Greenhouse facilities. Greenhouse business plan

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

It is quite possible to organize a highly profitable agricultural business in Russia. In the article we will talk about how to equip greenhouses, what crops to grow and how to properly set up work in them.

Approach

Many experts recognize 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 path in the form of fierce competition with other domestic producers. And it is not so difficult to compete with imported vegetables and berries.

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 most profitable areas is the cultivation of greenery: dill, parsley, basil, lettuce, etc.

It is very important to find the right place. To optimize costs, your farm should be located close to the sales market, the main communication systems - sources of electricity, water, gas. In addition, you should pay attention to the transport interchange.

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. It is not necessary to register such ancillary production as entrepreneurship, even if you plan to sell surplus products.

If you have a medium-sized farm, then such a business needs to be registered with the local tax office. This is necessary even if you manage on your own, but produce enough products to sell.

Large greenhouse farms in Russia occupy large areas. They can be processed only with the involvement of hired workers. The owners of such farms must register an individual entrepreneurship 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 start building the structures themselves. Yes, you can buy them or make your own. At the same time, please note that film greenhouses are not able to provide the optimal temperature and humidity required for grown crops during cold periods. The best options arestructures made of polycarbonate or glass. It is clear that buying a finished greenhouse will cost more than building it yourself.

But it is important to know that film options are the cheapest, they are safe, they are easy to dismantle if necessary. Glass transmits sunlight well. This material adds strength to the structure itself. But at the same time, it is unreliable, it is easy to break it. Polycarbonate is durable, transmits sunlight well. Greenhouses made of this material can be operated all year round, but their construction requires a foundation.

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 about its location, transport interchange, types of crops grown, possible markets for products, competitors. In addition, all potential income and costs should be calculated in the plan, and possible unforeseen situations should be considered. 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 side must include all costs for equipment, seeds or seedlings, means for the destruction of weeds and pests, fertilizers. If you plan to attract employees, you need to calculate their wages. Separately, you should think about transportation costs.

After calculating the potential spending, you can begin to determine the possible income. For thisyou need to know the potential yield of the crops you plan to grow and their purchase prices. It is better to immediately make several calculation options, because you cannot hope for a maximum yield in the first year of doing business. A well-designed greenhouse plan will help optimize all costs and evaluate income. With the right approach to organizing a business, investments pay off in less than 2 years.

Location

Special attention should be paid to the place where your greenhouses will be located. It is necessary to take into account not only transport interchange and proximity to sales markets. It is important to evaluate the land on which you plan to place greenhouse farms. If they are flooded during the spring floods, they automatically become unusable. You should also avoid areas where frost can last for a long time. These include deep valleys, ravines. Do not place greenhouses on 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 connection cost. Before erecting greenhouses, it is advisable to check the quality of the supplied water. If it turns out to be bad, then you will need additional greenhouse equipment that will clean it. For irrigation, it is desirable to use only the water that contains an acceptable amount of iron, s alts, a normal pH level, and no microorganisms that cause decay.

Equipment required

Greenhouse development requires quite large investments at the start. This is not only the construction of the structures themselves. It is important to approach the arrangement of the greenhouse correctly. So, first of all, you need to organize its heating. This point is especially important if you plan to install a permanent structure in which vegetables will be grown all year round. You also need 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. Keep in mind that the days are much shorter in the winter, so you will need to provide additional electric lighting.

You will also have to spend money on inventory. You will need to buy tillage tools, carts, buckets, sprayers and other equipment for greenhouse farming.

Recruitment

If you have no experience in running an agricultural business, it will be difficult for you to estimate how many people you might 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. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the required number of personnel depends on the types of cultivated crops. For example, 1 person can serve 0.3 hectares when growing tomatoes, and 0.2 hectares when growing cucumbers.

Working hours

Before you start your business, you need to look at the most profitable greenhouse farmsRussia. Ideally, to maximize income, you need to harvest several crops per year. This can be done only if you immediately spend money on the construction of capital structures. 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 season - to ensure the maximum flow of air from the outside. For these purposes, it is desirable to make a greenhouse with windows that can be opened.

But the structures covered with foil can be used from February-March to November. During the winter frosts, they are not able to protect plants.

Nuances of doing business

Before you start work, you need to decide how exactly you will grow your chosen crops. So, at present, modern hydroponic technologies are used in advanced farms. This allows you to get maximum yields. This greenhouse technology is aimed at creating ideal conditions for plants, accelerating their growth and obtaining better quality products.

But the cultivation of vegetable crops on ordinary soils is more labor-intensive. In addition, hydroponic technology also makes better use of water and nutrients needed by plants.

Alternative business

Most people who decide to go into agriculture think only about food. But growing vegetables or even berries for many is notlimit of dreams. Some are thinking about what purposes greenhouses can still be used for. Flowers are one of the alternative options. They are in demand throughout the year.

In developed countries, they know that the creation of flower greenhouses is one of the most profitable projects. You can do cultivation of roses, tulips. And you can choose a slightly different direction. 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.