The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings. As when it is understood that one loses joy and happiness in the attempt to posses them, the essence of natural farming will be realized. (Mansanobu Fukuoka). India’s economy being an agrarian one. Only 2.4 per cent of world land, India is managing 17.5 percent of world population. At the time of independence, more than half of the national income was contributed by agriculture along with more than 70 percent of total population was dependent on agriculture (Pandey, 2013). Undoubtly agriculture and allied sectors are considered to be mainstay of the Indian economy because these are important sources of raw materials for industries and possess demand for many industrial products particularly fertilizers, pesticides, agriculture implements and a variety of consumer goods (Bairwa et al., 2014). The emergence of the global free market economies has resulted in the development of a new vision and emergence need of enterprise “Agri-preneurship” and the increased culture of establishing their own businesses ventures so as to work like as a Boss. Entrepreneurship is connected with finding ways and means to create and develop a profitable farm business. Agripreneurship is greatly influenced mainly by the economic situation, education and culture (Singh, 2013).
Need of Agripreneurship development
In most of the countries, Agriculture was used to be treated as just an activity of land tilling and crop harvesting, but growing waste land, depleting natural resources, increase in level of migration by rural youth to urban areas, negative perception of the children of farmers towards farming, and emerging technologies in agriculture have necessitated redesigning of agricultural activities. So in order to stabilize the faded essence of traditional agricultural practices, the vision, leap into action and practice of entrepreneurship in the field of agriculture generates wide range of economic benefits like:- increased agri productivity, creation of new business ventures for income generation, new Jobs, innovative products and services, development of rural areas and increased wealth creation. With the adoption of managerial, technical and innovative skills of entrepreneurship in the field of agriculture may definitely yield positive results and a well trained agri-preneurs may earn brand equity among the farm section by becoming a ray of hope to all such disheartened farmers. Sah (2009) stated that developing entrepreneurs in agriculture will solve the entire problem like (a) Reduce the burden of agriculture (b) Generate employment opportunities for rural youth (c) Control migration from rural to urban areas (d) Increase national income (e) Support industrial development in rural areas (f) Reduces the pressure on urban cities. Agripreneurship plays various roles in the growth and development of national economy through entrepreneurship development which increases the income level and employment opportunities in rural as well as urban areas (Bairwa et al., 2012).
Digitization as a blessing for agripreneurship development
Without change there is no innovation creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable (William pollard). No doubt, the initiative of Digital India is a boon for agriculture sector. One of the impressive and effective example of digital India initiatives is “e-sagu”. It provides expert doorstep advices to the farmers with ease and effective manner. With the use of internet and audio-visual communication facility, the advices are provided to the farmers regularly regarding the various techniques to increase the farm productivity. Another emerging digital tool is Community Radio (CR). Community Radio fulfils the information needs of the farmers using radio station facilities. Digital Green is a brilliant initiative that accomplishes the task of dissemination of agricultural information using videos. With the of digital india concept Easy access to technology, emergence of micro financing, liberalized government rules, awareness and training programmes on agri and allied sectors and finally changing mindset of the highly qualified people to go for self employment in the field of agriculture have contributed significantly in enhancing the potentiality for agri-preneuership in India.
The soil is the great connector of lives, the source and destination of all. It is the healer and restorer and resurrector, by which disease passes into health, age into youth, and death into life. Without proper care for it we can have no community, because without proper care for it we can have no life (Wendell berry).
Areas covered under Agripreneurship:
Agro produce processing units, Agro Produce manufacturing units, Agro-inputs manufacturing units, Agro service centres, ABAC centres, Dairying, Food retailing, Bee Keeping, Sericulture, Goat rearing, Rabbit rearing, Floriculture, Fisheries, Shrimp Farming, Sheep rearing, vegetable cultivation, nursery farming, farm forestry, Farm input dealing, vermi compost culture, Mushroom farming,
New untapped and lucrative Agribusiness models for profitable income
Agricultural business is all about the production and marketing of agricultural commodities through farming items related to livestock and crops. Agri-business generally involves either an input or a product or service. It can broadly be classified into three categories.
Productive resources like feed, seed, fertilizer, equipment, energy, pesticides, machinery, etc. Secondly, agricultural commodities like raw and processed commodities of food and fiber and facilitative services (credit, insurance, marketing, storage, processing, transportation, packing, distribution, consultancy, soil testing etc.
The new areas of Entrepreneurship in agriculture are:
Agriculture Farm : Produce items as per the local demand and sell locally
Hydroponic Retail Store: A person having a passion for plantation technology can start the hydroponic retail store business to turn his hobby into a profit making venture.
Vermi-compost: Organic Fertilizer Production become a major component of agro-business models across the country with a very low initial investment
Dried Flower Business: Flower production is one of the fastest growing crop trends in agriculture today with a strong demand for all types of flowers, especially unique varieties.
Input Distribution Business: It is one of the profitable agriculture business ideas one can start with moderate capital investment.
Organic Farm Green House: An organic farm greenhouse business has a high potential to grow and succeed because steadily the demand for organically grown farm products has grown considerably.
Sunflower Farming: Sunflower is often called a commercial cash crop. Growing sunflower for oilseed with maintaining right process is a viable business opportunity. It has nowadays used as a remedial measure to heart and high lipid diseases.
Fruits and Vegetables Export: An entrepreneur can start an export business of fresh fruits and vegetables by collecting them from local farmers. One can start this business from a home location only having a phone and computer with internet connection.
Florist: One of the very profitable retail agriculture business ideas. Having a retail space and connection with the flower grower’s one can start this business. An entrepreneur also can generate a substantial online sale by offering customers door step delivery.
Frozen Chicken Production: Frozen chicken is a cash product now. The demand for this product is increasing globally. This business is in rapid pace in competitive market.
Basket Weaving: Using a wide range of raw material an entrepreneur can initiate customized basket weaving business from a home location with moderate capital investment.
Spice Processing: Rising global demand gives a boost to the spice processing industry recently. Like saffron, Kalzeera, anardana etc
Vegetable Farming: Vegetable farming is one of the most profitable agriculture business ideas. Having sufficient land an entrepreneur can start good quality vegetable farming with quality seed and fertilizers.
Grocery E-Shopping Portal: Grocery E-shopping portal is a most trending business in recent phenomena.
Medicinal Herbs Farming: Growing medicinal herbs commercially are one of profitable agriculture business ideas. Having sufficient land and knowledge about the herbs, an entrepreneur can initiate medicinal herbs farming with moderate capital investment
Dairy Farming: Commercial dairy farming is one of the most profitable agriculture business ideas. Apart from milk, it produced a quantity of manure. There is a tremendous scope/potential for increasing the milk production through profitable dairy farming
Potato Powder: Potato powder has wide application in the processed and snack food industries, it can be used in any recipe which requires mashed potatoes. Potato powder is used as a thickener or base for the preparation of ready to eat vegetable gravies and soups. The processing method is also not very complex. Potato powder processing business can be initiated semi-automatic small-scale basis.
Corn Farming: Corn (Maize) is one of the most versatile emerging crops having wider adaptability under varied agro-climatic conditions. Globally, maize is known as the queen of cereals because it has the highest genetic yield potential among the cereals. Commercial corn farming by using modern technology with quality seed is one of the most profitable agriculture business ideas. Now this crop has marked immense value in most of the ready to eat/serve products and especially in deserts everywhere.
Soil Testing Lab: Soil Testing is agronomically sound, beneficial and environmentally responsive tool used for monitoring the nutrient as well as making precise fertilizer recommendations for various crops and cropping sequences ensuring no damage to the environment. Establishing a soil testing lab with a Government certification is one of an ideal agriculture business ideas.
Horticulture Crop Farming: This is most profitable agri business venture across the country as it has immense demand nationally as well internationally.
Agriculture Consulting: As with other consulting services, agriculture consulting requirement is surely expected to grow with coming days. People with experience and knowledge in a specified field of farming activity can consider offering consulting services to organizations and farmers.
Moreover there are so many new untapped areas, where there is a huge scope for entrepreneurship development in order to generate handsome revenue and especially increase farmer’s income at large extent.
All the human and animal manure which the world wastes, if returned to the land, instead of being thrown into the sea, would suffice to nourish the world.
The main aim of this article is to aware the students fraternity especially agricultural graduates to use their skilled knowledge for self development and strengthening the farm section as well. By using their expertise, they can easily and comfortably earn their livelihood and increase the financial conditions of farm section by only shifting their traditional approach of job seeker to job provider.
(Naveed Bhat is Agricultural business expert, presently working at SKUAST Jammu in division of Agricultural Economics and ABM and Dr Bilal A Bhat is Associate Professor at S K University of Agriculture Sciences & Technology (SKUAST) Srinagar. Their views are personal)