, onions, pepper, oil etc. These items can be bought in bulk, cleaned and packaged in specific portions and sold directly to end-users.
Many people who are unable to find time to shop will be relieved to know that they can just make a phone call and the groceries are delivered. Get a list of people you know who may patronize you. If you can get them to pay up-front, then you are better up with cash flow.
31. Livestock Feed Production
A substantial number of people are going into livestock farming like fish farming, pig farming, poultry farming and many others. As an intelligent investor, you can start producing feed for people to feed their animals. However, you must confirm that you have carried out a lot of research and come up with a product that is rich in nutrients and would promote fast growth and good health of the animals.
To begin a livestock feed production business, you will need a grinding machine, mixing machine, weighing machine, customized packing bags and raw materials for production. Natural materials might cost you about $1,000 while the devices can buy for about $9,000.
The production process is not so complicated. The ingredients required are mainly, maize, soya beans, fishbone, sorghum, groundnut, blood meal, wheat, rice shaft, additives, etc. All these can source from the market, any animal consult outlet, or any agricultural product shop around.
Ending Statements
Agriculture remains to be the ultimate industry in the U.S. as the country is recognized to be one of the leading producers, consumers, and exporters of agricultural products in the universe. With the human population predicted to increase in size from 9.7 billion by 2050, there will be more demand for farmers in the future. If you are determinedly considering going into the Agro business, our list of farming business ideas can assist you in getting things going.
