Global agribusiness is currently worth more than $5 trillion following steady growth since 2017. As the population is continuously soaring, the demand for food is driving this food industry towards higher profitability.
Perhaps this pattern let us know the conspicuous interest in agriculture business among budding farmers. Do you know that 60% of the world’s population is depending on agriculture for survival?
This business is considered among the most profitable businesses around the globe; and this sector offers a 100% profit.
What is the most Profitable Agriculture Business Idea?
Whether the profit is in crop production, livestock, agro production, or agro-technology? Is this particularly in growing vegetables, tree crops, meat or egg production, and milk production?
Or is it in growing tomatoes, maize, and cashew, strawberries, rearing cattle, or selling any software related to agriculture production?
The answer is No; as there are many other options one may not have come across. And this is the guide that gives you ample ideas to work on them to stand out in the agriculture sector.
The good part is that the agriculture business doesn’t need any formal degree, experience, or training. All you need is to have a basic knowledge of farming to start the agriculture business.
The better news is that this industry offers ample of profitable business opportunities. And that’s the reason why everyone can expect a good future once get attached to this agriculture sector.
Moreover, technological advancements have created a few more opportunities for farmers to have a profitable business.
Farmers working on their own earning less than $50,000 annually are now considered potentially lucrative as both rural and urban businesses.
There are lots of agriculture business ideas in the sector; some are very profitable but most of them are collapsing due to non-profitability and others are just surviving.
Business owners should consider ideas like; bee farming, kitchen gardening, rooftop gardens, and microgreens when choosing some of the profitable ventures.
Personal experience usually involved a closer relationship with the agriculture business to get profits as much as they can.
Here we have the most profitable agriculture business ideas that one should consider to get some extra advantage;
RURAL AGRICULTURE PROFITABLE SMALL FARM IDEAS
Rural farms are usually located in the outlying areas of the country. There is a vast land that is perfect for harvesting food crops, rearing livestock, and hunting.
However, the activities are depending on the season and weather conditions.
1.     Tree Nurseries
Tree nurseries can be one of the best investments if someone knows the right way of doing it. Most of the farmers start with 10-20 seedlings in a small land, and using the right marketing strategy they get baby trees which they sold out before it gets mature.
You can also buy small trees for $20 each and raise them from scratch. Once they start showing living life, sell them, and get profit.
But for this you have to spend some time researching how to naturally source the trees you want to grow easily; if you don’t know much about agriculture and farming.
You can also do fruit tree propagation by grafting or budding which increases the chances of producing the same array of trees as opposed to using the seeds.
Also, you should consider such spin on tree nursery concept by adopting a tree program. This allows farmers to do their best in growing those plants at what they are good at.
But to run this kind of business successfully, you need to have a simple website. But if you own a farm, you must have one, in any case, to let people know what you are doing.
One more thing that you need is the trees and tools to plant them. Get a good quality camera to take some best snaps of the tress for people who are going to adopt them.
You can take their pictures when you plant them and again once they start growing as proof that you have planted these trees at your place.
Moreover, you can also have certificates printed up to show the adoption of these trees and ones that are to be given as a gift.
2.     Dual Crop Farming
Multiple or dual crop farming can be either mixed cropping or intercropping. Mixed cropping refers to bringing up two or more kinds of crops in the same area, whereas intercropping is raising different trees in the same area.
The practice of dual crop farming is very common and popular among farmers as this tends to optimize the use of equipment, soil, and water with other farming supplies.
Also, it maximizes the growth of small farms all around the year. Farmers like this technique as it reduces the risk of total loss from calamities, pesticides, and drought.
Some of the best examples of this dual cropping are growing strawberries and watermelon in the same land; while harvesting wheat and soybeans to the corn and canola field somewhere in Carolinas.
3.     Dairy Farming
A small dairy farming can be a lucrative investment for those farmers living in rural areas if they can supply the local market demand.
As per the US Department of Agriculture; factory farmers provide 80% and above milk in the market. But there is a continuing decline in the number of licensed dairy farms.
There is a good point in it that this leaves opportunities for novice entrepreneurs with the existing land in their areas to explore and experiment on it.
Know that dairy farms having less than 100 cattle are considered as small but they need considerable investment.
There are plentiful rules that they must have obliged before being awarded a license to operate. Those farmers or ordinary people who wish to go into this type of farming business should have to learn how to improve milk volume production to be a successful agriculture business.
As with other businesses, there are certain risks involved when starting your agri-business. Particularly this is more serious as natural disasters and calamities a great threat to both crops and livestock.
Therefore it is very important to be prepared by knowing what your options can be in such disastrous and difficult times.
4.     Fish Farming
It’s an ideal and highly scalable business for those investors who have land, and this doesn’t always require a body of water. You can start a fish farm by creating a pond or investing in fish tanks.
Once you learn the proper knowledge of raising fish, you will be able to decide which type of fish to raise at your pond or tank.
Tilapia, catfish, or cod are among popular choices as they are quite easy to raise and generally these ate the fish have high in demand the year around.
Usually, small scale farmers are the suppliers of fish in their local markets and restaurants. Other fish popular varieties are commercially raised;
- Tuna
- Salmon
- Trout
- Eel
- Grass Carp
Your skill, financial capacity, demand, and climatic conditions of your area will let you decide which type of fish you can go with.
It refers to the normal soil types, rainfall, temperature, and water availability which affects the vegetation types in your vicinity.
LOW CAPITAL PROFITABLE SMALL FARM IDEAS
If you have limited capital, there are still some low-cost businesses that you can easily start without investing a high amount of finance.
But these types of farming businesses usually earn comparatively less than other farms which invest in land and equipment.
They continuously are providing a steady stream of income because the market exists. Let’s move on to the areas which are available for you:
1)Â Â Â Â Herb Gardening
These days people little more conscious of what they are consuming and what’s in their food and they appreciate how these plants contribute to some better dining experience.
The moment you starting your herb gardening business, make sure to emphasize variety and choose the ones which are in high demand so they are easy to sell.
You can also start a herb business with the small roadside sale from your backyard by selling herbs that you plant or seed. Also, put those herbs on social media platforms or your website.
If you have a plan of selling herbs online, you need to have a professional website but make sure you keep on posting and get in touch with the queries people ask about your products.
2)Â Â Â Â Bee Farming
Beekeeping often starts as a hobby, because the capital needed for this is quite low. As a beginner, you can start operating a bee farm with $500 – $1000.
With this amount of startup business, you can sell bee byproducts such as beeswax, bee pollen, and royal jelly and honey which is very popular among consumers.
Bee pollen and royal jelly are considered superfoods and sold at a high price. All you need is a small area in your backyard but first, check with the local government unit to see if they allow beekeeping at home.
There are numerous ways to get your first set of bees;
- Catching Swarm:
If you are living at a place where bees are often found, you can opt to catch your swarm anytime.
- Buy a Bee Package:
This package contains around 3 pounds of bees; large bee farmers sell such bee packages around every April for $120 approximately.
- Nucleus Hive:
Normally consists of a box with fives frames of bees, brood, pollen, nectar, and a queen bee. They are also sold between April to June for about $150.
- Full Hive:
This simply means an entire hive setup, including some existing colony that large beekeepers sell to new bee farmers for almost $300 each.
- Split Hive:
Split hives are created when several frames of some existing colony are moved to a new box where a new queen has been introduced. These types of hives are sold for almost $200 each.
Experts advise that beginner farmer should purchase a nucleus hive as this help them in learning some basics of beekeeping and nurture its growth.
You will need some more equipment including protective gear, hive tools, a bee brush, and a honey extractor that you can purchase from any online platform or the farming store.
3)Â Â Â Â Micro-greens Farming
These are young plants and also known as baby plants which are around 10-14 days old and 1-3 inches tall.
These micro-greens are small edible vegetables which restaurants usually use as a garnishing ingredient for a dish or serve in a salad.
Soon you will find that these baby vegetables are in high demand, their visual appearance appeal to people, and they are also attracted due to health benefits.
So if you are thinking of starting some agribusiness; consider growing these tiny plants because these are easy to grow and the turnaround time is pretty high.
Above all these microgreens needs a little investment to start. And just because they can be cultivated in a small space; even indoor; and sold as high as $50 per pounds to restaurants depending on the variety.
Don’t waste your time researching options; this one could be the best option for you if you are a newbie.
But you need the right strategy, farming herbs and microgreens for commercial use can be a very lucrative small business venture.
It’s a fact that the more land required to start an agriculture business, the higher the investment cost. So if you have some investment issues; start with this little idea and grow as big as you can.
URBAN AGRICULTURE PROFITABLE SMALL FARM IDEAS
Urban agriculture is a business located in densely populated areas like cities. This type of agro refers to cultivating, processing, and distributing food products but also includes small scale livestock and fishery.
For urban farmers; space and pollution are the primary challenges but this also motivates them to grow new agricultural strategies aided with the latest technology.
Since the urban farmers are a bit closer to the local restaurants and superstores; they can supply fresh products to them in a faster and easier way.
1.     Vegetable Landscaping
Establishing a landscaping business can be expensive but farmers who are planning to opt for a greener path must enter this world of landscaping.
Landscaping creates more flexible opportunities so your agricultural initiative would be comparatively lower. You need to invest in tools to grow vegetables either on freshly tilled soil or in containers.
If using pots, remember to purchase the ones which are 8-12 inches deep. Also, space these plants out evenly so you can maximize your yield.
2.     Hydroponic Farming
Its process of growing crops with nutrient-rich water kept in contact with roots instead of using soil. Hydroponics significantly reduces the risk of wastage and pollution which can harm production and cause diseases, making it popular to those consumers who are health conscious.
Like aquaponics, the minimal usage of land needed also turns this low-cost investment which increases the growth rate of plants to 25% of a garden.
This means you have more products to sell. There are different hydroponic systems that you can learn and try:
- Static:
In this process plants are grown in tubs and plastic buckets. Water can be gently aerated. It’s water infused with gas.
- Continuous Flow
In it a nutrient-rich water solution constantly flows past the roots; so the roots can properly absorb oxygen better.
- Aeroponics
In this process, the roots are only misted with a nutrient solution instead of submerged in liquid.
- Ebb and Flow
Here plants are flooded with water and then drained several times a day.
This hydroponics is a process that is all about careful management of the environment for your plants. So it seems like an easy business to try as a beginner.
Take your time analyzing your options and learning about hydroponics from experts before you start your own business.
3.     Cannabis Farming
If you are living in an area where cannabis use is legal; then you should take advantage of any available space and start your small cannabis farm.
Though you can produce better quality plants in a controlled environment, it’s the easiest way of growing them outdoor.
A large backyard is an amazing opportunity for you; take advantage of it. This helps keep your investment low by giving you flexible space to work.
People should expect spending $10-$17 per square foot of area used to cultivate weeds outdoor. After sometimes you can improve your business by building a small greenhouse, and everything that you have learned when you started farming can help you design a controlled environment for your plants.
4.     Rooftop Tea Green
In cities, maximizing space is important including being able to balance some air quality by creating space to plant greens.
Whereas rooftop gardens are common in urban areas; there are still several ideas which you can try and turn into some agricultural venture.
And one of them is starting your rooftop tea garden. You can grow a variety of aromatic and medicinal herbs and greens that you can sell directly to the people.
One more option is to find a partner who can help you start a rustic coffee and tea shop directly on the rooftop.
These partners can be those who have access to a rooftop so you can invest less money and someone knowledgeable in starting a coffee shop.
But keep these few important points before designing a rooftop garden;
- Review Building Codes:
Check your local government to know if there are any rules about having a rooftop garden in your vicinity.
Also, ask about your possible restrictions which can affect the kind of business you need to put up.
- Monitor how much Roof is exposed:
Exposure to sun and wind are critical if you want to grow a tea garden. But make sure that your plants will get enough sunlight and shade; also protected against strong winds. It’s a good idea to include solutions for these problems in your business plan.
- Rooftop’s Loading Capacity:
Some rooftops have a maximum limit to the weight which they can hold and this is very important to know into account when designing and planning a rooftop business.
You can consult with a structural engineer to determine this information exactly and keep building and your business safe and sound.
It can take a lot of work to start a rooftop tea garden but various potential profitable ideas are worthy of trying once.
Being a beginner you should do proper research and get some inspiration from existing tea owners for some unique idea.
Cost-effective farming businesses can be profitable and have lots of potential growth. The best benefit of starting a small business is to have an opportunity to learn and become an expert in your chosen field.
You can build your brand along with some expansion plans.
5.     B2B FARM IDEAS
B2B is an agricultural business method that farmers se when they are producing products to supply business clients.
Business owners prefer to deal with farmers directly for the low cost and good quality by getting products directly from the source.
Grocery stores and restaurants which re-sell these products in their original or processed form to their customers are some of the best examples.
6.     Mushroom Farming
Mushrooms are relatively easy to cultivate, considering that they can only grow in the wild is wrong. They can be harvested in harshest of any conditions.
You can turn this mushroom business if you have good knowledge about which mushroom strain to cultivate and how to maximize production; is enough to become a steady supplier to other businesses.
Gourmet mushrooms including oyster and shiitake are some of the commonly sought after variation of mushrooms in the market.
They can be cultivated indoors in a controlled environment for a somehow larger harvest. Above all this only takes an average of six weeks to grow and produce ready to sell mushrooms.
Farmers who work on mushrooms harvest an average of 25 pounds of production per square foot a year-round and sell for at least $12 per pound.
7.     Organic Farming
Organic farming is a method of raising crops and cattle generally speaking but generally speaking to a growing market of health-conscious consumers.
Such an organic method has created a niche of its own. You can find restaurants and supermarkets which specifically sell organic products.
These businesses originally rely on organic farmers who supply them organically grown fruits and vegetables; also free-roaming animals.
It is said that organic farming is 20-35% more profitable business if compared with the conventional counterpart.
Some of the most popular organic agriculture niches to consider:
- Farm to table restaurant
- Organic wholesaler
- Organic dairy farming
- Organic Livestock farming
- Organic Fish farming
Organic Trade Association (OTA) has reported a prolonged increase in demand for organic products. In 2018 more than $50 billion sales have been recorded.
It proves the potential of organic farming; also shows how lucrative business idea is this, even for new farmers.
8.     Poultry Farming
Poultry farming allows you to supply products to other businesses or individuals. There is a consistent demand for poultry products; this remains an attractive business option for people having some agro experience.
But there is a downside; poultry farming is a highly regulated field to ensure the safety and health of residents inside the community.
You should learn as much as you can about the business including finding the best location and getting ready with all the must-haves to start your new venture.
And running a poultry business can be a tedious task, so it would be much better if you use automation tools to make an inventory and manage sales.
Some software is dedicated to small businesses. The features they include are invoicing inventory monitoring, and expense tracking which is perfect for tracking cash and expenses.
Beginning a small farming business aiming at providing a large volume of production to some local market can be costly.
Whereas creating your business plan, be sure to include opportunities to have small business grants to help your new venture financially.
9.     Agritourism Farming Ideas
Farm tourism is a business model that derives most of its income from attracting visitors to learn about farming life.
It includes visiting a working farm and selling fresh and homemade products. Urban and rural farms both get benefits from this structure.
But as a business owner, you have to invest more in marketing and advertising strategies.
10. Flowering Farms
Flower farms are a popular attraction for tourists but apart from it, this kind of agricultural business is versatile.
It has a vast option for creating lots of other avenues for generating income like supplying flowers to the shops and connecting with event organizers for decoration purposes.
Even you can start a low-cost flower farm in the backyard and start your flower shop. Like other businesses, research is the key to growing your flower farm.
One of the amazing ideas of the farming flower is to go for sunflower maze. You as an owner can plant hundreds of sunflowers and charge a small fee for visitors to leisurely walk through the beautiful fields in summers.
You can also sell a bouquet of sunflowers and some other décor stuff at the entrance to welcome people to the maze. The startup cost is low; just seeds, labor, and rental fee for the unused field by the roadside.
11. Fruit Picking Farms
Another popular activity for weekends; families have built their farms and this is kind of a lucrative venture.
Most of the entrepreneurial farmers who believe offering fruit picking is a good idea and they are thinking of expanding it.
The farmers of such fruit picking interact directly with customers so there as some additional things to consider:
Plant more than one kind of fruit if possible. Berry picking attracts people so think about it.
Provide good parking spaces for visitors.
Consider pesticides you use for your crops and remember that your potential customers might be exposed if not handled properly.
Invest in training your staff.
Don’t neglect opportunities to work with other businesses; as this is the best way of growing business.
And most of all your business largely depends on the feedback from customers; so don’t ignore them. Be sure to make your farm safe and clean, and ensure that the staff is well behaved and helpful.
12. Pet Farming
Most of the agriculturists get into the petting farm businesses to boost their income from selling eggs, dairy, and livestock.
Petting farming isn’t only for student field study but families also like them as they provide more interactive experience for their kids.
Some businesses use them as an opportunity to hold team building events. You should be open to give your visitors a sample of products you get from animals; could be eggs or dairy.
And don’t hesitate to put up a small store where they can buy more food products to bring home. Doing so is going to build a good repute in their hearts.
13. Snail Farming
Snail farming is a pretty lucrative agriculture business idea. The large snails are edible and sell at a high price.
But some types of snails are more preferred than others. It depends on your locations so this is very important to learn the basics.
It includes the best habitat for snails, knows their food sources, and manage their environment. They live happily in California where the climate is suitable for their growth.
Final Thoughts
Before you decide which agribusiness to start, this is recommended that you should conduct thorough market research on demand for those products you grow and sell them in this saturated market.
Also, you will be in dire need of a proper business plan as most of the agribusiness needs access to large land and farming tools or equipment to get started.
Making money and profit from an agricultural business required knowledge of some farming practices as well as some prior experience in developing a business.
Hopefully, this comprehensive list of agricultural business ideas will help you in selecting the one which is most suitable for you.
