Tobacco cultivation as a business: where to start, what you need to know, the legislation of the Russian Federation. Varieties of tobacco

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

Prices for tobacco products in the CIS countries will inevitably rise upwards, so many start-up entrepreneurs are thinking about how to organize the production of tobacco at home, so that later they can sell a natural product to people. This article will focus on what tobacco growing is like as a business in the Russian Federation: what are the best varieties to grow? What does the law say about tobacco sales? What is the profitability of this enterprise?

Relevance of the tobacco business in Russia

According to reliable sources, about 65 percent of men and 30 percent of women in Russia smoke, which is about 40 percent of the total population. It is not difficult to assume that the demand for tobacco products remains consistently high, despite the annual increase in the price of cigarettes and tobacco. That is why many people began to switch to a "home product", which costs several times less than any pack of cigarettes.

Also, do not forget that home-grown tobacco brings much lessharm to human he alth than the products that today can be purchased in stores. The fact is that even the best cigarettes will almost certainly contain various chemical impurities, and instead of tobacco, the manufacturer quite often uses ordinary shag - cuttings, stems and rotten tobacco leaves - anything but a good and high-quality leaf from a plantation.

Why is it important to write a business plan?

If you decide to organize the industrial cultivation of tobacco, then you should first of all draw up a competent business plan that would take into account the specifics of this production. What is it for?

First, to set clear goals and objectives. A goal written down on a sheet of paper has much more weight than one held in the mind of an entrepreneur, because it can be changed at any time.

Secondly, a well-written business plan allows you to determine the cost of production, the profitability of the business and the approximate payback period. It may not be profitable to grow tobacco in your locality.

Third, the constant presence of a business plan in front of your eyes allows you to see the pros and cons of your production, so you will not forget about them at the most crucial moment.

In addition, a business plan is necessary to attract the attention of investors. If you can prove to the bank or shareholders how profitable your business is to invest, they will invest heavily in your production.funds.

Market analysis is the first point of a business plan

Any tobacco grower will tell you that before setting up production in a particular locality, you first need to analyze the tobacco market in your area. What kind of cigarettes are most in demand? What is their average cost? Low cost or high quality - which of these people prefer and so on.

Undoubtedly, you should also understand exactly where you will sell your products - in a small kiosk, in the market, or you will take it to the nearest store, having agreed with its owner on mutually beneficial cooperation. If you are sure that high-quality tobacco will be in good demand, then you should proceed with the implementation of the enterprise.

Legislative side of the issue

What should you know about a business like growing tobacco? Of course, whether you need to obtain permission to sell tobacco products of your own production or not. More as needed! The legislation of the Russian Federation states that in order to sell tobacco products, you must register your excise stamp and pay a special tax on the sale in favor of the state. Obtaining an excise stamp may not be as easy as it seems at first glance, so a novice entrepreneur is strongly advised to seek help in this matter from a professional lawyer. His services will more than pay off after you set up production - you can not even doubt it.

List of varieties for smoking

Before you buy tobacco seeds and start growing seedlings from them, you need to thoroughly study the question of which varieties are used for smoking. It can also play a huge role in whether you get approved for a tax stamp or not. There is a whole list of tested and approved varieties, the best of which are:

• "Ternopilsky-14".
• "Kentucky Burley".
• "Holly-215".
• "Anniversary".
• "Virginia".

Also, when choosing a tobacco variety, you should pay special attention to what climatic conditions are suitable for growing it. For example, the variety "Ternopilsky-14" was developed specifically for growing on the territory of Ukraine, but it also feels great in the climatic conditions of the Krasnodar Territory. The choice of variety should be given special attention if you do not want to lose the harvest.

Growing seedlings from seeds

Decided to start a seed tobacco growing business at home? When to plant? This is the most frequently asked question from first-time entrepreneurs, although the answer can be quite simple by looking at the instructions that come with the package. Most seeds are recommended to be sown in early spring or late winter. A lot depends mostly on the variety you decide to buy in the store or online.

After buying seeds, the entrepreneur will have to grow fromthem high-quality seedlings, and for this you will have to create optimal conditions for the growth and development of plants. For example, the required temperature must be constantly maintained in the room, which is usually indicated on a pack of seeds. And as an additional source of lighting, you can use ordinary fluorescent lamps by hanging them over flowerpots with seedlings.

Also, for growing he althy tobacco seedlings, due attention should be paid to high-quality watering. It should be abundant in the initial stages of petal formation, however, too wet soil can lead to the development of various fungal diseases, such as root rot.

Selecting a landing site

Tobacco care and cultivation also involves choosing the optimal area of open ground. It is best to plant seedlings on a slight slope so that excess moisture does not linger in the soil, but flows down. This is especially true if you live in a region that is characterized by an abundance of rainfall.

You will also have to take care of protecting plants from cold winds in advance, since tobacco is extremely negative about drafts. In this regard, it is strongly not recommended to plant a crop near buildings. It is best to build a special shelter that would protect the plant from the winds.

Procedure for transplanting seedlings

Decided to grow Virginia tobacco? Seedlings of this variety are best planted no earlier than the end of May, when the probability of night frosts will be reduced to zero. The minimum soil temperature should beless than ten degrees Celsius. It is also best to treat the soil from pests before planting, especially try to get rid of the bear with the help of folk remedies or insecticides.

Young plants are planted in cultivated soil to a depth of no more than ten centimeters. You can also put a little humus from cow dung in each hole, but in no case use fresh fertilizer, as it will be detrimental to the root system. After planting, it is necessary to add about 0.5 liters of water under each seedling bush.

Care during the summer

Any tobacco grower will tell you that this crop grows best in the summer when the weather is hot. Plants do not require additional shading, and the moisture that comes with the rain is usually enough. However, if you live in a rather arid region where it rarely rains, you can protect the plants from drying out in advance by stretching drip irrigation tape along the rows. But remember that excess moisture is much more detrimental to this plant than its lack.

While tobacco grows, it will have to be constantly weeded in order not only to destroy the weeds, but also to loosen the earth properly. Also, green culture can be fed with complex fertilizers, but not more than three times a year. It is best to use a drug called "He althy" for this. Moreover, top dressing is carried out not only under the root, but also "according to the sheet" - with the help ofsprayer. As soon as the first flowers appear, tobacco must be stepsoned.

Diseases and pests

Tobacco, like any other plant, can be subject to various diseases that are associated with improper care. The most terrible misfortune for him is powdery mildew, characterized by gray spots on the leaves. Most often, it occurs due to the contact of hot leaves with cold dew. You can fight this with various folk remedies or with the help of the drug "Topaz" by treating the leaves with a spray bottle.

In addition to diseases, plants can be attacked by pests, the most deadly of which are aphids and spider mites. Since tobacco is not a crop that can be eaten, various insecticides, such as Alatar, can be safely used against parasites. You can try to remove insects with folk remedies, but the method must be well-tested so that in the end it is not too late.

Harvesting and drying crops

If you manage to create optimal conditions for growing tobacco, then sooner or later the plant will give its crop, which must be harvested in time. This is best done in mid-autumn, when the leaves begin to turn yellow one by one. If the weather does not let you down and the rains do not spoil the "harvest", then in just a couple of weeks you can harvest from the entire plantation.

As for drying tobacco, it is best to do it in a dry and warm place, for example, in the attic or in a speciallyequipped container. Leaves must be hung on a special hook. Only after a few months will it be possible to proceed to the next stage - fermentation.

Tobacco fermentation

In addition to the rules for growing tobacco in Russia, it is also recommended for a novice farmer to know everything about the fermentation process so that the original product has a characteristic flavor and aroma. As a rule, fermentation is carried out in a special container, which maintains a temperature of about fifty degrees Celsius, as well as an air humidity of 65%. A week later, the latter indicator increases to 75 percent, and the temperature remains at the same level. After a couple of days, the temperature is reduced to twenty degrees Celsius, and the humidity drops to 15 percent. Such manipulations allow you to give tobacco a rich taste and aroma. Of course, each entrepreneur has his own fermentation technology, but a novice farmer is advised to adhere to these particular rules.

Cut tobacco

The rules for cutting leaves do not depend on the type of tobacco. After fermentation, we take the dry material and cut it into even strips, each of which is about five millimeters wide. After that, dry tobacco is thoroughly ground and placed in glass containers for storage. The airtight lid ensures that the final product will not lose its taste during several years of storage, but it is best to sellall tobacco until the next harvest. You can do this yourself or by partnering with the nearest tobacco factory.

A few words in conclusion

Now it's clear what tobacco growing as a business is. Before starting a business, you should draw up a business plan to calculate the costs. It is equally important to follow the simple rules for registering a business from a legislative point of view, as well as follow the recommendations regarding the cultivation, collection and storage of crops. As you can see, with the right approach, this business can be quite profitable, especially if no one else is doing it in your city or village.