Is it profitable to grow potatoes for small businesses

Every person is familiar with potatoes since childhood. We eat it in different forms, and many make money from it. Consider growing potatoes as a business, its profitability and professional reviews.

Business advantages and disadvantages

Growing potatoes as a business has its pros and cons. First of all, it is high profitability. The product is always in demand on the market. This is especially felt in large cities where people do not have their own land plots.

Also, the potato business is undemanding to the initial investment. Even in the case of large-scale production, it will be possible to get by with the purchase of several tractors as harvesting equipment. Of course, equipment will need maintenance and fuel to operate, and the soil needs to be given rest periodically, but the profitability of the enterprise covers these costs. At the same time, no special skills are required to get started at all.

Perhaps the main drawback is the distinct seasonality of the business - you can grow crops only in the summer. To eliminate this disadvantage, you can build special greenhouses in which vegetables are grown all year round, but in this case, investments grow significantly.

For growing potatoes, a detailed business plan can be downloaded from the link.

Registration and legal issues

Registration of this entrepreneurial activity is far from always required. For example, if the land on which the crop is grown falls under the category of personal subsidiary plots, and the surplus potatoes are sold on the market, then it is not necessary to register a business. However, large profits will not be achieved with this approach.

If we are talking about the desire to have a profitable potato growing business, then the first thing that needs to be done is to register as an individual entrepreneur. One of the stages of this process is the selection of the OKVED code. The required one is 01.11.2, it includes not only the cultivation of potatoes for sale, but also allows the sale of planting material.

The most profitable taxation system in this business is the Unified Agricultural Tax or Unified Agricultural Tax, which is 6% of net profit. The form is available only for those who are engaged in independent production and subsequent sale of agricultural products. If you already have an operating enterprise that is planned to be transferred to the Unified Agricultural Tax, it is necessary that the share of income from potatoes be at least 70% of the total amount.

There are two options for taxation - general and special, each has its own characteristics. In the first case, the company will also have to pay VAT, taxes on property used for work, transport tax and unified social tax, as well as a number of others.

If the company switches to the Unified Agricultural Tax, it is exempted from the need to pay personal income tax, and also receives a number of other financial concessions.This alone makes the variant much more attractive than prose.

To switch to the Unified Agricultural Tax in the Russian Federation, you will need to submit an application to the Federal Tax Service. The deadline for filing an application on a general basis is October 20-December 31, on an individual basis - within a month from the date of registration as a legal entity. Important: the timing of the transition to tax varies. In the first case, this will happen at the beginning of the new calendar year, and in the second, it will take place in parallel with registration with the Federal Tax Service.

An equally important point: you can change the form of taxation within a year. If the enterprise ceases to carry out activities in the field of agriculture or its priorities change, so that it no longer meets the requirements, the cancellation of the unified agricultural tax is enforced, which should be avoided.

In the aforementioned taxation system, expenses are understood as all the costs of acquiring the means of production, employee salaries and advertising. All expenses must be recorded in the ledger. Income refers to funds received at the cashier's office or on the company's bank account.

Work technology

Organization of potato production involves several stages.

It all starts when the soil warms up to at least 8 degrees Celsius - agronomists consider this temperature to be optimal for planting a vegetable.

Peculiarities

Unlike most other horticultural crops, potatoes are much more susceptible to weather conditions. There are two main ways of growing vegetables for sale: in special greenhouses, which allows you to start selling in early spring, and in the open way.

The second method has the advantage of a longer shelf life, but the first option is much more profitable. Unfortunately, more will be spent on it, since the equipment is not cheap. This is why many aspiring entrepreneurs prefer the first method.

Potatoes are early ripening crops, from planting to harvesting it takes only 3-4 months. The very technology of growing a vegetable for sale implies step-by-step work: soil preparation, planting, fertilization and care, harvesting, storage and sale or production of by-products.

For the first cycle of work, you will need to purchase planting material. He must have accompanying documents proving high fertility and the absence of diseases. Most often, tubers of these varieties are small, only 3-5 cm in diameter. Important: it is strictly forbidden to mix potatoes of different varieties. In the event that the reproduction of potatoes does not reach the second stage, then it is prohibited to use it for breeding.

First stage

The initial stage is preparing the soil for planting. It involves the removal of weeds, plowing the site, as well as the purchase of varietal potatoes for planting. It is recommended to select the strongest, medium-sized young potatoes for sowing. Larger ones can be cut into several pieces.

The planting material is folded for a while in a well-lit room for 3 weeks so that direct sunlight does not fall on the potatoes. The optimal storage parameters are 3 degrees Celsius and humidity at 85%. Before planting, the potatoes are brought out into the light and the first shoots are expected to appear. The main thing is not to overdo it, no one needs dried potatoes.

Planting and growing

It is important to remember that potatoes must be planted at the right time, taking into account the temperature regime - this is the only way to grow a bountiful harvest. The tubers are placed in the soil at a distance of approximately 15 cm from each other and at the same depth.

As soon as weeds appear, they should be promptly removed; over time, all rows of the vegetable will need to be spud. Agronomists recommend treating potatoes with antiparasitic agents at the moment the first flowers appear on the bushes.

Since the end of flowering, the potatoes will need to be additionally watered.Depending on the weather conditions, this will have to be done every few days. In some severe cases, when nature does not indulge in rains, this will have to be done twice a day, morning and evening. It is important to control the condition of the tops - this will help to avoid excessive moisture or drying out of the soil.

Experts strongly advise against neglecting the means of treatment and destruction of pests. One of the most effective means is sowing the field with onions. This will simultaneously reduce the number of pests and help improve the general condition of the soil on the site.

It is not worth delaying the harvesting process, since overripe fruits are less susceptible to storage and more often rot. After harvesting, the tubers are placed in a container and stored in a cool dry room.

Landing area

According to experts, for a successful potato business, a plot of at least 250 hectares will be required. However, land alone is not enough - it is required that the land be fertile. In addition, it is compulsorily prepared for planting, that is, it is cleaned of debris and weeds, loosened and fertilized.

The best option is to split the whole process into several stages. Remember that in this case, saving on feeding will result in lost profits when selling the goods. As a result, none of the harvested crops will be able to recoup the costs.

Sale

There are several main ways to sell crops:

1. Market trading in the home. This option is justified only for relatively small production volumes. Also, there must be adequate storage conditions and an adequate margin of time. Among the advantages of this option is the fact that in this way you can find wholesale customers.
2. Delivery for sale (to a processing plant for starch, etc.). This project is a little preferable when it comes to large batches. Its main drawback is its large financial losses. You can use it only when the quality of the potatoes is kept at a level. In addition, sometimes difficulties arise in finding a processor (for example, a distillery that will buy a large batch).
3. Conclusion of an agreement with a retail network. This option is optimal, but it is rather difficult to work with retail chains, since there is high competition in this area. According to statistics, about half of all domestic potatoes are sold through large stores. An important point: it is highly advisable to purchase the appropriate packaging equipment in advance, since the price of potatoes in a package is much higher than in a regular bag. The costs for the appropriate devices will pay off very quickly.

Whichever option you choose, you should worry about distribution channels in advance. This will not only save time at the stage of implementation, but also will not let the product disappear due to the fact that there is nowhere to sell it.

Business profitability

Compared to working with most other crops, the potato business is more profitable. The initial costs can be recouped literally in the first few months. The main thing is to properly build a business and establish sales channels. According to experts, the profitability of an enterprise can reach 150%.

The main costs in this case fall on the lease or purchase of land from 2.5 hectares, which will be about 20% of all investments. The necessary agricultural machinery will require another 25% of the budget. A little less will go to the payroll. The planting material will cost an additional 20%, the same amount will be required for transport costs, fuel for machinery, organic matter and fertilizers.

Despite the seemingly large investments, it is necessary to understand that the amount will begin to decrease from one year to the next, since the acquisition of equipment is a one-time waste, and the costs of its operation are not so great.In addition, the planting material will be our own from the second year, which is especially beneficial.

A separate plus is the ability to process potatoes. Of course, this will require significantly expanding and modifying production by installing additional production lines (for example, for the production of potato flour or alcohol), but the final result will give a profit at a fundamentally new level.

Meanwhile, the potato itself is a demanding crop, which requires competent processing and storage conditions. She does not allow herself to be negligent, which can be understood from the numerous reviews on the Web.

Business plan

Separately, it should be noted a business plan for growing potatoes for business planning. It includes a list of expenses and income. The first ones can be entered in the table (prices are approximate):

	Expense line	Sum
1	Land lease	100 thousand rubles
2	Purchase of seed potatoes	50 thousand rubles
3	Purchase of processing tools	25 thousand rubles
4	Employee salaries	250 thousand rubles
5	Fuel costs for machinery	10 thousand rubles
6	Related expenses	100 thousand rubles
	Total:	535 thousand rubles

Video: growing potatoes for sale as a business.

Reviews

“The business of growing various potatoes may at first glance seem like a marginal business. In practice, everything depends on the quality of the established distribution channels. If we manage to conclude an agreement with a large retail chain, we can assume that the deal was successful. I, in turn, opened another workshop for the production of dry mashed potatoes - another additional income. Some go to cafes that cook baked potatoes ”- Svetlana.

“When I started my business, I was looking for funding for a long time. I had to try hard to get the grant, but the result was worth it. The project's payback turned out to be only a year, then one continuous profit, although sometimes a lot depends on the weather, but the greenhouses that I bought 5 years after the start of the business help out ”- Vladimir.

“Over the summer, it will turn out to produce enough goods so that later on not remembering about work all year long. I thought so at the beginning, but practice let me down. As it turned out, without a buyer, the business burns out instantly. As a result, we had to look for a new type of business ”- Anton.

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Growing potatoes on an industrial scale is a profitable and cost-effective business idea that will bring tangible profits to the entrepreneur, provided a competent approach and a clear cost calculation. In order for potato growing to be profitable, it is necessary to draw up an algorithm of actions for starting a business, draw up documentation, find sales markets and grow a crop.

Growing potatoes as a business

Business relevance

Growing potatoes is always a relevant business, since this root crop is a frequent guest on every table. Even if the family has a private land plot, not everyone can meet their needs in the amount of potatoes and, accordingly, purchase it.

Growing potatoes is always beneficial

For an entrepreneur, the pros of a business are:

• in the ease of growing a root crop;
• in the absence of dependence of the demand for the product being sold on the season;
• in low costs for seeds and fertilizers;
• in a quick payback - with a competent approach, the business will be profitable from the first season.

The disadvantages and difficulties of entrepreneurship include:

• low price when selling a product;
• seasonality - it is impossible to grow potatoes all year round in the Russian climate;
• the need for regular treatment of plants from pests and installation of irrigation systems in the fields in case of drought.

Potato consumption potential in Russia

Sale of goods

Before starting to set up a business, an entrepreneur should explore the possibilities of marketing the products he grows.The profit earned by him largely depends on how profitable a businessman will be to sell potatoes.

Sale of goods

You can sell potatoes in the following ways:

• to sell root crops on the market on their own - this method requires a lot of time (which is often not enough for farmers) or additional expenses if a decision is made to hire a seller;
• selling crops to those who already trade in the markets at retail is convenient and often profitable;
• sell potatoes to wholesale resellers. This method is convenient in that there is no need to equip a special storage for potatoes for the winter-spring period;
• directly supplying goods to retail outlets. This option is the most profitable, but it is quite difficult to find regular customers.

Having decided on the distribution channels and making sure of their reliability, you can proceed to the main thing - the design and organization of your own potato growing business.

Growing and selling potatoes

Business organization algorithm

For growing root crops to be profitable, you need to think through every step. Initially, you need to draw up documents:

• if an entrepreneur plans to do business on his own small plot and the activity falls under the definition of an auxiliary personal farm, then it is not necessary to go through the registration procedure with government agencies, but it will be possible to sell the goods only independently;
• if the business is planned to expand to an industrial scale, then you should register with the Tax Inspectorate as an individual entrepreneur, choosing OKVED A. 01.13.21 and the system of taxation of the Unified Agricultural Taxation.

When organizing a large business, it is worth considering that wholesale buyers and retail chains are more willing to cooperate with individual entrepreneurs than with individuals, therefore, officially registered entrepreneurs have more options for selling grown products.

Potato

It also follows:

• rent or buy a land plot;
• prepare the land for planting root crops;
• rent equipment;
• organize an irrigation system;
• purchase planting material (in the first year, in the future it will remain from the previous harvest);
• organize a storage space for products.

Growing potatoes in large quantities requires fields and machinery

Necessary equipment

How to grow potatoes for sale?

How to grow potatoes for sale

For the first season, a field of 3-5 hectares will be enough for growing potatoes, subsequently the area can be increased. But, just renting or buying land is not enough - you need to prepare it for planting root crops:

• fertilize the soil until the onset of frost, until mid-autumn;
• the earth is loosened, cleaned of growing weeds;
• make fertilizers - preferably organic;
• potatoes are planted in spring - the planting time directly depends on the region: in the southern regions, planting begins at the end of March, and in the middle lane - in May.

Preparing potatoes for planting

Choosing potatoes for growing

Before the first planting season, you need to purchase material - you should choose tubers that do not have traces of damage, parasites and rotting. From the second year, you will not have to spend money on potatoes for planting - the material will be selected from the harvest obtained last season.

Preparing potatoes for planting

Preparing potatoes for planting should begin in advance, in the fall. Potatoes are "greened" like this:

• tubers are placed in a lighted place for 20 days - this action is necessary to protect the potatoes from rotting and improve their germination in the spring;
• then the roots are transferred to an unlit room and stored at a positive temperature in the range of 1-3 degrees.

Vernalization of potatoes

Before planting, for a month, the potatoes are moved to the light so that they germinate. At the time of planting, the sprouts should reach a minimum length of one centimeter. If large tubers are planted, then a number of manipulations must be carried out before germination:

• each potato is cut into several parts, with 2-4 "eyes" left on any of them;

  Cutting tubers before planting

  It is preferable to cut the tubers across

  How many parts to cut depends on the size of the tuber

• the place of the cut is sprinkled with ash - this is to prevent infection of the root crop;
• store potatoes in a bright room for a month, until the sprouts germinate.

Boarding time

Before planting potatoes in the ground, you should make sure that they are warm enough - their temperature should be about 9 degrees at a depth of 12-15 centimeters. The exact time of landing is determined by the climatic conditions in each specific region and the weather.

Choose your pick up time

Landing dates

Before the potatoes fall into the ground, the soil must be properly dug up, cleared of sprouted weeds. To maximize the comfort of growing a crop and, as a consequence, convenience when processing plants with agro-industrial equipment, it is necessary to observe certain distances between:

• between rows - from 30 to 40 centimeters;
• between the bushes - about a meter.

Root crop care, collection and storage

After 1.5-2 weeks after sowing, it is necessary to spud the planting - this procedure will give the earth softness and airiness, saturate it with oxygen, and in one - weeds are removed.

The main care of plants during growth and maturation is:

• in regular processing from the Colorado beetles of the aboveground part of the crop (tops) - insects are especially rampant during the flowering of potatoes and, if not timely processed, can destroy the entire crop;
• in watering - in normal weather it is enough to water the plants every 4 days, and in a drought the potatoes need moisture every day.

Potato field

Fertilize the land with manure (horse or cow), preferably before sowing. And so that the land does not lose its fertility, after harvesting root crops, it is sown with sunflowers, clover or corn.

The grown crop is harvested immediately after ripening - these are:

• favorably affects its taste;
• allows you to save all useful substances in root crops;
• prolongs the shelf life of potatoes.

Mass harvesting of potatoes begins in the 20th of August

Store potatoes in ventilated, moderately cool, dark rooms. Before placing vegetables in a storage area, they need to be dried and sorted - tubers that have traces of rot and spoilage are not stored along with a healthy crop.

Potato storage

Potato business profitability

Potato packaging

If there is a plot of land of 30 acres, suitable for growing potatoes, the main items of expenditure will be:

• purchase of a motor-cultivator and attachments - about 48-55,000 rubles;
• purchase of a body for a tractor - from 20,000 rubles;
• purchase of seed - 15,000 rubles;
• maintenance of equipment, purchase of fertilizers - up to 10,000 rubles;
• paperwork and tax deductions - about 10-12,000.

In total, starting a business will cost an entrepreneur 112,000 rubles. With an average yield of 240 kilograms from one hundred square meters, after the harvest ripens, the entrepreneur will have 7,200 kilograms of products. With a wholesale price of 23 rubles per kilo of potatoes, the profit for the season will amount to 54,000 rubles.

The above calculation is approximate, allowing you to assess the profitability and compliance of material and physical investments in making a profit from the business of growing and selling potatoes. If you organize larger-scale sowing operations, using large areas, then the profit, respectively, will be higher.

Growing and selling potatoes is a fairly profitable and profitable business, the only drawback of which is seasonality. If you decide to engage in this activity, then carefully study the algorithm for starting and running a business so that entrepreneurship is profitable and does not cause problems.

In the photo potatoes

Video - Growing potatoes. Successful business

Considering various types of employment in the field of agriculture, it is necessary to highlight the potato business as one of the most promising projects. After all, this product is consumed today by most of the country's population. In addition, the volume of its sales has not fallen for quite a long time. So, let's learn about the features and possible risks of this lesson in more detail.

Prospects and risks of the case

In general, growing potatoes as a business can be done in several different ways. Work aimed at obtaining early varieties will be more promising and profitable. True, this activity will require a fairly large investment at the start due to the peculiarities of the climate. Indeed, in order to establish uninterrupted work, you will need to equip the territory with greenhouses and equip them with everything you need: an irrigation system, heating.

By growing potatoes, you can quickly build your own successful and profitable business.

The second form of this activity is based on obtaining a seasonal harvest. Here you can grow plants outdoors, creating the minimum convenient conditions for caring for them. Of course, the profit here will not be so high, but this option shows up to 30% profitability, which means that it is quite a profitable business.

True, there are some nuances here. After all, the volume of your harvest will depend on many external factors. They will be, first of all, weather and climatic conditions. In addition, you will need to periodically monitor the development and growth of your crops in order to get rid of pests in time. Of course, the quality of the planting material also plays an important role here.

Without a doubt, this business has its advantages. For example, the sale of a product in small batches will allow you to do without registering a business. Although, when it comes to serious business, it is still appropriate not to skimp on such payments. In addition, having your own plot, you significantly save on its rent, as well as on utility bills. After all, you have the right to use alternative natural sources for watering seedlings and heating crops.

Potatoes are an integral part of the diet of most residents of our country, so they are in demand year-round.

The potato growing business is also not bad because of the ability to run it all year round.... After all, this product is constantly in high demand in the market. Also, the high return on investment and the unpretentiousness of the plants speak in favor of such an undertaking. In addition, an effective method for obtaining a good harvest has long been developed, so you will not have any problems with this issue. Finally, the low cost of launching such a project undoubtedly speaks of the advisability of considering such an idea.

Features of production technology

You can finally decide whether it is profitable to grow potatoes for sale by familiarizing yourself with the nuances of the technological process. So, experts call the optimum soil temperature for planting a value of eight degrees Celsius. That is, in the north of the country, it is not possible to start sowing until June, and residents of the southern regions can start a business in March.

Preparation

True, you should first take care of the preparation of the soil. In October, you need to remove weeds and plow the field, enriching the soil with organic fertilizers. At the same time, it is optimal to purchase planting tubers and start preparing them. Strong medium-sized potatoes are selected for sowing. When the tubers are large enough, they can be halved by dusting the cut with ash.

The volume of your crop depends on the quality of soil preparation

Next, you need to lay out the planting material in a well-lit room for about three weeks. Here you need to try to avoid direct sunlight hitting it. Then the tubers are sent to storage in the basement. Here, the optimal temperature indicator will be 3 ° С and humidity not exceeding 85%... A month before sowing, the material is again brought out into the light and the appearance of "eyes" is monitored.

We plant and take care of plants

In the prepared soil, the tubers are placed at a depth of about 15 cm, observing approximately the same intervals between plantings. When weeds appear, they are removed, and then the hilling of the plants is carried out. When the bushes throw out color, experts recommend treating them with antiparasitic drugs.

Planting potatoes must comply with certain rules and temperature conditions.

As for watering, it is appropriate to carry out it every 3 days after the end of flowering. Of course, it is appropriate to be guided by the weather conditions here. For example, during a drought, irrigate the plants immediately after sunrise and sunset every day. In short, control the condition of the tops to prevent excess or lack of moisture.

By the way, do not neglect additional pest control measures. A good natural way to deal with them is to plant onions in a potato field. This plant improves soil performance and repels some insects that damage your planting.

We collect and sell the crop

After the withering of the tops comes a favorable time for harvesting potatoes. Do not forget that stale tubers are more prone to rotting and are poorly preserved, so do not delay this procedure. The crop should be sorted and packed in ventilated wooden boxes. The container should be placed in a cool and dry room with good air exchange.

As for the implementation options, here you can proceed by choosing the method that is best for yourself. The simplest solution would be wholesale. You can slightly increase your profits by practicing independent sales of goods. In addition, potato processing as a business is another highly lucrative marketing route. Therefore, you can increase your income by trying this method.

Legal nuances of business

Before starting a potato business, you need to carefully study the legislation. Today, a farmer with an area of ​​up to a hectare can conduct a business without registering it. Of course, when planning to expand your business or open your own fast food outlet, it is appropriate, nevertheless, to issue an individual entrepreneur.

If the area of ​​your plot exceeds one hectare, you will need to register your business.

When you are engaged in the cultivation of agricultural products, you have the right to choose the UST. This taxation system allows 6% of the annual gross income to be paid to the state. Today, this format will be the optimal solution for most newbie entrepreneurs.

Landing area and necessary equipment

When drawing up a business plan for growing potatoes, it is important to indicate there all the details of the upcoming event. Be sure to indicate the planned planting area. In general, the expediency of a business can be said when sowing at least 30 acres of land. Considering that the maximum product yield from this area will be about 7.5 tons, we will take an area of ​​65 acres as the basis for the project.

Soil processing is the most important stage of work, so you should not save on the purchase of equipment

Next, you need to indicate the costs of purchasing the equipment needed in the process of obtaining a harvest. Usually, for a plot of the size we have chosen, it will be enough to purchase a mini-tractor, a plow and several different trailers. You will need equipment for hilling, collecting and transporting. In addition, it is appropriate to take care of the purchase of an irrigation system and treatment chemicals for pest control.... All this will cost you about 311,000 rubles. When funds allow, you can purchase a sorting machine, the cost of which will be 255,000 rubles.

Planting material

When planning to run a business, you need to take into account all its details.It is important to correctly calculate the number of seedlings. On average, one hundred square meters of soil will require about 20 kg of tubers. Thus, for an area of ​​65 acres, you will have to purchase 1, 3 tons of potatoes. With an average price of 20 rubles / kg, you need to include in the cost estimate a figure of 26,000 rubles for the purchase of seed.

Staff

To implement such a project, you will need to hire one assistant who will take care of planting, collecting and sorting the crop. As a rule, here you can offer a salary of 12,000 rubles. You will also need to find a retailer to sell your product. If you are thinking about opening a fast food stall in the city, it is appropriate to hire a chef with a health certificate for this vacancy. Here the salary should be about 18,000 rubles.

To process a small area, you will need to find one assistant

We plan sales

Of course, in order for the business to be successful, the businessman will need to think over the ways of selling the goods in advance. Here it is important to establish contacts with wholesalers and distributors. Of course, there are other options to consider when planning your business thoroughly. For example, sell the product yourself on the market and even open your own grocery store.

By purchasing additional equipment and renting a kiosk, you can increase your revenue by selling, for example, potatoes in a spiral - a popular fast food today

As we already mentioned, a fast food outlet is a great idea that will significantly increase the overall profit margin. Of course, this will require additional investments of up to 120,000 rubles for its design and equipment. For example, a spiral potato as a business shows excellent sales results. Here, the proceeds may exceed 160,000 rubles. per month, and so you can sell about 2 tons of the crop.

Final calculations

Let's determine how expedient this business idea will be. To do this, we will compare the volumes of the initial and current investments of the possible profit of the enterprise. So, the initial investment for growing a crop will be as follows:

• registration - 5,000;
• equipment - 311,000;
• seed potatoes - 26,000;
• other expenses - 18,000.

This means that you can start work with savings of 360,000 rubles.... Having conceived of opening your own fast food outlet, add another 120,000 rubles here. Consider the planned annual costs. The estimate will have something like the following:

• assistant's salary (6 months) - 66,000;
• salesperson's salary (4 months) - 72,000;
• stall rental (4 months) - 70,000;
• taxes - 45,000;
• transport and overhead costs - 147,000.

Presumably, in a year you will spend about 400,000 rubles. Now let's calculate the profit. The total yield will be up to 16 tons. Taking into account a certain percentage of rejection, suppose that we can sell about 14 tons. Of these, we will sell 8,000 kg ourselves, making chips, and the rest we will hand over to wholesalers. Thus, the gross income will amount to 760,000 rubles. The net profit indicator here will be equal to 330,000 rubles, and the business will pay off in a year and a half..

Drawing up a detailed business plan will help you estimate the size of the business and the projected income

In general, as practice shows, large sowing areas will increase the profitability of the business. Of course, at first you can try to run a business in a small area, and over time you should think about expanding it.

By growing potatoes, you can quickly build your successful and profitable business Potatoes are an integral part of the diet of most residents of our country, therefore they are in demand year-round The volume of your harvest depends on the quality of soil preparation. your plot exceeds one hectare,compulsory registration of entrepreneurial activity will be required Soil cultivation is the most important stage of work, so you should not save on the purchase of equipment To process a small area, you will need to find one assistant By purchasing additional equipment and renting a kiosk, you can increase your revenue by selling, for example, potatoes in a spiral - a popular fast food today Drawing up a detailed business plan will help you assess the scale of the business and the estimated income Harvest should be stored in wooden boxes in a dry and well-ventilated area As most farmers say, growing potatoes for sale becomes a profitable business when the planting area is at least 30 acres

It is difficult to imagine a more popular vegetable on the table of a domestic consumer than potatoes. We love and honor this root vegetable, respectfully calling it the second bread. In addition, it is in increasing demand among European companies, which makes it possible for Russian farmers to grow it for export.

It is also worth noting the growth of the needs of the domestic market, where demand significantly exceeds supply. Thus, there will be enough place in this niche of agricultural production for everyone: both small and large entrepreneurs.

Pros, cons, business relevance

It should be understood that running any business of your own has both advantages and disadvantages. And the potato business is no exception.

The main advantages that make it possible to quickly make a project profitable include:

• independence of demand for goods from the season (the vegetable is equally in demand by Russians at any time, and the cost of early varieties of potatoes is especially high);
• unpretentiousness and good adaptability of the root crop to climatic conditions and soil;
• seasonal payback of the project (with a competent approach, the business will begin to bring real income in 4-5 months);
• low price of fertilizers and the possibility of using production waste (for example, tops) to improve the quality and fertility of the soil.

If we are talking about small and medium-sized businesses in villages or villages, tax exemption will be an additional bonus and financial support for future farmers. In addition, you can save on wages for employees by contacting local residents, and here there is already a mutual benefit: your payroll goes down, local residents get new jobs.

Growing a vegetable for sale also has its own characteristic disadvantages and risks, most of which, with timely measures, can be minimized:

• seasonal heat - it is better to immediately spend money on the irrigation system than trying to save the remnants of the crop;
• man is not the only fan of this root vegetable. As soon as the first tops appear, the pests will begin to precipitate the plants. Timely fight against them will get rid of the problem;
• infected planting material will nullify all your efforts and destroy all plants.

And, perhaps, the main drawback of the business is its seasonality, which, if desired, can be turned into an advantage. After working for several months, you can relax or think about a new project.

How to organize such a business according to European standards in the following video:

Landing area

According to experts, the cultivation of potatoes involves the use of areas of the order 250-300 ha... However, the availability of territories is not enough for a good harvest and a stable profit. In order for the land to be fertile, it is necessary to prepare it for planting a crop. The most suitable time is September-October (before the onset of the first frost).

The land is cleared of weeds, debris and stones, loosened, preventing mixing of soil layers.It's time to think about fertilization. It is better to break this process into several stages, saturating the soil with all new micronutrients. Better to use only natural organic fertilizers... By the way, it is extremely unreasonable to save on fertilizing the land - a small amount of organic matter, even with a slight decrease in temperature, will lead to freezing of the soil, and no matter what planting material you choose, the harvested crop will not recoup the costs.

Preparation of planting material

High-quality planting material is clean, medium-sized tubers without visible signs of disease and defects... With the onset of autumn, the selected material is "greened", leaving it for 2-3 weeks in the light (avoiding excessive sun). This is done in order to improve the quality of the tuber and its resistance to the decay process.

Then the potatoes are placed in a dark, cool and humid room, where they are stored until spring. About a month before planting in the ground, the planting material needs a warm and light storage in order to be able to sprout. Large specimens are cut into pieces, each of which will subsequently also be covered with steams. The cut sites are treated with ash for disinfection purposes.

Before landing in the ground, they dig up the earth. For comfortable growth of culture and convenience of technical processing, the distance in rows between bushes of about 1 meter should be observed. The distance between the rows is 30-40 cm.

The time period for starting planting is determined by the temperature factor. As soon as the soil warms up to 8-10 degrees at a depth of 10-15 cm, you can start.

Care, collection and storage

A couple of weeks after planting, the first hilling is carried out (it will allow the soil to breathe, make it soft and loose), the first weeds are removed.

During the beginning of flowering, young bushes literally attract Colorado beetles. In large quantities, they are able to destroy the entire crop in the shortest possible time. To avoid this, the aerial part of the plant is thoroughly sprayed.

Watering is carried out regularly - potatoes do not tolerate drought well. In extreme heat, daily watering is shown, normally enough once every 3-4 days.

Harvesting is carried out after the final ripening of the tuber. In this case, all the useful properties of the product will be preserved as much as possible.

Store the vegetable in a well-ventilated, ventilated warehouse. The ideal option is a dark, dry, moderately cool storage. Before laying, the product is thoroughly dried in the open air. Defective tubers should be stored separately to prevent the spread of rot.

Sales channels

Depending on the volume and specifics of doing business, the harvested crop can be sold in the following ways:

• Self-market implementation... It is justified in case of relatively small volumes, availability of time and proper conditions, ensuring high-quality long-term storage of the product.
• Hand over for implementation... On the one hand, it is convenient and fast, on the other, it entails certain financial losses. This option is suitable for farmers who own large areas and harvest a good harvest. With good quality goods, they will not have problems with sales.
• Conclusion of contracts with large retail outlets and supermarkets... An important point: the price of packaged potatoes is twice as high as sold in ordinary bags. Packaging equipment will quickly pay for itself even with small production volumes. Today, more than 50 percent of domestic potatoes are sold through the trade network.

It is preferable to think about distribution channels in advance. This is not only time savings, it is an opportunity to preserve the harvest and deliver a quality product to the consumer, receiving a decent payment for it.

Business costs and profitability

The potato business is a profitable business when compared to growing other types of crops.Even taking into account the initial investment with a well-designed business plan, the costs will pay off within a few months, and the profitability will be at least 150%.

The cost part of the project will be:

• land lease - 20% (while lease of at least 2.5-3 hectares of land is considered profitable);
• special agricultural machinery (as a rule, this cost item accounts for about 25% of the total investment);
• payroll (20 percent);
• planting material (20 percent);
• transportation costs, fuel, chemicals and organics (about 15%).

It should be understood that already in the second year of the project, the cost part changes downward: there is no need to purchase equipment (the operating costs of the existing one are minimal). And even with a good harvest, your own planting material may be enough.

Among other things, the potato business has excellent prospects - the possibility of its further processing for raw materials is not far off. And these are completely different profits.

Potatoes, being the most profitable agricultural product, are nevertheless very demanding on the technologies of cultivation, processing and storage. This product does not forgive a careless attitude towards it, however, with a high-quality approach to all stages of production, it will make your enterprise successful, profitable and prosperous.