Top Most Profitable Agriculture Business Ideas

If you think that farmers have endless suffering in their lives due to drought, loans, and ultimate rains then we have found a way out. Now even small-scale farmers can generate more revenue from basic farming. 

So if you are looking for a profitable future in agriculture then this article will provide you with great ideas to start a business in the agricultural sector with your resources and local demand. 

Agriculture Business categories

Agriculture Business can be divided into three broad categories and they are as follows:

• Productive Resources like feed, seed, fertilizer, equipment, energy, machinery etc.

• Agricultural Commodities like raw and processed commodities of food and fiber.

• Facilitative Services like credit, insurance, marketing, storage, processing, transportation, packing etc.

What are the most profitable business ideas in agriculture?

Here are the Most Lucrative Agriculture Business Ideas:

1. Agricultural Farm  

One can start an agricultural farm by investing reasonable money. You can produce items as per the local demand and sell them locally. For far areas you can even supply the product through distribution channels.

2. Vermicompost Organic Fertilizer Production  

It requires a very low investment and hence can be considered profitable for the startup agricultural business. You can simply start this business by the proper know-how of the production process. 

3. Dried Flower Business 

Flower production is one of the fastest growing crop trends in today’s agriculture. It requires all types of flowers especially unique and hard to grow varieties. 

4. Fertilizer Distribution Business  

One can start this business with a moderate capital investment. It is mostly controlled by the government.

5. Organic Farm Green House 

The increased demand for organically grown farm products has led to the growth of this agricultural business. As there are many health risks in the foods grown with chemicals and fertilizers, people are growing organic food. 

6. Poultry Farming

It has transformed into a techno-commercial industry from the status of backyard farming for three decades. It is considered to be the fastest growing sector of agriculture and farming business. 

7. Mushroom Farming Business 

 By doing this business you can make good profits in just few weeks. It requires a low start-up capital investment. Even with a little knowledge of mushroom growing and with a farm mushroom farming business can be done. 

8. Hydroponic Retail Store 

It is a new plantation technology which requires soil free way of plantation for both commercial and home use. 

9. Snail Farming 

 It is a process of raising land snails specifically for human consumption. It has a high rate of protein, iron, low fat and almost all the amino acids needed for the human body. Moreover, one should have a specific knowledge of modern technology. 

10. Sunflower Farming 

 The land is the primary requirement to start sunflower farming. Growing sunflower for oilseed requires the small investment. It is also known as Commercial Cash Crop. 

11. Bee Keeping Business 

 It demands day to day monitoring with close supervision of the bees. Beekeeping business is done for selling honey and other products like wax. Not to forget, as the demand for honey is growing globally. Opting for this business is a profitable venture which requires the small investment. 

12. Fish Farming 

 This business can be done at any time of the year. It requires modern techniques and moderate capital investment. 

13. Fruits and Vegetables Export 

One can start the export of fruits and vegetable business by collecting them from local farmers. It can be done through easy communication means like a telephonic conversation, computer with internet connection. 

14. Florist 

It requires a retail space and connection with the flower growers. It is one of the most profitable retail agriculture business ideas that can also be done online by providing customers with doorstep delivery of flowers.  

15. Frozen Chicken Production 

The demand for this product is growing globally. One can start this business by living in a metro or a suburban city.

16. Botanical Pesticide Production

It is very essential and mandatory for organic farming. As the demand of this product is high, it is considered as one of the most profitable agriculture business ideas. 

17. Broom Production

It is a good and profitable business idea as broom has been used for centuries for cleaning purpose. It is a simple business and can be done with a moderate capital investment. 

18. Basket Weaving

One requires a thoughtful planning and a high level of creative mind having a flair for design. It can simply be done from a home location with moderate capital investment. 

19. Flour Milling

Establishing your own brand product is highly profitable in this business. 

20.  Vegetable Farming

You can also plant a variety of different vegetables and harvest them to sell or make into different products.

21. Dairy Farming

If you have the space and the ability to care for cows or other dairy animals, you could start your own dairy farms where you produce milk, cheese and similar products.

22. Livestock Feed Production

Even if you don’t have enough space to actually farm livestock, you can still contribute to the industry by manufacturing feed for livestock.

23.  Rabbit Raising

You can also raise rabbits for a variety of different purposes within small pens or similar enclosures.

24.  Goat farming

Goats are multi-purpose animals. You can produce the products like milk, meat, fiber, manure and skin form goats. Go to your nearest market and try to understand which goat products have a high demand in the market. Try to produce those products which you can sell easily in your local area and in the market.

25.  Nut Processing

Or you could grow peanuts or similar products that you can package and sell.

26.  Nursery Operation

You can also start your own nursery where you grow and sell different types of plants to consumers or businesses.

27.  Spice Production

There are also plenty of different plants you can grow that will allow you to create various spices that you can process and sell.

28.  Christmas Tree Farming

You could also grow pine trees on your property and then sell them to nearby customers around the holidays to use as Christmas trees.

29.  Oil Production

There are also various types of plants that you can use to produce oil for cooking or other purposes. So you can process that oil process to sell.

30.  Pet Food Production

You could also use a variety of different crops and food products to create pet food that you can sell to consumers.

Some Other Profitable Agriculture Business Ideas  

• Fruit Juice Production

• Quail Egg Farming

• Shrimp Farming

• Fish Hatchery

• Piggery

• Soya Beans Processing

• Spice Processing

• Chicks Hatchery

• Rajanigandha Farming

• Tea Growing

• Grocery E-Shopping Portal

• Landscape Expert

• Medicinal Herbs Farming

• Cactus Arrangements 

• Jatropha Farming

• Potato Powder

• Corn Farming

• Certifies Seed Production

• Soil Testing Lab

• Green House Flower Export 

• Horticulture Crop Farming

• Potato Chips Production

• Fodder Farming for Goats and Cows

• Agro-Farming Blogging

So these were few ideas to start a great business in agriculture sector. We hope that the article was helpful to you. 

What is the difference between Pandemic and Epidemic

In just six months, the new strain of coronavirus has infected millions of people across the globe. Due to the usually fast rate of the spread of the virus, the World Health Organisation (WHO) called it as a pandemic.

Pandemic and epidemic are two terms most people use interchangeably to refer to stages of the spreading of any infectious disease. This is because there is a minute difference between the two and switches as diseases become more or less prevalent over time. But they are two different words, with different meanings.

 Here we tell you what is an epidemic and the difference between epidemic and pandemic.

​An epidemic:

In simple words, an epidemic is a disease that affects a large number of people within a community or region or population. It spreads quickly and affects several people at the same time. It is a phase where the disease starts spreading uncontrollably. It is an outbreak of a disease affecting the major chunk of the population in a particular geographical area. The 1918 Spanish flu, the measles outbreak from 1981 to 1991, and a 2014 case of whooping cough are some examples of an epidemic that took place in the past.

​Difference between epidemic and pandemic:

An epidemic is an early stage of a pandemic where the infection is still at the community level or is limited to a certain section of the population. If it affects the entire population of a country or crosses the boundary and start spreading at a face in other countries then it is termed as a pandemic. Not all epidemics turn into a pandemic. Even in case of coronavirus, till the time it was confined to China's Wuhan region, it was being referred to as an epidemic. Once it started spreading to other countries it was officially termed as a pandemic.

​How pandemic is different:

Although there is a blurred line between epidemic and pandemic, here are a few things that you should know about pandemic:

-It affects a large geographical area, mostly the entire world

-It is generally caused by a new strain of a virus

-The death toll is relatively high

-It even has a major impact on the economy

​These five common bathroom habits could be making you sick

​These five common bathroom habits could be making you sick

Cleaning your bathroom regularly is important, especially in the present times. But you might be unknowingly spreading germs all around the house through some of your not-so-great bathroom habits.

Because the bathroom is often considered the germiest place in the house, it tends to get the most attention when it comes to cleaning. While we pay the most attention in cleaning the bathroom floor and pot, what often gets missed is hand hygiene.

Here are some of the most common mistakes that increase the risk of spreading germs around the house.

​Scrolling through Instagram/Facebook while sitting on the toilet seat:

We all are guilty of using our phones while sitting on the toilet seat. This habit is gross. Your bathroom should be a phone-free zone. Germs including the faecal matter are released into the air, which can land on your phone surfaces, spreading them outside the bathroom.

​Not washing your hands properly:

Washing your hands properly is the most cost-effective and efficient way to prevent getting sick and the best way to get rid of germs on hands. Washing your hands incorrectly can bring germs with you outside the bathroom.

Wash your hand with soap and water/hand wash for at least 20 seconds to get rid of all the germs. If you can't keep a track of time, sing "Happy Birthday' twice. Do not forget to scrub under your nails, an area that can harbour germs.

​Skipping the hand sanitizer:

Though there is no substitute for hand washing, if you are outside and can't find a bar of soap, use water to clean your hands and then use hand sanitizer. Sanitizer can go a long way in keeping your hands germ-free.

​Sharing one towel for the whole family:

The paper towels that you find in public washrooms are actually much better at controlling the spread of germs than the fabric towels you keep at home. But because installing a paper towel dispenser isn't exactly feasible and environment friendly, change the hand towels frequently. The hand towels should be changed frequently, especially if there are small children in the house.

According to a study published in Applied and Environment Microbiology, air dryers in the public bathroom are not hygienic either. Thus, it is best to keep a hand sanitizer stashed in your purse all the time.

7 foods that can affect your brain negatively

Your brain is the most important organ of your body. It controls all the other functions of your body, which includes the beating of heart, lungs breathing and all other systems in the body.

Because all the bodily functions are dependent on the functioning of your brain, it is important to keep it healthy with a wholesome healthy diet and exercise.

Some foods can negatively affect your brain functioning, including your memory, mood and increased risk of conditions like dementia.

Here is a list of certain foods, by cutting down on which, you can reduce your risk of brain-related problems.

  

​Sugary drinks:

Sugary drinks like soda, cola, juices, energy drinks and sports drinks expand your waistline, increase your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Not just this, they also have a negative effect on your brain. Type 2 diabetes has been linked with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. Most sugary drinks are high in fructose, which is linked to obesity, high blood pressure, high blood fats and arterial dysfunction. These aspects of metabolic syndrome can lead to an increased risk of dementia. Diet high in sugar can lead to brain inflammation and impaired memory.

Alcohol:

Excessive consumption of alcohol can have serious side effects on the brain. Chronic alcohol use can result in the reduction of brain volume, metabolic changes and disruption of neurotransmitters. People who consume too much alcohol are often deficient in vitamin B1, which can lead to a brain disorder called Wernicke's encephalopathy, which in turn can develop Korsakoff's syndrome. This syndrome can lead to severe damage to the brain, including memory loss, disturbance in eyesight, confusion and unsteadiness.

Aspartame:

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener found in sugar-free products. People who are trying to lose weight often choose to have these sugar-free products. Aspartame is made of phenylalanine, methanol and aspartic acid. This sweetener is linked with behavioural and cognitive problems, though the research is controversial. A study conducted in mice has found that repeated intake of aspartame is liked with impaired memory and increased oxidative stress in the brain. To avoid aspartate, simply cut artificial sweeteners and excess sugar from your diet.

 Fish high in mercury:

Mercury is a heavy metal containment and a neurological poison that can be stored for long in the animal tissue. Long-lived predatory fish are susceptible to accumulating mercury and carry amount over 1 million times the concentration of their surrounding water. If a person ingests mercury, it spreads all around their body, concentrating in the brain, liver and kidneys. In pregnant women, it also concentrates in the placenta and fetus. The mercury toxicity can lead to the disruption of the central nervous system and neurotransmitters, resulting in the damage of the brain. High mercury fish includes shark, swordfish, tuna, orange roughly, king mackerel and tilefish. However, it's safe to have two to three serving of other low-mercury fishes per week.

 Highly processed foods:

Foods that are highly processed are high in sugar, added fats and salt. These foods include chips, sweets, instant noodles, microwave popcorn, sauces and ready-made meals. These foods are high in calories and low in nutrients, which can lead to obesity and have a negative impact on the brain. A small study of 243 people found that fat around the organs is associated with brain tissue damage. Another study found that a diet high in unhealthy ingredients resulted in lower levels of sugar metabolism in the brain and a decrease in brain tissues. The two factors that are the markers for Alzheimer's disease. A study conducted on 18,080 people found that a diet high in processed foods and fried foods is associated with lower scores in learning and memory.

High trans-fat foods:

Trans fats are the unsaturated fat that can have a detrimental effect on your brain health. The trans fat found naturally in animal products like dairy and meat are not a problem. It's the industry-based trans fat, also called hydrogenated vegetable oil, which can be a problem. Studies have found that people who consume a higher amount of trans fat are at an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, lower brain volume, poorer memory and cognitive decline. Diets high in omega-3 fatty acids can help protect against cognitive decline. You can increase the amount of omega 3 in your diet by eating foods like fish, chia seeds, walnuts and flax seeds.

​Refined carbohydrates:

Refined carbs include sugar and processed grains like white flour. Refined carbs have a high glycemic index, which means they get digested very quickly, resulting in sudden blood sugar spike. Foods that have a glycemic index have been found to impact brain functioning. Studies have found that people who consume foods high in fat and refined sugar have poorer memory. Another study found that elderly who consumed more than 58 per cent of their daily calories from carbohydrates had double the risk of mild mental impairment and dementia.

Spend some time in garden for good health, mental wellbeing

Spend some time in garden for good health, mental wellbeing: Study

People who spend time in the garden are significantly more likely to report general good health, higher psychological wellbeing and greater physical activity levels than those who do not spend time in the garden, say researchers. Published in the journal Landscape and Urban Planning, the study analysed data from nearly 8,000 people collected by Natural England between 2009 and 2016.

The current research used data collected by Natural England’s Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment Survey, the world’s largest survey collecting data on people’s weekly contact with the natural world.“Our findings suggest that whilst being able to access an outdoor space such as a garden or yard is important, using that space is what really leads to benefits for health and wellbeing,” said study lead author Sian de Bell from the University of Exeter in the UK.

The research team found the benefits of gardening to health and wellbeing were similar to the difference in health between people living in the wealthiest parts of the country, compared to the poorest. The benefits applied to whether people spent their time gardening or simply relaxing. People who regularly spend time in their garden were also more likely to visit nature elsewhere once a week. The findings also showed that people with access to a private garden had higher psychological wellbeing and those with an outdoor space such as a yard were more likely to meet physical activity guidelines.

These benefits were in comparison to people who did not have a garden or outdoor space.“Gardens are a crucial way for people to access and experience the natural environment. Our new evidence highlights that gardens may have a role as a public health resource and that we need to ensure that their benefit is available equally,” said study researcher Becca Lovell. According to the researchers, this work adds to the increasing body of scientific evidence on the health benefits of gardens and gardening.

HISTORY OF PLANT PATHOLOGY

 

HISTORY OF PLANT PATHOLOGY:

 

Ancient period:

A literature of European and vedic eras will give us some information on the plant 

diseases and their control measures. Greek philosopher Theophrastus recorded some 

observations on the plant diseases in his book enquiry into plants. His experiences were 

mostly based on imagination and observation but not on experimentation. He had 

mentioned that plants of different groups have different diseases which were autonomous 

or spontaneous, i.e., no external cause was associated. 

In India, the information on plant diseases is available in ancient literature such as 

rigveda, atharveda (1500-500BC), arthasashtra of Kautilya (321-186 BC), Sushruta 

sanhita (200-500AD), Vishnupuran (500AD), Agnipuran (500-700AD), Vishnu 

dharmottar (500-700AD), etc. In Rigveda, not only the classification of plant diseases has 

been given but the germ theory of disease was also advocated. 

Vriksha ayurveda by Surpal in ancient India is the first book in which lot of 

information on plant diseases is available. In this book, plant diseases were categorized 

into two groups, internal (probably physiological diseases) and external (probably 

infectious diseases). External diseases were supposed to be due to attack of 

microorganisms and insects. In this book, a mention of treatments for different diseases 

caused by different agencies was prescribed which were based on superstition as well as 

scientific observation. Hygiene, tree surgery, protective covering with pastes and special 

culture of plants are practices which are still recommended. In chemical treatments, use 

of honey, ghee, milk, barley flour, pastes made from herbs, plant extracts, etc., were 

recommended. For the control of root diseases, oilcakes of mahuva, mustard, sesame, 

castor, etc., were used. 

Symptoms of plant diseases such as rust, downy mildew, powdery mildew and blight are 

often mentioned in the bible, Shakesphere’s poems and dramas of other Christian 

literature. In Jataka of Buddhism, Raghuvansh of Kalidas there was also a mention about 

different symptoms of plant diseases. 

In Europe and other western countries, after the time of Theophrastus (about 286 BC) no 

definite opinion could be formed about plant disease for the next 2000 years. In ancient 

period, the plant diseases were attributed to many causes which include divine power, 

religious belief, superstition, effect of stars and moon, bad wind and wrath of god, etc.

PRE-MODERN PERIOD

1) PIER ANTONIO MICHELLI (Italian):

• He was an Italian botanist.
• He was the founder and father of Mycology. 
•  He was the first person who observed fungal spores for the first time and conducted many spore germination studies (by growing fungus organisms on 
  freshly cut pieces of melons and pears).

•  He was the first person who observed Cystidia on the lamellar edge or hymenial layer of Agaricales. 
• In 1729 he published a book “Nova Plantarum Genera” in which he gave descriptions about 1900 species in Latin out of which 900 were fungi. The important genera are Aspergillus niger, Botrytis sps., Polyporus sps. etc. 

2) TILLET (French) 

• In 1755, he published a paper on bunt or stinking smut of wheat.

   

•  By well planned experiments he proved that wheat seeds that contained black powder on their surface produced more diseased plants than clean seeds. 
•  He emphasized that bunt was an infectious disease and it was closely related with fungus. However, he believed that the disease was caused by some toxin produced by the black powder. He did not know that the black powder contained the spore mass of the fungus. 
• He reported that the chemical treatment of seeds with common salt and lime inhibited the contagious activity. 

MODERN PERIOD

1) BENEDICT PREVOST (French):

• He proved that diseases are caused by micro-organisms.
•  He studied wheat bunt disease for about 10 years and in 1807, he published his findings in the paper “memoir on the immediate cause of bunt or smut of wheat and of several other diseases of plants and on preventives of bunt” 
• He proved that the bunt of wheat was caused by the fungus Tilletia caries
• Studied and observed the germination of bunt species. He confirmed the findings of Tillet by mixing the spores of fungus with clean seeds. 
•  Discovered the life cycle of bunt fungus
•  He showed that the solution containing copper sulphate prevented the germination of bunt spores and can be used for control of bunt diseases. 
•  He mentioned the fungicidal and fungistatic properties of chemical treatments 

2) CHRISTIAN HENDRICK PERSOON (1761-1831): 

• Person first published observations Mycologicae. 
•  In 1801, he published “Synopsis methodica fungorum” for nomenclature of Ustilaginales, Uredinales and Gasteromycetes. 
•  He also published Mycologica Europica in 1822. 
• He gave the name to rust pathogen of wheat as Puccinia graminis. 

3) ELIAS MAGNUS FRIES (1821): 

• He published three volumes of “Systema Mycologium” for nomenclature of hymenomycetes. 
• Person and fries first time introduced binomial system of nomenclature to classify the fungal organisms. 

During 1830-1845, when late blight of potato was fast spreading in England, Ireland and 

continental Europe, there was no one opinion among the scientists about the disease-fungus relationship. 

1) ANTON De BARY (Germany):

•  He was the father and founder of modern Mycology. 
•  He was the founder of modern experimental plant pathology.
•  In 1863, he studied the epidemics of late blight and renamed the casual organism as Phytophthora infestans.
•  He discovered heteroecious nature of rust fungi (1865). 
• He gave detailed account on life cycles of downy mildew genera. 
• He studied about vegetable rotting fungi and damping off fungi. 
•  He wrote a book named “Morphology and Physiology of fungi, lichens and Myxomycetes” (1866). 
• He reported the role of enzymes and toxins in tissue disintegration caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Students of De Bary: 

1. Marshal Ward (UK) - Studied coffee rusts and its epidemics 

2. M.S. Woronin (USSR) - Studied about life cycle of club root fungi, 

 i.e, Plasmodiophora brassica.

3. Farlow - Fungi and bibliography. He established 

 Farlow cryptogamic herbarium. Farlow, 

 first introduced independent course of plant 

 pathology at Harward University. 

 

4. Millardet - Discovered Bordeaux mixture for the 

 control of downy mildew of grapevine.

Oscar Brefeld, a colleague of De Bary (Germany) -Pioneer in pure culture techniques.

2) E. J. Butler (Edwin John Butler):

•  He was the father of modern plant pathology and father of Indian Mycology.
•  He worked at IARI for 20 years from 1901 to 1920. 
• He was the founder and first director of imperial Mycological institute, Kew, England (1920-35). 
• Monograph: Pythiaceous and allied fungi. 
• Books: a) Fungi and Disease in Plants (1918)                                                           b) Fungi in India (with B.R.Bisby) and 

           c)  Plant Pathology (with S.G.Jones). 

3) E.C. STAKMAN :

• He studies the variability in rust fungus. Contributed valuable information on physiological races of pathogen 
•  He concluded that due to continuous evolution of races and biotypes in the species of the rust fungus its pathogenic capability goes on changing and as a result the resistant capability of the host also changes. 

4) T. J. BURRUILL (USA): 

He proved for the first time that fire blight of apple and 

pear was caused by a bacterium (now known as Erwinia amylovora).

5) E.F.SMITH (U.S.A):

• He gave the final proof of the fact that bacteria could be incitants of plant diseases. 
•  He also worked on the bacterial wilt of cucurbits and crown gall disease. He is also called as "Father of Phytobacteriology". 

•  In 1981, he demonstrated for the first time that budding or grafting could be another method of transmission of plant viruses. 
•  He showed the contagious nature of peach yellows. 

6) DOI AND ISHIE (JAPANESE):

•  They found that mycoplasma like organisms (MLO) could be responsible for the disease of the yellows type. 
•  Doi observed that MLO's are constantly present in phloem while Ishie observed MLO's temporarily disappeared when the plants are treated with tetracycline antibodies. 

7) BEIJERINCK (Dutch):

•  Founder of virology 
•  He proved that the virus inciting tobacco mosaic is not a living microorganism. 
•  He believed it to be contagium vivum fluidum (infectious living fluid) 

8) W.H.STANLEY:

• In 1935, he proved that viruses can be crystallised. He got Nobel Prize. 
• He treated the sap from diseased leaves of tobacco with ammonium sulphate and obtained a crystalline protein which, when placed on healthy tobacco leaves, could reproduce the disease. 
•  He finally proved that viruses are not living micro-organisms because no living form can be chemically treated and crystallized and still remain viable. 

9) BAWDEN F.E. and PIRIE (Britain): 

They found that the crystalline nature of the 

virus contains nucleic acid and protein. 

10) DIENER and RAYMER discovered the potato spindle tuber was caused by small 

naked ssRNA which he called viroid.

INDIAN SCIENTISTS

1) B.B MUNDKUR:

•  He worked on the control of cotton wilt diseases. 
• He is responsible for the identification and classification of large number of Indian smut fungi
• He started Indian Phytopathological Society in 1948 and published a journal Indian Phytopathology. 
• His book – Fungi and Plant diseases

2) J.F.DASTUR:

• First Indian plant pathologist who was credited for his detailed studies on fungi and plant diseases. 
• He studied the characters of Phytophthora and Phytophthora diseases of potato and castor. 
•  He established Phytophthora parasitica from castor. 

3) K.C. MEHTA – Life cycle of cereal rusts in India 

4) T.S. SADASIVAN:

• Started the studies on bio-chemistry of host-parasite relationship at University of Madras 
•  Contributed to the concept of vivotoxins 
• Studied on mechanism of wilting in cotton by Fusarium vasinfectum. The production of fusaric acid by this fungus outside the host was demonstrated.