25 profitable farming business to venture into by (www.efarming.africa)

1: Vegetables.are all vegetables that are consumed in every part of the globe and can also be cultivated in every part of the world. This goes to show that there is a very large market for vegetables. So, if you are looking towards starting an agricultural crop cultivation business, then one of your options is to go into vegetable farming.2. *Mushroom Farming* Mushroom farming is one of the most profitable agricultural business ideas for young entrepreneurs, which has a turnaround period of only three weeks. Yes, you heard that right! And, it has huge profit potential with demand for good quality and organic mushrooms being high among restaurant owners as well as households.3. *Transportation Business* *For Farmers* One of the challenges most farmers encounter is the lack of means of transportation to get their farm produce from their farms to the market. You can start a farm transport business to help farmers sort their transportation needs for a fee.4. *Livestock House* *Construction* Constructing poultry house, dairy farming cubicles and other such farming structures for use by farmers to rear their livestock.5. *Poultry equipment* *manufacturing* These are usually skilled artisans who construct various equipment needed on the poultry farm – welders, carpenters, electricians etc. You can learn the various specifications needed for the poultry equipment and you are in business.6. *Chicken and egg* *distribution business* This basically involves bridging the gap between poultry farmers and the consumer market. It is very lucrative and requires relatively little money to start-up. You can focus only on chicken, eggs or both. You meet poultry farmers, buy their stock and resell them in the market to wholesalers and retailers. It does not need any special skills, only your marketing abilities and a working vehicle.7. *Fertilizer Distribution* *Business* If you like the idea of making a profit by helping people work with the soil, you might enjoy being a part of the fertilizer industry by starting fertilizer distribution business. Entrepreneurs can initiate fertilizer distribution business with a proper selection of products from any location. Find suppliers willing to do business at a suitable price in your area. Obtain quality products at a reasonable price from a reliable source. You can go for import also in the case of bulk purchase. In fertilizer distribution business, the source you choose will depend on your start-up budget.8. *Soil Testing Lab* Soil Testing is agronomically sound, beneficial and environmentally responsive tool used for monitoring the nutrient as well as making precise fertilizer recommendations for various crops and cropping sequences ensuring no damage to the environment. Establishing a soil testing lab is one of an ideal agriculture business ideas.9. *Agriculture Consulting* As with other consulting services, agriculture consulting requirement is surely expected to grow with coming days. People with experience and knowledge in a specified field of farming activity can consider offering consulting services to organizations and farmers.10. *Livestock Feed* *Production* This business is small scale manufacturing. Having confidence in distribution, one can start this business to make money out of livestock feed production.11. *Fodder Farming for* *Goats and Cows* Fodder is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock, such as chickens, horses, pigs, cattle and goats. The term refers to food given to animals, rather than the food they forage for themselves.12. *Vermicompost-Organic* Fertilizer ProductionVermicompost organic fertilizer production has now become a major component of agro-business models across the country with a very low initial investment. An entrepreneur can start this business with the proper know-how of the production process.13. *Fish Farming* Commercial fish farming business is a lucrative investment that can spin money at any time of the year continuously. With the implementation of modern techniques and having owned space, an entrepreneur can start this business with moderate capital investment.14. *Piggery* Having a sufficient landholding an entrepreneur can start a piggery business. Among the various livestock species, piggery is most potential source for meat production and pigs are more efficient feed converters after the broiler. The major facility is pig farming requires a small investment in buildings and equipment.15. *Planting Service* If you don’t have your own farm but still want to build a business centered around planting crops, you could start your own planting service and work with other farmers or growers in your area.16. *Recruiting agency for* *Farmers* Most farmers suffer from a shortage of literate, low-level farm labor on their farms. An agency which helps farmers to easily and quickly recruit young, intelligent and literate labor for middle to long-term positions on their farms would be a huge hit.17. *Agrotourism* You could also offer a whole tourist experience at your farm where people can come visit and maybe even stay as part of a bed and breakfast type of experience.18. *Honey Business* You don’t need to have your own bee farm for you to start a honey supply business. You can source for and purchase honey in big jerry-cans from places like Makueni and sell in small quantities.19. *Firewood Production* If you have trees on your land, you could use sell the firewood to those who need it. Creating a long term sustainable business would depend on expanding the amount of land on which you can harvest trees and also systematic replenishment through continuous replanting.20. *Tree Seed Supply* You could also harvest seeds from different trees and sell them to people who want to plant new ones.21. *Agricultural Equipment* *Rental* If you have the capital to purchase farming or agriculture equipment, you could start a business where you rent or lease that equipment out to farmers.22. *Fruit juice-Jam-Jelly* *Production* Fruit juice-jam-jelly production business has the huge market opportunity. Most important thing is the production process is not that complex and can be initiated small-scale basis.23. *Fruits and Vegetables* *Export* An entrepreneur can start an export business of fresh fruits and vegetables by collecting them from local farmers. one can start this business from a home location only having a phone and computer with internet connection.24. *Florist* One of the very profitable agriculture business ideas. Having a retail space and connection with the flower growers one can start this business. An entrepreneur also can generate a substantial online sale by offering customers door-step delivery.25. *Worm Farming* Worm farming is another agribusiness that is suitable for enriching farm soil and also to supply animal protein for fishes reared in ponds. This is a one of the very good agribusiness ideas that isn’t being exploited.

Also learn how Start a poultry Farm https://www.efarming.africa/2022/10/Poultry-farming.html

How to achieve high sweet pepper

Farmers stand a huge chance of earning from the wide global deficit of sweet pepper also called pilipili hoho, which is also referred to as bale pepper, using the following steps in their production.

It is estimated that a farmer with an acre piece of land can easily make up to Shs10m from this crop per season considering that it can be grown thrice a year with a production of 100,000 stems.

Although the global production of this high value crop, which belong to the capsicum species and come in three main colours-greens, red and yellow, has been growing since early 1990s, the global deficit is still quite high.

Last year, the global production of sweet pepper was 34.6 million tonnes against a total consumption of 52 million tonnes, with China accounting for 51 percent of the production. Other market leaders include Mexico, Turkey and Indonesia who produced 2.3 million tonnes, 2.2 million tonnes and 1.7 million tonnes respectively.

*Conditions for growth of sweet pepper*
Sweet peppers grow well in temperatures ranging 15 ºC to 25ºC and high altitude areas of 2,000 metres above sea level. Sweet peppers yield high in well-drained loamy or heavy cracking clay soils with an optimum PH range of between 6.0-6.5.

*Planting sweet pepper*
Seeds should be sown in drilled rows spaced 15cm and thinly covered with soil. Thinning or pricking out should be done to a final seedling spacing of 5cm to allow for growth of healthy seedlings. Transplanting is done when seedlings measuring 10-15 cm at the age of four to six weeks.

The spacing of 70cm by 40 cm is recommended, therefore, an acre piece of land can accommodate 12,000 plants. After a week, top dress with Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) at the rate of 40 kilogrammes/acre.

Irrigate constantly-at least thrice per day but 24/7 regulated irrigation is encouraged during dry season. After four weeks, apply CAN at the rate of 80 kilogrammes/acre.

*Harvesting sweet pepper*
Harvesting starts two and a half to three months after planting and can continue for four to six months with good management. Only mature fruits should be picked and packaged for market. Sweet peppers should be harvested when filled out and still green. Harvested fruits should be placed under shade for grading, sorting, and packaging to avoid shrivelling. Export produce should conform to the required standards with respect to quality, packaging and labelling.

Although the average maturity of sweet pepper is 90 days with production of 10,000 fruits per acre, some hybrid varieties grown in the country including Yolo wonder, Maxibell and California wonder can mature in 75-80 days. Yolo wonder for instance mature in 80 days and has a production of six tonnes per acre same as California wonder.

The Maxibell variety matures in only 75 days and has a production of eight tonnes per acre with each fruit weighing 100-120grammes. It is highly resistant to common diseases such as Tobacco mosaic, Purple Blotch, Anthocyanin and Downy Mildew. Strict farm hygiene which includes constant weeding and trimming lowers chances of diseases.

*Pests and diseases of sweet pepper*

There are several pests and diseases you must be aware of as far as capsicum growing is concerned.
*Blossom-end rot* : The disorder is caused by lack of calcium. It creates dark brown or black spots on immature fruits. To overcome it, plants should be evenly watered to ensure a steady flow of calcium to the fruits, especially at the forming stage.

*Root-knot nematodes:* These are microscopic soil-dwelling worms that can invade roots and make them wilt. They can be eradicated by growing a cover crop of marigolds or rye in infested fields for rotation.
Source: Https://www.efarming.africa