Economic calculations for growing potatoes. The overall risk of the project. The size of the planned income from sales

Different kinds business in the area Agriculture are currently among the most promising. Growing potatoes is a promising and highly profitable project, but when implementing it, it is important to take into account all the nuances and strictly adhere to the developed business plan.

Business Relevance

Growing potatoes - topical and profitable business. Getting a high income from the project is due to the popularity of the root crop - it is eaten regularly by almost all citizens of the country. At the same time, even if a family grows potatoes on their own plot, they are not always able to provide for their own needs, so they buy root crops.

This business has certain advantages:

• growing potatoes is easy, it does not require special skills and abilities;
• the demand for the product does not depend on the season - it is consumed in large quantities all year round;
• low financial threshold for entering the business;
• quick profit - with proper organization, income will be received at the end of the first season;

and cons:

The implementation of the project will require material investments. Investments include items such as:

• plot rent - from 200,000 rubles;
• purchase of tubers for planting - 300,000 (at a cost of 15 rubles per kilogram of potatoes per 10 hectares of land);
• purchase of fertilizers - 100,000;
• organizational issues - 100,000;
• purchase of agricultural machinery - 2,500,000.

Important! You should also include in the list of costs money for the construction of a vegetable store - from 2,000,000 rubles and the amount for payments to employees.

The minimum investment amount to open your own agricultural business will be 5,200,000 rubles. Since the investments are quite large, it is necessary to competently approach the implementation of the project and study the technology of growing vegetables.

Step-by-step algorithm for organizing a business

At the decision-making stage, it is important to evaluate your material possibilities- growing potatoes requires certain investments, as well as considering an algorithm for opening an enterprise.

The first step is legal registration- the entrepreneur needs to decide on the scale of the business and choose the form of doing business:

1. If you decide to grow root crops on your site on your own, then such an activity is considered to be an auxiliary personal farm and does not need official registration. But, only the farmer can sell the goods himself.
2. If the scale of cultivation is large, industrial, then it is advisable to formalize the activity, register with tax authority as an individual entrepreneur, choosing the ESHN taxation system and indicating the OKEVD code 01.13.31.

Important! Retail chains and large buyers cooperate more actively with entrepreneurs, and not with farmers who sell their products privately.

Area selection and soil preparation

In order to grow vegetables in sufficient quantities for sale, you need to buy or rent a land plot. In particular, in the municipality it is possible to lease a land plot for a period of 49 years. The minimum area should be from 10 hectares.

Soil preparation begins in the fall - at this time, weeds are removed from the field, the land is plowed and organic fertilizers are applied. It is important to strictly observe the amount of fertilizer, otherwise, instead of a large crop, the opposite result will be obtained. You should also prepare planting material:

• buy tubers for planting;
• select medium specimens;
• cut large tubers in half, and sprinkle the cut with ash;
• potatoes are laid out in an even layer, left for three weeks, while it is important to prevent sunlight from falling on it;
• after this time, the tubers are moved to the storage place - the optimal indicators for the preservation of potatoes are humidity up to 85% and a temperature of about 3 degrees Celsius;
• a month before planting, the material is taken out into the light (but not under direct rays) and left until “eyes” appear.

Important! The optimum soil temperature for planting root crops is 8 degrees.

To optimize the process of planting, caring for and harvesting vegetables, you will need to purchase equipment:

• tractor - from 900,000 rubles;
• potato planter - from 320,000;
• harvester - from 430,000;
• a machine for inter-row cultivation of land - from 300,000;
• sorting line - from 410,000.

You will also need to equip a room for storing equipment and a vegetable store - it must be dry, have good ventilation.

Recruitment

To ensure smooth operation, you will need to select the right staff. As a rule, for cultivating the land, caring for plantings and harvesting, you need:

• machine operators - 2 people;
• mechanic - 1;
• security guards - 3 people, work in shifts;
• handymen - 10 people for the period of harvesting.

The business owner can take on some functions, such as bookkeeping and sourcing.

To obtain a quality harvest, it is important to follow the technology of planting and caring for vegetables. Potatoes are planted in rows, the distance between which should be at least 70 cm, while between the plants there should be a free space of 15-18 cm.

From the moment the tubers are planted to the appearance of sprouts, it takes from two weeks to a month, during which time weeds appear, the presence of which reduces the yield by 30-40%. To harvest a large crop, you need to carry out land cultivation activities:

1. Agricultural machines and cultivators are used to form soil ridges, loosen the earth and remove weeds. The soil is cultivated 5-9 cm deep. This treatment is carried out when the first shoots appear.
2. The second stage of processing takes place a week after the first. The main task of these activities is to create a favorable water and air balance in the soil.

Important! Timely processing and well-formed ridges contribute to an increase in plant resistance to drought, heat and diseases - late blight, rhizoctoniosis and others.

When processing, it is important to strictly observe the proportions of preparations, the speed of the spraying unit should not exceed 15 km / h, and the weather should be almost calm - the maximum wind speed is 4 m / s.

Important! Watering plantings should be regular 3 in the absence of rain, it is carried out every 3-4 days.

A couple of weeks before harvesting, desiccation is carried out with Basta or Stomp preparations. This procedure will allow the assimilation of nutrients from the tops into the tubers, which will improve the quality of the crop. Then:

• the dried vegetative mass is mowed;
• loosen the soil - such activities will allow you to get a high quality crop and improve its characteristics.

Video. Potato growing technology

Sales market

You should think about the possibilities of implementing the product at the stage of developing a business plan. As a rule, farmers sell products:

• independently - selling in the markets, from hands;
• through intermediaries - they sell the product to wholesale buyers, conclude a supply agreement with trading networks.

Important! To increase the value of the product, it is washed, packaged, vacuum-packed in a cleaned form.

Packaged potatoes are 2 times more expensive than what is sold by weight. You can pack root vegetables yourself, for this:

• potatoes are sorted, spoiled tubers are removed;
• the product is washed - the tubers are placed in a container, filled with water for an hour, after which the water is drained, this procedure is repeated 3 times;
• after washing, the roots are laid out in 1 layer until completely dry;
• dry potatoes are packed in bags, while it is important to observe a certain weight - for example, 2 or 4 kilograms;
• a label is attached to the package indicating the manufacturer and the weight of the product;
• the package is closed and fastened with a stapler.

Since these options do not allow you to make a big profit, you should think about organizing your own production - for example, you can make chips from potatoes. You can also increase the amount of profit received by opening your own catering enterprise, where all kinds of dishes from root crops will be served.

Business plan for growing root crops

An entrepreneur starting a business should consider possible risks- dependence weather conditions(in dry and rainy years, the yield decreases), problems with the sale of products and high competition. You should also consider how to cope with these difficulties, whether it is possible to cope with competitors, for example, by offering the consumer a better product or the same product, but at a lower price.

When drawing up a business plan, it is important to take into account annual investments separately from the initial costs. These include:

• payment of land rent - 220,000 rubles;
• wages and tax deductions - 730,000;
• equipment maintenance and repair costs - from 100,000;
• fuel and lubricants - 190,000;
• purchase of chemicals and fertilizers - 170,000;
• ensuring normal storage conditions for the crop - 150,000;
• other expenses - 60,000.

Accordingly, the total amount of expenses for the year will be 1,620,000 rubles. With a yield of 25-30 tons per ha, from an area of ​​10 ha, a crop of 250-300 tons will be obtained.

With an average market price of potatoes of 20 rubles per kilogram, the profit will be from 5 to 6 million. Accordingly, under favorable circumstances, the minimum profit will be more than 3 million rubles.

These calculations show that growing potatoes is a cost-effective and profitable business that will pay off the funds invested in it in the shortest possible time.

Growing potatoes is one of the most profitable business options. But, it will bring profit only in case of competent organization and management of the project. An entrepreneur should familiarize himself with growing technologies, legal aspects and the specifics of the business, and only after that decide whether this business model is suitable for him.

Video. Business idea for growing potatoes

An excellent marketing plan was developed by Peter the Great in order to instill in the Russian people a love for the French root crop - potatoes. Now it is impossible to imagine traditional Russian cuisine without this vegetable, which is popularly called the second bread. The right business plan for growing potatoes is an opportunity to have a stable income from agricultural crops all year round.

Introduction

The technology of growing potatoes is known to almost everyone. It is associated with the hard work of a farmer, and even a whole crop-growing collective of state farmers, ranging from an agronomist to a machine operator and unskilled manual harvesting workers. The list of professionals involved in the process of growing quality potatoes is actually more extensive:

• selector starts. His responsibilities include the selection of varieties and control over the correct care of plants.
• Vegetable growers implement the recommendations of the breeder in practice.
• Plowing, cultivating, harrowing, driving furrows for planting is the concern of machine operators.
• The crop storage and processing technician is responsible for correct harvesting, maintaining temperature regime and humidity.
• An agronomist is the organizer of the production process, setting the deadlines for each stage, following the latest industry developments, and modernizing production.
• Mechanics monitor the condition of technical equipment, test them before leaving for the field, and repair them in case of breakdown.

Basic expenses

For the production of potatoes, in a standard way, in large quantities, such a team is necessary, but this requires large financial investments. The main funds go to:

• acquisition of a fleet of agricultural machinery;
• at least once every 3 years, it is necessary to purchase planting material;
• equipping vegetable stores, maintaining their cleanliness from fungus, mold, pathogens of potato diseases;
• year-round wages with seasonal employment of most of the workforce.

It is difficult to talk about the profitability of such production when choosing potato cultivation as a profile direction. In order for production to be profitable all year round, in this case, crop production will have to be combined with meat and dairy farming. These are additional costs.

Business Description

A good harvest gives healthy varietal potatoes. It is more attractive to buyers due to its appearance, the similarity of tubers in size, taste, and starch content. Many parameters of potato production in the open field and in greenhouses are the same, therefore, at the planning stage, it is necessary to enlist the support of competent specialists - scientists involved in:

• selection;
• the study of potato diseases;
• methods of dealing with them;
• developing optimal technologies for growing healthy crops.

In addition to recommendations, research centers provide practical support in the form of chemical testing of planting material for the presence of infections of varying degrees. Send a few selected tubers for examination - this is convenient if the purchase seed potatoes produced not at the institute, but at a neighboring farm, a collective farm.

Regular testing of the seed stock, already grown on our own farm, allows you to maintain the maximum return from each meter of land used for planting.

Where to get planting material

You can pick up high-quality planting material in different stores, but contacting commercial enterprises, you cannot be 100% sure that it is the required variety on sale, and not mixed varieties obtained in the process of natural pollination by insects.

The seeds of elite varieties of potatoes are traded by scientific research institutes of potato farming. In the Moscow region, this is VNIIKH A.G. Lorch. The institute is sponsored from the federal budget. There are similar research centers in Minsk and the Krasnodar Territory. Having chosen for yourself the nearest of the centers, the work of which is supervised by the state, it is necessary to agree on a consultation with a specialist.

Based on the recommendations received, it remains to choose a potato variety that is best suited for growing in certain climatic conditions, for storage or early ripening. For warm regions and temperate latitudes, even when grown in closed ground, you should choose specific varieties that are resistant to certain types of pathogens of potato diseases.

In each region, the risk of infection with potato cancer, golden cyst nematode, Alternaria and other diseases is different for each variety, which directly depends on what qualities the breeders endowed it with during development. What is not terrible for some varieties in the northern regions, in the south it can completely destroy the crop of this variety when planted in areas with a warm, arid climate and vice versa.

An exception to this rule is the method of growing potatoes in hydroponic setup, because the soil, as such, is not used, and the air in the room is filtered, all this prevents the ingress of infections from the outside.

The peculiarity lies in the seasonality of the process. A maximum of two potato crops can be harvested from one field, subject to selection priority direction for the cultivation of early maturing varieties. The sale of fresh potatoes in the first half of summer gives an increased income from each kilogram of product sold. But! At the first early digging, the tubers do not increase the maximum weight characteristic of a particular variety.

Root crops that did not have time to gain marketable weight go to waste. Losses, in comparison with later diggings of potatoes, are up to 80%. The momentary benefit due to the willingness of consumers to overpay for a fresh, dense, starchy product will not cover the cost of the lost part of the crop. Only 10 days separate early ripening varieties from incomplete to full ripening.

Selection feature seed material for early-ripening varieties is that the tubers for planting are larger than those of late-ripening varieties. 10-40 grams from each tuber - a serious amount accumulates. The climatic features of many areas are unstable. Drought or heavy rains can make significant adjustments. This will affect not only the size of the tubers, but also their keeping quality.

With a quick sale of goods, no additional costs for storage are expected. When growing a large volume of crops, which is advisable when using large agricultural machines, you will need a vegetable store that meets all sanitary requirements.

One of the mandatory steps in growing potatoes is fertilizing as close to the roots as possible. It is produced after sowing to support plants during the period of the highest intensity of the development of the root system and plant growth. Root top dressing will not replace pre-sowing fertilizer application to the soil. Each stage of fertilization is an obligatory component of a whole range of measures to replenish the missing plant nutrients.

The introduction of intrasoil root dressing for root crops directly into the planting ditch is sprinkled with a thin layer of earth, ash or sand, which is dictated by the characteristics of the soil. Given that the growth of the root root increases by about 1 cm per day, the depth of the fertilizer from the tuber can be separated by a 2-4 cm layer of soil that does not prevent the penetration of water.

A growing root extracts free ions of useful substances for a plant from a distance of up to 2 cm, and only those absorbed by the soil that are located at a distance not exceeding 8 mm from it. The second method of applying root top dressing is fertigation (watering with water-soluble fertilizers).

Secrets of growing potatoes from a summer resident

Absorption of nutrients by roots can be passive (non-metabolic) and active (metabolic). The rate of use of minerals by plants is closely related to the availability of a nutrient source for the root system.

For large potato fields in dry areas, it is advisable to use irrigation irrigation systems. They cannot be used for the application of soluble fertilizers. For basal feeding, the drip system is more suitable.

Features of fertilizers for root dressings

Nitrogen fertilizers are applied at a time (by irrigation) in an amount of 20 to 30% of the total volume of fertilizers. Potassium in the composition of a balanced solution is present only at a certain phase of plant development. Its percentage to the total volume is the same as that of nitrogen.

Trace elements introduced by root feeding give a lesser effect than the foliar method.

The method of foliar feeding shows the greatest efficiency from the use in areas of normal and excessive moisture in soils of light granulometric composition, soddy-podzolic zone, in the northern forest-steppe, in sandy loamy soils with low moisture permeability. In these cases, no additional costs are required for watering row crops, which include potatoes. Nature is responsible for the dissolution of dry fertilizers applied to the ground.

A huge disadvantage of root dressing is pollution. environment. In arid climates, this method of fertilization is not economically viable due to the incomplete dissolution of dry fertilizers in insufficiently moistened soil or the need to purchase irrigation irrigation systems.

If it is necessary to mechanize root fertilization, a hiller is required.

Non-standard potato growing

Significant savings on the purchase of agricultural heavy equipment, the maintenance of a staff of seasonal workers, reducing the time to grow crops to a minimum with high returns, optimizing manual labor (ideally, reducing it to a minimum) is the dream of every entrepreneur. In the field of crop production, this is the creation of a greenhouse complex.

Once choosing a potato variety, having studied the technology of its cultivation, you can abandon such staff positions as a breeder and agronomist. The absence of the need to cultivate large tracts of land eliminates the need for machine operators and related equipment, although a miniature walk-behind tractor is needed. But here, fuel savings are visible.

With the correct distribution of planting time, you can harvest every week and immediately, after appropriate tillage, plant potatoes again.

Given that fresh potatoes from late October to mid-July cost significantly more than what they got from the herd, the financial benefit is obvious even when taking into account the cost of electricity required for lighting, heating greenhouses and soil, automatic soil moistening.

The absence of land when growing potatoes seems like a fantasy, but there is such a way. This excludes:

• use of tillage equipment;
• the time needed to recover before the next landing;
• periodic enrichment of the soil with fertilizers, humus;
• attracting mechanics.

Such a fantastic way of growing root crops is possible in aerohydroponic installations. A whole staff of plant growers will be replaced by one operator in a high-tech potato farm.

Aerohydroponics

The method of growing potatoes indoors does not require the usual soil, it is replaced by expanded clay. The cavities of this material perfectly retain moisture, which is often used by flower growers. But in potato cultivation, it is used so that the roots of the plant easily penetrate into lower part installation. Calcined clay is not subject to soaking under constant exposure to water vapor, in view of this, plants take root quickly, passing through the soil and a solid mesh base.

Humus, peat and other types of soil that easily pass water vapor can be used as a substrate that provides support for the tops. They are poured into pots only in shape similar to flowers. The peculiarity of plastic containers is that its walls and bottom resemble a grid.

Industrial plant for large-scale production of root crops

The lower part of the aerohydroponic system is a sealed white box. White paint better reflects heat, and this is important when growing crops. The size of the plants depends on the needs of the production, some of them are a box with dimensions of 25 meters in length and 8 meters in width, which corresponds to the size of an industrial greenhouse. The irrigation system is driven by a circulation pump. Water enters the chamber not as a jet, but as a spray.

A powerful jet of water mist irrigates root system in automatic mode. Oxygenation for potatoes - saturation of the root system with a nutrient mixture enriched with oxygen. The pressure with which the water breaks against the sprayer drops somewhat, which protects the plants from damage, but it is quite enough to deliver oxygen to the roots. This method of mixing several components gave the name to the method - aerohydroponics.

The moisture supply is closed, not a single drop of the nutrient solution evaporates and does not fall into the ground or into the natural reservoir, respectively. Aerohydroponics is an eco-friendly way to harvest. At the same time, drops of excess moisture again fall into the tank with an aqueous solution of nutrients, which optimizes their consumption.

Diagram of a hydroponic setup

For small room white boxes of square section with sides of 12 cm are more suitable, their length can reach from 1 to 4 meters. Its edges are closed with hermetic lids, which is necessary to maintain an ordinal of liquid inside a closed compartment.

A tube of the appropriate diameter is connected to the hole on one side of the box through a dense rubber double-sided gasket. It is needed to reduce or increase the level of liquid that is constantly present in the growing chamber of root crops at the initial stage of growing potatoes, according to the principle of operation of connecting vessels. The initial water level in a closed gutter is 2 cm, as the root system lengthens, the water level gradually decreases.

The presence of dry fertilizers is unacceptable, but nutrients dissolved in water are constantly present in the chamber. They enter through a plastic hose passing inside the box. The nutrient system can pass stasis through several boxes with root crops. If it is a perforated hose, then it is installed at the bottom.

When using an external main pipe, it is necessary to make fertilizer supply holes in such a way that they do not fall on the resulting tubers. It is preferable that the nutrient solution hoses be fed directly into the water by dripping. Ready system drip irrigation plants can serve as a fertilizing device. When placed in the center of the chamber, each irrigation channel will feed 4 plants with the mixture.

Substrates for growing potatoes with soil-free roots

The substrates replace the traditional soil, their feature is high porosity, which helps to retain moisture. Such a soil is saturated with oxygen, which is necessary for the root system during the period of its germination into the space of the lower chamber. The porosity of some materials reaches 35%, they are the best source of oxygen, due to which the yield is significantly increased, the growth of plants is accelerated.

The substrate material is selected according to the following criteria:

• the presence of sodium chloride (table salt) within the normal range;
• absence of toxic substances and heavy metals harmful to humans;
• the presence of substances potentially harmful to plants is unacceptable;
• the duration of the use of the substrate;
• the ability not to accumulate minerals;
• moisture capacity;
• water holding capacity;
• neutrality - no effect on the pH and electrical conductivity of the medium.

The balance between the ability to retain moisture and part with it should be optimal. With a strong moisture retention, the plant will die, and with a weak moisture retention, the substrate will dry out extremely quickly in the process of natural evaporation.

NO 3 - - nitrogen fertilizer, used in hydroponics due to such qualities as solubility in water and a low degree of attraction of positively charged particles. Plants easily extract it from the substrate. Another source of nitrogen NH 4 + is a magnet for negatively charged particles, which blocks its availability to the plant root system.

Long-term use of substrates leads to the accumulation of dead organic matter, dry salts. This violates the homogeneity of the structure of many types of substrates due to the formation of sinuses - they are destroyed, which leads to a decrease in yield. Prolonged use of one substrate can lead to the growth of bacteria.

Types of substrates

organic	Inorganic	High molecular weight synthetic compounds
peat moss	gravel	expanded polystyrene
coconut coir	glass wool	polyurethane
sphagnum moss	crushed granite	thermoplastic polymers
sawdust	lava rocks	synthetic foam resins
tree bark	sand
rice husk	expanded clay
cotton waste	mineral wool (grodan)
high-moor peat	expanded vermiculite
	hydrogel
	pumice
	zeolites
	perlite
	coal slag

Despite all the advantages of substrates over dense soils, artificial soil substitutes have several significant drawbacks - clogging of pores with root secretions and processes. Artificial materials create an ideal environment for the development of the root-knot nematode.

The use of solid soil substitutes involves the costs of harvesting, shipping, distributing heavy material throughout the greenhouse, regeneration, sterilization and washing after a certain period of operation.

Nutrient solutions for hydroponic crops

Today, 500 different formulations have been developed to feed plants grown without soil. Only strict adherence to the proportions of nutrient and water allows you to grow a healthy crop.

Solutions that are very different in composition, the ratio of nutrient ions. This range is explained by the peculiarity of the dependence of plant nutrition on biological features varieties and external factors - temperature and light conditions.

The amount of nutrients in the solution varies depending on the season. The summer diet of plants is rich in nitrogen, in winter - magnesium, potassium, phosphorus. Influences the choice of top dressing and the phase of plant development, which is reflected in the amount of minerals in the nutrient solution.

Hydroponics Methods

Hydroponics is the common name for several potato growing technologies, literally meaning “working solution”. This method is old, according to its principle, one of the seven wonders of the world, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, was grown.

To date, the following schemes are widely used:

Aggregatoponics provides for the use of solid substrates with minimal moisture capacity. Plants take root in gravel, crushed stone or other solid material into which a nutrient solution is supplied.

water culture- this method involves growing in an aquatic environment. The complexity of the scheme lies in the impossibility of accurate dosing of top dressing and the lack of the possibility of uninterrupted complex nutrition of the root system with minerals and air.

Chemoponics- This is a scheme for growing plants in loose organic matter with a 30 percent degree of decomposition. The terms of use of the organic substrate do not exceed two years. Some types of natural materials require preliminary preparation - grinding, adjusting the reaction of the environment. For example, reducing the level of salts in the coconut substrate, grinding tree bark. The mineral composition is applied by surface irrigation. The main advantage is the lack of specialized equipment.

ionitoponics- a method of growing in a complex substrate consisting of 2 ion-exchange synthetic resins. Both ingredients (KU-2 cation exchanger and EDE-10P anion exchanger) are characterized as strong, chemically resistant to oxidation in the light or at high temperature. Clean water is used for irrigation, because all the necessary nutrients are in the substrate - artificially created soil.

- a method of growing crops that does not require a substrate. Spraying the root system of plants with a nutrient solution is carried out through nozzles at regular intervals, every 12 to 15 minutes. The cycle lasts 5-7 seconds. Maximum oxygen supply to the roots and constant moisture give the maximum return. The circuit operates in automatic mode, in the event of a power outage, its own emergency generator is needed.

Subirrigation- the method of flooding consists in planting plants in waterproof trays filled with permeable artificial substrates. They are placed on shelves. Humidification with a nutrient solution is made from below. At the end of the supply of the nutrient mixture, its excess returns to the tank by gravity.

The biochemical principles of all types of growing hydroponic crops include feeding the roots of the plant from the air with oxygen, a nutrient solution from water or a substrate that replaces the soil.

The effectiveness of the method of growing plants without soil lies in the easy availability of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, minerals and other useful substances for the roots.

Based on the fact that the most unpleasant and expensive thing in potato crop production is its storage, we have to admit that hydroponics opens up new horizons for entrepreneurs:

• warehouses are not needed if the goods are immediately sent for sale. So, there is no need to sort it out.
• There is no need to plow the land, polluting the atmosphere with exhaust gases, and the water of rivers with runoff of inorganic fertilizers, massively washed out of the soil by melt water.
• Hard physical labor in the field, under any weather conditions, is replaced by the comfortable climate of a greenhouse or other adapted premises.
• The work of the potato grower becomes year-round, not seasonal, which implies a stable monthly income for workers.
• The same harvest that is obtained during the summer from 50 hectares can be grown in greenhouses on one and a half hectares in a year.

We have to admit that hydroponics is an ancient technology that will amaze with its simplicity and efficiency. In modern conditions, potatoes can be grown even at the South Pole.

Description of services

The services of greenhouses, farms and stations for the cultivation of hydroponic crops consist in the supply of a quality food product, free from pesticides and other substances harmful to human health accumulated in the root crop.

The points of sale of products can be retail food stores, agricultural exhibitions, fairs, markets, Catering, schools, kindergartens, medical hospitals, nursing homes, camps and bases summer holiday. All organizations that provide daily food for people can be considered as potential purchasers of agricultural products.

It remains only to convince them high quality product, purity and other benefits of the product. In this case, the cost is not a fundamental factor, but it will automatically be lower than for similar products delivered from distant areas. The proof that a potato is clean is not only its appearance, but also its food certificate. To get it, you need to test the product. The best protection for the product will be the conclusion of specialists from the Institute of Plant Growing.

An additional trump card in the hands of the manufacturer is the delivery of a consignment of goods determined by weight by their own vehicles. Regular deliveries are a benefit for both the supplier and the consumer. Established sales channels mean mutual trust. The consumer is confident in the quality of the product, its taste, and the supplier in the solvency and honesty of the buyer.

The duration of the partnership between the producer of agricultural products and the wholesale or small wholesale buyer of it allows, with daily or weekly deliveries of goods to the point, to receive cash or non-cash payments in large amounts once or twice a month. But this aspect should be reflected in the contract between the parties to the transaction and supported by invoices.

Market analysis

Oddly enough, the study of the agricultural market of the area must begin with a visit to the grocery stores, and not from farms where potatoes are grown. As a rule, with major suppliers root crops many years ago, large-scale wholesale contracts were concluded with agricultural warehouses that redistribute goods between stores of a large distribution network.

Finding locally produced goods in nearby stores becomes an extremely difficult task, even in developed agricultural areas. On the shelves you can often find potatoes brought from distant corners. Root crops do not always have an attractive appearance. The lack of mandatory certification of goods grown on farms has led to the fact that sick potatoes enter the trade network.

It is clear that they buy it rotten, sick, cut potatoes out of desperation. It is necessary to find out from the seller what criteria for the selection of products are based on his merchandiser when choosing a supplier. Perhaps it is this store that needs a new channel for the delivery of goods. A wide range of shop is not an indicator that he does not need new suppliers, especially if the profit in it is made not by raising prices, but as an increase in trade.

Commodity experts are a source of information about the specific needs of each microdistrict for potatoes. Somewhere statistics are based on daily deliveries, in large stores, calculated data can be provided for a week or a month. It remains to bring the data together to find out the specific figure for the consumption of potatoes grown in a specific way.

Unsorted cheap potatoes can be ignored. Despite its relatively low cost, it turns out to be the most expensive for the buyer due to natural losses during cleaning.

Smooth varietal potatoes with traces similar to a thin coating of ash, slag are a product of greenhouse cultivation without the use of a complex expensive installation. The advantage of this potato is a long shelf life with preservation of taste and nutritional properties. As a rule, these are even, almost identical in shape and weight tubers of early ripening varieties. If such goods are brought from nearby areas, then this is a serious bid for competition.

The most expensive potato that can be found in the store is positioned as "washed". It is very strange in the middle of winter or in spring that such fresh potatoes look next to those grown under open sky. It is extremely difficult to believe that it is specially washed. This is one of the marketing ploys to promote tubers grown in an aeroponic plant.

Having found out the need of the population for the needs of the population in potatoes grown in specific conditions, specifying the readiness of retail outlets to accept locally produced goods for sale, you can begin to develop a detailed plan.

Marketing plan

Potatoes do not need advertising, the number of dishes prepared from them will not surprise anyone. It remains to properly present your product. No need to convince the layman that the potatoes are washed. By and large, he was washed every 15 minutes during the entire time he was in the growth chamber. The naked truth can alert many, due to which the number of consumers will decrease. The lack of information in the media leads to the fact that the consumer is not ready to fully accept some ways of growing potatoes.

With tubers that look too fresh for a particular season, but have a semblance of earth on the skin, things are easier. They can be sold as a fresh crop grown in a greenhouse, which is also true to some extent. To promote a product in demand, it is enough to provide convenience for the buyer - packing in nets or paper bags with a window.

Production plan

The regional administration approved the allocation of land plots with a total area of ​​50 hectares for farming for 99 years at a fixed cost of 650 rubles per hectare per year (with the right to purchase).

Of the total, 13 hectares are abandoned arable land, and unclaimed after fallow for many years. It is planned to use them in the spring sowing for planting potatoes - 14 hectares for the early ripe variety "Bullfinch" and 20 hectares for late-ripening potatoes "Nevsky".

2 hectares of land allocated in the forest area will remain for mowing, due to the need to insulate concrete herds with natural materials. 1 ha of land remains under:

• construction of a metal garage;
• warehouse premises:
• tent for drying potatoes and sorting them.

At the sale of the equipment of the liquidated state farm, it is planned to purchase, at a residual value, a DT-75 wheeled tractor with attached interchangeable equipment and a GAZ-53 flatbed truck. The distance from large cities and popular holiday destinations is at least 200 km, which significantly reduces the payment for renting a land plot. The market for the sale of goods with the lowest transport and time costs is provided by the population of 5 cities (with a population of 80 - 92 thousand people) located within a radius of 50 km from the territory of production of goods.

Carry out registration of a peasant farm under the form of taxation of the Unified Agricultural Tax. Build until April 1 storage of seed material, threshing floor. Buy up to April 15 seeds of elite potatoes, selected varieties, and fertilizers. Without reference to a specific date, build an insulated hangar-garage with profiled sheeting.

organizational plan

Due to the seasonal nature of the main work, it is planned to attract personnel with several related professions to the team.

• Tractor mechanic;
• Agronomist-breeder;
• Accountant, clerk, sales manager, business owner all rolled into one;
• 5 handymen (seasonal).

If there is a shortage of workers for the time of harvesting, it is planned to involve the local population on a piece-rate basis. Complete state formation by April 15th. All stages of agricultural work are carried out according to the crop calendar and scientifically developed technologies for cultivating selected varieties.

Financial section

Annual cost of potato production on a farm with employees

Explanations:

1. Additional payments are made based on the results of the season, taking into account the KTU and the efficiency of each employee.
2. Consumables - fuels and lubricants, spare parts for equipment repair, fertilizers.
3. The cost of purchasing 1.5 tons of planting material is current as of February 2018.

One-time costs when starting a business:

• Acquisition and restoration of decommissioned equipment 68,000 rubles;
• Construction of agricultural buildings 32,000 rubles.
• Registration of an enterprise;

The cost of starting a business, excluding wages, does not exceed 3 million rubles. With the promised yield (average) of 2700 kg per hectare, the expected return is at least 135 tons of potatoes. With the planned average cost, taking into account seasonal price fluctuations, the revenue for the goods will be 2,700,000 rubles.

This business will pay off in one year under favorable circumstances.

Financial section of greenhouse potato farming

The method of growing potatoes in a greenhouse economy was chosen with the planting of tubers in the beds, which eliminates the stage of hilling. The absence of land-cultivating equipment saves on the purchase of fuels and lubricants.

Recurring expenses

№	Item of expenses	Amount per year (in rubles)
1	Rent 5 hectares of land	4 000
2	Agreement with the water utility	10 000
3	Payment for electricity and water supply (according to meters)	≈ 60 000
4	Seed fund renewal	4 700
5	Purchase of balanced liquid fertilizer concentrates	12 000
6	Paying taxes	6% of net profit
7	Accountant salary (outsourcing)	18 000

One-time costs

№	Item of expenses	Amount per year (in rubles)
	Purchase of ready-made greenhouse kits	1 250 000
1	Concreting of bases for greenhouses	32 000
2	Procurement and installation of earth heating cables	12000
3	Conducting electrical wiring (with the installation of fluorescent lamps) to the greenhouse complex	60 000
4	Assembling an automatic irrigation system	13 000
5	Installing a water storage tank	17 000
6	Filling with gravel approaches to greenhouses	9 000
7	Expenses not included	20 000
8	Production registration	3 500

Explanation: the article on unaccounted expenses appeared due to the instability of prices and the inability to provide for all the necessary associated costs for the installation of communications.

According to preliminary calculations, with year-round potato cultivation, 7 full-fledged crops are obtained, which is equal to ≥ 245 tons of varietal potatoes, and this is a gross income exceeding 6,000,000 rubles. The business pays off within 1.5 years.

The table of expenses for a potato growing station without soil is supplemented by an article for the purchase of a substrate, nutrient solutions will cost a little more. The remaining calculations made for greenhouse farming are relevant for the method of growing hydroponic crops.

Risk analysis and insurance

The main risks in potato growing are diseases that can partially or completely destroy the crop. The main insurance is the prevention of diseases. Preventive tillage from pathogens will only give the desired effect if the entire batch of seed potatoes is clean. Only potato research centers can give such a guarantee with full responsibility. It is necessary to purchase planting material in specialized stores at scientific centers.

Visual inspection of the seed fund should become a tradition before laying the tubers for storage and before planting in the ground. Seed potatoes are stored separately from products prepared for sale, they need a special moisture regime.

The refusal of one or more stores to accept goods for sale is not a reason to despair. An onboard car with 3 tons of potatoes in large bags will empty quickly enough, even with a slight difference from the store value of 1-2 rubles. Given the percentage of the purchase and retail prices, this method of sales will be more profitable for the manufacturer.

The only obstacle to the trade of potatoes from the open body of a car is the temperature of the air below -5 ° C. At such a temperature, potatoes acquire a sweetish taste - this is not a backup way out of this situation, but direct harm to one's own business. The cost of potatoes in winter and spring practically does not change. At least it will not become cheaper until the new harvest. By taking care of high-quality storage and systematic planned sorting of goods, significant losses of root crops can be avoided.

Proper humidity and constant air temperature in the vegetable store will help keep potatoes with a good presentation and excellent palatability until the next harvest. So, it can be sold with the onset of spring.

The risks associated with crop damage during natural disasters - fire, flood, are insured events, as well as theft, intentional damage to warehouses and equipment by intruders. All possible risks must be included in the insurance policy.

Conclusion

Potato growing can be unprofitable when an entrepreneur tries to save money on the purchase of proven seed material, unwillingness to listen to the arguments of scientists who develop optimal solutions for selecting a potato variety and fertilizer for it, taking into account the quality of the soil. Growing potatoes is the type of business that can be expanded gradually by completing and equipping 1-2 greenhouses annually.

The head of the peasant farm on the cultivation and marketing of potatoes

* Calculations use average data for Russia

The agricultural business can be profitable and profitable with the right and competent approach. Growing and selling potatoes as a business is rarely considered by a novice entrepreneur. Although potatoes are an indispensable food product and are a regular guest on any table - from everyday to festive, nevertheless, the business of growing and selling this crop is considered complex, costly and highly competitive.

To be successful, it will require considerable investment, as well as knowledge and experience. Experts in the field of agricultural business provide the following data. In order to get 20-30 tons of potato crop per hectare, you need to invest from 100 thousand rubles. For comparison, up to 8 tons of wheat can be obtained from the same area. However, the costs in the case of sowing wheat will be from 5 thousand rubles per hectare, and for potatoes - over 150 thousand rubles per hectare! Profit from the sale of 20 tons of potatoes is estimated at about 70 thousand rubles (at the latest prices, which are constantly changing in the current economic conditions). In addition, there are the latest technology intensive cultivation of potatoes, which allow to achieve a yield of 65-70 tons per hectare. In this case, the profit can be about 900 thousand rubles.

To successfully conduct commercial activities and get the maximum profit from growing potatoes for sale, experts advise using areas for sowing at least 250 hectares. The profitability of such a project is estimated at 100-200%, and investments amount to hundreds of millions of rubles. At the same time, the payback of such a project is about 6-7 years. You need to take into account possible risks (a lean year, a decrease in potato prices, etc.) and be ready for constant investment in the development of your business.

It is obvious that novice entrepreneurs cannot afford such a scale. But this does not mean at all that you will have to abandon your plans and look for new directions for work. You can start this business with much less investment. True, its profitability will also be significantly lower and will not exceed 60% (40% on average).

Potato growing technology

Potatoes, unlike a number of other vegetable crops more susceptible to the influence of weather and climatic conditions. There are two main ways to grow potatoes. In the first case, over early varieties are grown in specially equipped greenhouses (thus, young potatoes go on sale in the spring), and in the second case, potatoes are grown in an open way for long-term storage and consumption in the autumn-winter period. The first option will bring you more profit, but its implementation also requires significant initial costs, which will be spent on equipping greenhouses and providing the necessary conditions for the early ripening of potatoes. The second option is more affordable for entrepreneurs with a small start-up capital, so we will start with it.

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Potatoes are early maturing crops. From planting to the sale of finished products takes only four months. The technology of growing and selling potatoes involves several main stages. They include preparation of planting material, soil preparation for planting, planting itself, hilling, fertilization, pest control, cleaning, storage, packaging of finished products and its sale.

Potatoes purchased for seeds must have all the necessary documents that guarantee the absence of further diseases and high productivity. Higher requirements are imposed on such planting material. So, the diameter of the tubers should be from 3 to 5 cm. In this case, it is not allowed to mix tubers of different varieties. Plant vegetation should be 100%, and their reproduction should be stable and high. If in varietal potatoes reproduction does not reach the second stage according to established standards, but it is forbidden to use it on seeds.

Planting material is prepared in the fall. To do this, the potatoes are sorted out, leaving only whole, clean medium-sized potatoes without signs of spoilage and disease. The tubers selected for planting must be "greened" in advance. To do this, they are left in the light for about twenty days. Moreover, direct sunlight is strictly contraindicated for potatoes. The light must be diffused. As a result of "greening", the seed qualities of potatoes are improved, and the material itself becomes less prone to rotting. After sprouting, the potatoes are stored for storage in a room where sunlight does not enter. Stock must be maintained optimum temperature from +1 to +3 degrees and air humidity about 80-90%.

About a month before the planned sowing, the potatoes are transferred to a bright and warm room, where they begin to germinate. The size of the sprout before planting should be from one centimeter. As a rule, a medium size is chosen for fit, but if there are large tubers, then it is divided into parts - in half or into quarters so that each part has at least two or three eyes. Tubers are cut two weeks before germination or immediately before it. To protect the tubers from disease and spoilage, the cuts can be covered with tree resin. Note that with large volumes of tubers, no one manually sorts out and, moreover, they do not process them additionally. Preparation of planting material is carried out automatically, and tubers of the same size are selected for planting.

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The timing of planting potatoes depends on the temperature of the soil. In the middle lane, potatoes are planted in May, in the south - from March, and in the northern regions - at the beginning of summer. Determining the readiness of the soil is easy. It should be warmed up to 8 degrees to a depth of 12 cm. The soil for planting must also be prepared in advance. In small areas, it is dug up with shovels or loosened with pitchforks. Of course, on an area of ​​several hectares, manual labor is excluded. For this, special equipment is used - a plow with a walk-behind tractor or a tractor. Previously, it was recommended to turn the soil over, that is, to swap its lower and upper layers. Now experts advise only to loosen the topsoil, which provides unhindered access to air and moisture tubers. Under such conditions, the root and bush parts of the plant will develop fully. For processing and loosening the soil, milling units with additional nozzles are used.

Potatoes are planted in rows at a distance of at least a meter between bushes. Row spacing for early varieties should ideally be about 65-70 cm, and for late varieties - 75-80 cm. Compliance with these requirements is necessary for the normal development of bushes and to facilitate the process of processing plants and harvesting with the help of machinery. With such a row spacing, high loosening by milling units does not harm the root system of plants. However, most farmers prefer to increase planting density by all means in order to save space, and make the row spacing a maximum of 40-50 cm. As a result, this saving turns out to be doubtful, since when loosening the soil, developing roots are subsequently cut, as a result of which the vegetation process slows down greatly, and tubers exposed due to lack of soil turn green in the sun.

The tubers are planted to a depth of 4 to 8 cm with the formation of a ridge about 10 cm high on top. When planting seed potatoes, in accordance with the technological standard, there should be at least thirty bushes per square meter of land. In order to achieve such a density, at the stage of preparing the planting material, those that have sprouted at least five eyes are selected from heated and germinated tubers, which means that they can give right amount main stems. About a couple of weeks after planting, it is necessary to remove the weeds from the field and spud the sprouts. At the same time, the soil ridge above the potatoes is increased by another 10 cm. Thus, as a result, the height of the ridge is, in general, 20-25 cm, and its base is at least 75 cm. The soil during the formation of the ridge should be loose and soft, since it is in it that potato shoots will develop. Water the potatoes two to three times a week if there is no rain. In the southern regions, with severe drought, it is recommended to water daily. In cloudy weather and high humidity, the frequency of watering can be reduced.

Do not forget about the use of fertilizers for growing potatoes. The best organic fertilizer is cow or horse dung, which is introduced into the soil even before planting and thoroughly mixed with the upper layer of the earth. The use of chemical fertilizers deserves special attention. When using organic fertilizers, if the soil is not depleted, you can do without them. After harvesting potatoes, it is recommended to sow the field with any green manure crops. They belong to the so-called "green fertilizers". These are plants that are grown for the purpose of their subsequent incorporation into the soil to improve its structure, enrich it with nitrogen and inhibit the growth of weeds. These include sunflower, corn, clover, legumes, etc. (about four hundred plant species in total).

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When potato bushes bloom, they are treated with solutions of Colorado potato beetles, the main crop pests that can ruin the entire crop. In addition, it is recommended to carry out the prevention of late blight by spraying plants with special preparations. The treatment of landings is carried out at least 5-6 times with strict observance of the alternation of means recommended by the manufacturers of preparations. Abroad, when cultivating planting material, indirect methods of protecting plants from viral infection are also used. To do this, aphids are destroyed in advance with the help of chemicals. In our country, such processing of seed potatoes is extremely rare (again, in order to save money). We fight against the spread of diseases, mainly by removing infected plants during weeding.

Harvesting of potatoes is carried out immediately after the ripening of the tubers, which can significantly increase its shelf life and preserve all the useful qualities of the product. The harvested potatoes are stored in specially equipped warehouses, where certain temperature and humidity level.

The yield of potatoes depends on many factors, but the varieties used can be attributed to the main one. For example, Dutch types of potatoes belong to highly productive varieties. If, for example, high-yielding domestic varieties produce a yield of approximately 20-30 tons per hectare, even with insufficient compliance technological requirements, then the yield of Dutch varieties with the same care is about 30-40 tons per hectare. Although, for example, the same Dutch varieties are not in great demand among Russian potato farms. The fact is that our compatriots prefer to save on observing the cultivation technology, greatly simplifying it and limiting themselves to three main manipulations - planting, hilling and harvesting. In addition, not everyone can afford to purchase high-quality planting material, often using degenerated potatoes for several seasons. Special attention is not given to the prevention of infection of plants with late blight and the fight against it, and the level of technical equipment of farms, as a rule, leaves much to be desired. Meanwhile, experts are confident that a competent approach and the right choice of planting material are the main conditions for the success of a potato growing business.

As for the cost of seed materials, about 40 kg (that is, about 600 tubers) will be required per hundred square meters. The exact amount depends on the average weight of the tubers and the planting pattern you are using.

Legal and accounting issues of running an agricultural business

In the event that the land where you plan to grow potatoes for personal use or for sale in small quantities is owned by you and belongs to the category of private household plots (personal subsidiary plots), you can not register as an entrepreneur and simply sell your products ( or rather its surplus) in the retail market. However, you should not count on big profits in this case. If you want to have not only Additional income, as a profitable business, you will have to register as a sole trader. When registering, you will need to select an OKVED code. In our case, the coding 01.11.2 “Growing potatoes, table root crops and tuber crops with a high content of starch or inulin” is suitable (relevant for 2015). This group includes the cultivation of potatoes, the cultivation of table root and tuber crops with a high content of starch or inulin, the cultivation of seeds and planting material, including elite and reproduction, intended for sale.

The unified agricultural tax (UAT), which is 6% of net profit, is one of the most profitable. As the name implies, only agricultural producers, that is, enterprises or individual entrepreneurs who themselves produce these products and sell them, can pay the UAT. If you already have an operating enterprise and want to switch to the Unified Agricultural Tax, then the amount of income from the sale of agricultural products should be at least 70% of your total income. For producers of agricultural products, there are two taxation regimes - general and special. There are certain differences between them. Enterprises paying taxes under the general taxation regime must pay VAT, unified social tax, property tax (for property used for the production and storage of finished agricultural products, there is a privilege), transport tax (for trucks and agricultural machinery there are also benefits ), transport tax (a relief is provided for trucks and agricultural machinery), income tax (a preferential tax rate on profits from the sale of agricultural products), land tax, tax on the extraction of minerals, tax on the use of water bodies and environmental pollution.

Individual entrepreneurs who switch to a single agricultural tax are exempted from paying personal income tax, VAT (except for imports), property tax, and enterprises and organizations that have chosen this taxation system are exempted from paying VAT (except for imports), property tax and tax on profit. All other fees are paid as under other taxation systems, but the benefits for agricultural enterprises are obvious.

You can switch to the ESHN if you are an agricultural producer and fall under the above requirements, both in a general manner, by submitting an appropriate application to the Federal Tax Service from October 20 to December 31 of the current year, and individually - within thirty days after registration as individual entrepreneurs or legal entity. In the first case, your enterprise will switch to the ESHN from the new calendar year, and in the second case, when registering with the Federal Tax Service. Keep in mind that during the year you will not be able to opt out of the taxation system you have chosen. But there is also the possibility of forced cancellation of the Unified Agricultural Tax in the event that your company begins to conduct activities that are not related to agriculture, or the share of sales of agricultural products becomes less than 70%.

It is also worth considering the fact that the expenses of an individual entrepreneur or an enterprise that conducts agricultural activities are limited to spending on the acquisition of fixed assets, wages of employees and advertising with the obligatory maintenance of a book of income and expenses. Only those funds that come to your current account or to the cash desk of the enterprise are considered income.

Business plan for growing and selling potatoes

Let us consider in more detail what an entrepreneur will need to organize his own economy. For processing small area with an area of ​​​​30 acres (personal subsidiary farming), you will need a mini-tractor (or a walk-behind tractor), a plow for it, a hiller for a mini-tractor, a body for transporting goods using a mini-tractor, and a device for digging potatoes. This equipment will cost 100 thousand rubles.

If we are talking not about hundreds, but about hectares, then the cost of equipment will, of course, be much higher. So, you will need a harvester, which costs about 350 thousand euros, a planter worth about 100 thousand euros. Is it worth saving on equipment? You can also purchase obsolete equipment from Soviet times, but the savings in this case will be doubtful. Old technology is constantly breaking down. In addition, its use leads to loss and damage to the crop. The new technique Russian production it is cheaper than imported, while not much inferior to the latter in terms of quality and performance. Therefore, it is better to purchase it, rather than used and obsolete equipment.

Additional costs are associated with the cleaning of the harvested potatoes from contamination, their sorting, packaging and transportation. For a small farm, these investments will amount to about 10 thousand rubles. For drying washed potatoes, a shed or shed with a slatted floor is suitable. For packaging, you can use packaging bags made of dense porous polyethylene, a stapler for sealing bags with staples, strips of thick cardboard and labels 25 by 8 cm in size, which you can print on your printer. The process of peeling and packing potatoes is quite simple - a couple of people can handle it.

First, the crop is moved, and all spoiled potatoes are removed from the total mass. The selected potatoes are then soaked in a container of water. An hour later, the water changes. This procedure is repeated two or three more times until the potato is completely cleaned of contamination. The potatoes are then laid out to dry on a slatted floor and left to dry completely. Finally, finished products it is laid out in bags and weighed (the average weight of a "portion" bag with potatoes is about 2-4 kg). Top part the packaging bag is wrapped several times around a cardboard strip, which gives it rigidity and prevents tears, and then stapled in two or three places with a label previously inserted under the polyethylene.

But the big one manufacturing enterprises you will have to spend a lot of money on ensuring a constant water supply, acquiring large containers (baths) for washing products, equipping a room for drying potatoes, buying scales, as well as packaging bags and labels. However, these costs are worth it. Experience shows that clean, selected potatoes are twice as popular as dirty and unwashed ones.

Additional costs are associated with the purchase of seed, fertilizers and means for treating potatoes from pests (Colorado potato beetle) and diseases. For a small farm, this item of expenditure is about 10-15 thousand rubles. From one hundred square meters you can collect, on average, 250-300 kg of potatoes. Even from a relatively small area of ​​30 acres, you can collect about 7500 kg of products. Thus, the wholesale sale of potatoes can bring an income of about 180 thousand rubles. Excluding taxes and deductions in Pension Fund the net profit of the entrepreneur will be from 70 thousand rubles.

Potatoes from personal subsidiary plots are sold, as a rule, in food markets. Also, many entrepreneurs give their products for sale or rent to wholesalers. The latter option is suitable only for large farms, since wholesale prices are much lower than market prices. In addition, you can sell your potatoes to grocery stores, retail chains and individual retail outlets. Large enterprises work, basically, with wholesale bases. Regardless of the volumes you are going to work in, if you are an individual entrepreneur or a legal entity, draw up your version of the contract in advance, which specifies the terms for the delivery of products and receipt of payment for it, prices and other important conditions for cooperation. Keep in mind that the highest prices for potatoes are observed in the spring.

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Every person has been 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 in 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, the machinery will need maintenance and fuel to work, and the soil needs to be periodically rested, but the profitability of the enterprise covers these costs. In this case, 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 level this shortcoming, it is possible to build special greenhouses in which vegetables are grown all year round, but in this case, investments will increase significantly.

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

Registration and legal issues

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

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

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

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 the 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 relief. 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. Application deadline for common grounds- 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 the tax varies. In the first case, this will happen at the beginning of the new calendar year, and in the second case, it will take place in parallel with registration with the Federal Tax Service.

An equally important point: you can change the form of taxation during the year. If the enterprise ceases to conduct activities in the field of agriculture or its priorities change, so that it no longer meets the requirements, the cancellation of the EAT is made involuntarily, which should be avoided.

In the mentioned system of taxation, expenses are understood as all costs for the acquisition of means of production, salaries to employees and advertising. All expenses must be entered in the ledger. Income refers to the funds received by the cashier or to the company's bank account.

Work technology

The organization of potato production involves work in several stages.

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

Peculiarities

Unlike most other horticultural crops, potatoes are much more susceptible to weather conditions. There are two main ways to grow a vegetable for sale: in special greenhouses, which allows you to start selling as early as early spring, and in an open way.

The advantage of the second method is 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. That is why many aspiring entrepreneurs prefer the first method.

Potato is an early ripening crop, only 3-4 months pass from planting to harvest. The very technology of growing vegetables for sale implies a phased 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, the 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

First stage- 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.

Planting material is folded for some time 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 of heat and humidity at 85%. Before planting, the potatoes are taken out into the light and waiting for the first sprouts to appear. The main thing is not to overdo it, no one needs dried potatoes.

Planting and growing

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

From the moment the flowering ends, the potatoes will need to be watered additionally. Depending on weather conditions, this will have to be done every few days. In some severe cases when nature does not indulge in rain, this will have to be done twice a day in the 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 do not recommend neglecting the means of processing and destroying pests. One of the most effective means is the seeding of the field. This will simultaneously reduce the number of pests and help improve the overall condition of the soil on the site.

Harvesting should not be delayed, as overripe fruits are less susceptible to storage and more often rot. After harvesting, the tubers are put into a container and taken away for storage in a dry, cool 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 mandatory to prepare it for planting, that is, it is cleaned of debris and weeds, loosened and fertilized.

The best option- break the whole process into several stages. Remember that in this case, savings on feeding will result in lost profits when selling goods. As a result, no harvested crop will not be able to recoup the costs.

Sale

There are several main ways to sell crops:

1. Market trade on their own. This option is justified only for relatively small production volumes. Proper storage conditions and sufficient time must also be available. 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 slightly preferable when it comes to large parties. Its main disadvantage is the large losses in financial terms. You can use it only in cases where the quality of the potatoes is kept at the level. In addition, sometimes there are difficulties in finding a processor (for example, a distillery that will purchase a large batch).
3. Conclusion of an agreement with a trading network. This option is optimal, but it is quite difficult to work with retail chains, since competition in this area is high. According to statistics, about half of all domestic potatoes are sold through large stores. An important point: it is highly advisable to purchase appropriate packaging equipment in advance, since the price of potatoes in a package is much higher than in a regular bag. The cost of appropriate devices will pay for itself very quickly.

Whichever option you choose, you should think about distribution channels in advance. This will not only save time at the implementation stage, but also prevent the product from being lost due to the fact that there is nowhere to sell it.

Business Profitability

Compared to working with most other crops, the potato business is highly profitable. The initial costs can be recouped in just the first few months. The main thing is the correct construction of the business and the establishment of distribution channels. According to experts, the profitability of the 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. Slightly less will go to the payroll. Planting material will cost an additional 20%, as well as transportation costs, fuel for machinery, organics and fertilizers.

Despite the seemingly large investments, it must be understood that the amount will decrease from year to year, since the purchase of equipment is a one-time waste, and the costs of its operation are not so high. In addition, the planting material will be its own from the second year, which is especially beneficial.

A separate plus is the possibility of processing potatoes. Of course, this will require a significant expansion and modification of production by supplying additional production lines(for example, to obtain potato flour or alcohol), but the final result will give profit on a fundamentally new level.

Meanwhile, the potato itself is a demanding crop that requires competent processing and storage conditions. She does not allow a careless attitude towards herself, 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 can be entered in the table (prices are approximate):

Video: growing potatoes for sale as a business.

Attachments: from 150 000 rubles

Payback: from 4 months

Analyzing ways to earn money in the agricultural sector, it is worth highlighting the cultivation of potatoes. This product is now consumed by almost all residents of the country, and the level of sales does not decrease for a long time. Let's take a closer look at this business idea.

business concept

Growing potatoes as an entrepreneurship is carried out in two ways. More promising and profitable is the method associated with obtaining early varieties. Of course, such a business requires significant start-up capital. This is due to the peculiarities of the climate. It will be necessary to install greenhouses and equip them with an irrigation system, light, and heating.

The second method is based on growing a seasonal crop. You can plant potatoes in open ground - special care not required. Undoubtedly, the income will not be as high as in the first case. But still, up to 30 percent of profitability is achieved. This is a very good indicator.

As for the sale of products, you can choose one of three options:

1. Trade in the market. The income with this option is the highest, but it also takes a lot of time. Or you need to look for a hired seller and spend money on salaries.
2. Marketing of potatoes with the help of third-party traders. Fast and convenient method, and often profitable.
3. Sale to wholesalers. The option is good if you have large fields and a large crop.

The methods can be combined. Ideally, even before purchasing planting material, find buyers for the future crop.

What is required to run a business?

If you decide to grow early varieties, you will need a greenhouse with lighting and heating. These are additional costs. Consider an option for beginners - planting potatoes in open ground with an area of ​​\u200b\u200b0.5 hectares.

The plot can be rented. If you have your own land, great. First, you don't have to worry about rent. Secondly, in this case it is not necessary to register an IP. After all, according to the law "On personal subsidiary plots", self-grown products are not taxed.

Owners of land plots can also save on utility bills if they use natural sources of water supply and lighting.

In addition to land, you will need:

• seed material;
• equipment for plowing, hilling and digging up ripe tubers;
• fertilizers and herbicides.

About employees: as a rule, the whole family is involved in such a business, so outsiders do not need to pay wages.

Step by step start instructions

Even something as simple as growing potatoes requires a business plan. It must indicate all stages of agricultural activity and possible ways of implementation. Keep in mind that this business pays off quickly. Planted potatoes mature in just four months. In the southern regions, the weather allows two harvests per year.

So, what are the main stages of starting a business:

To preserve the fertility of the land for the next year, sow corn, sunflower or clover after harvest. They will save the earth from diseases and the germination of weeds.

Financial calculations

To be sure of the correctness of the new business, carefully calculate the possible costs and profits.

Starting capital and monthly expenses

To open a business for growing and marketing potatoes, you need to purchase the following equipment (cost in rubles):

• walk-behind tractor or mini tractor - 35,000;
• okuchnik - 2,000;
• plow - 2,000;
• unit for digging mature tubers - 3,000;
• a body for transporting crops - 20,000;
• storage boxes - 3,000.

As a result, you need to buy equipment in the amount of 62,000 rubles.

Put in the initial capital 10,000 rubles for transportation costs, the same amount for fertilizers and herbicides. Add 18,000 for a cash register and 15,000 for paperwork and online accounting.

As for seed, 50 acres (0.5 ha) will require 1000 kg of tubers for planting - at the rate of 20 kg per hundred square meters. The cost of one kilo depends on the variety and averages 35 rubles. So, you need to invest 35,000 rubles.

As a result, the starting capital will be 150,000 rubles. And monthly you will have to spend only on transport - 10,000 rubles.

How much can you earn and payback periods

About 250 kg of potatoes can be harvested from one hundred square meters. The total yield will be approximately 12,500 kg. When selling potatoes at a price of 20 rubles per kilo, the profit will be 250,000 rubles. Profitability is about 30 percent in the first year, then it increases, since you no longer need to buy equipment. If you subtract monthly expenses and initial investments without paying taxes, the profit will be 70,000 rubles. With a fully sold crop, the business will pay off in the first season.

Advantages and possible risks

Growing potatoes has its advantages and disadvantages. The main plus is excellent profitability. Especially in large cities, where not everyone has summer cottages.

What are the pros and cons of business also worth considering:

The main disadvantage is seasonality - you can grow potatoes without a greenhouse only in summer. This is beneficial only in the southern regions, where two crops are harvested a year. In the north and in the middle lane, it is more profitable to build a greenhouse - it will quickly pay off.