If you are interested in starting a business in the agricultural sector and looking for the best profitable small agriculture business ideas, this article will help you in selecting the right business opportunity.
Agricultural business is all about the production and marketing of agricultural commodities through farming items related to livestock and crops. Agriculture remains the primary livelihood of most families in rural and suburban areas worldwide.
What are the Common Types/ Categories of Agriculture?
Before starting an agriculture-related business, it is important to understand the types of agriculture that are popular across the world. Agricultural experts broadly classify agro-based businesses into the following categories;
- Agronomy.
- Horticulture.
- Forestry.
- Animal husbandry.
- Fishery science.
- Agricultural Engineering
- Home Science.
Find below our recommended list of the best agriculture businesses on a small scale:
60 Agriculture Business Ideas
1. Agriculture Farm
If you have vacant land suitable for farming, starting an agriculture farm can be a profitable business. You can produce items as per the local demand and sell them locally. You can also supply the product through distribution channels in far areas.
2. Start a Tree Farm
The tree farm is a profitable business if you have vacant land and the ability to wait for a few years to make money. Getting returns from selling trees requires considerable time.
Read: How to Start a Profitable Tree Farm Business
3. Backyard Plant Nursery
A home-based plant nursery is a profitable business to start from your backyard. The business is just perfect for those who have a hobby of gardening.
4. Vermicompost Organic Fertilizer Production
Vermicompost organic fertilizer production nowadays has become a household business. It requires a very nominal investment and much less land to start. Anyone can start this business with the proper know-how of the production process.
5. Dried Flower Business
The interest in dry flowers has increased consistently over the last ten years. If you have land or can lease land, you can grow flowers, dry them, and sell them to craft stores and hobbyists.
6. Fertilizer Distribution Business
The fertilizer distribution business is fit for people who live in small towns and rural areas. It is one of the most profitable agriculture business ideas one can start with moderate capital investment.
7. Organic Farm Green House
An organic farm greenhouse business has a high potential to grow and succeed because the demand for organically grown farm products has grown considerably in recent years. The organic farm greenhouse business was normally done on small, family-run farms. But since the demand for organically grown food products is now increasing, people are investing in land for organic farming.
8. Poultry Farming
Poultry farming worldwide has transformed into a techno-commercial industry from the status of backyard farming for three decades. It is the fastest-growing sector of agriculture and farming business.
9. Mushroom Farming
A mushroom farming business can fetch you a big profit in a short time with a low start-up capital investment to start a business. It requires less space to start.
10. Hydroponic Retail Store
Hydroponics is a new plantation technology that has been increasing in demand over the past decades. It is a soil-free method of plantation both for commercial and home use. You can start a hydroponic retail store and sell hydroponic equipment
11. Snail Farming
Snail farming business opportunity demands discipline and specific knowledge of modern technology. The farming of snails is the 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 that are needed for the human body.
12. Sunflower Farming
In starting the sunflower farming business, the primary requirement is land. Sunflower is often called a commercial cash crop. Growing sunflowers for oilseed with maintaining the right process is a viable business opportunity. An entrepreneur passionate about agriculture and having owned land can start a sunflower farming business.
13. Guar Gum Manufacturing
Guar gum, locally called guaran, is a galactomannan. It is basically the ground endosperm of guar beans. The guar seeds are dehusked, milled, and screened to obtain the guar gum. It is typically produced as a free-flowing, off-white powder. It is a natural food thickener, similar to locust bean gum, cornstarch, or tapioca flour.
14. Bee Keeping
Beekeeping business opportunity demands day-to-day monitoring with close supervision of the bees. With increasing awareness about health, the demand for honey is growing globally. Beekeeping for selling honey and other products like wax is a profitable venture to start with less startup investment.
15. Fish Farming
The 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.
16. 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 home by only having a phone and computer with an internet connection.
17. Micronutrient Manufacturing – Folier and Soil Application
Micronutrient has immense potential in the agriculture business. Having a strong distribution strategy, one can start this manufacturing business with substantial capital investment.
18. Florist
Selling flowers is a very profitable retail agriculture business. 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 doorstep delivery.
19. Livestock Feed Production
Having confidence in distribution, one can start a livestock feed production business.
20. Frozen Chicken Production
Frozen chicken is a hot product now. The demand for this product is increasing globally. An entrepreneur living in a metro or suburban city can start this business with proper planning.
21. Botanical Pesticide Production
The botanical pesticide is one of the most profitable agriculture business ideas. It is an essential and mandatory product for organic farming. the demand for this product is increasing highly.
22. Broom Production
The technical process of broom production is simple. Also, this project can be initiated with proper planning and moderate capital investment. Broom has been used for centuries to sweep up dirt and dust, in and around homes and workplaces.
23. Basket Weaving
To start a profitable basket-weaving business, one requires thoughtful planning and a high level of creative mind having a flair for design. Using a wide range of raw materials an entrepreneur can initiate a customized basket-weaving business from a home location with moderate capital investment.
24. Flour Milling
The flour milling business has many diversified fields. An entrepreneur can start this business with a proper business plan. Establishing your own brand product is highly profitable in this business.
25. Fruit juice Production
The fruit juice production business has a huge market opportunity. Also, the production process is not that complex and can be initiated on a small-scale basis.
26. Groundnut Processing
Having confidence in the source of raw material (groundnut) an entrepreneur can start this business with moderate capital investment. Processed groundnut has very good market potential globally.
27. Cashew-nut Processing
Processed cashew nut is a consumer durable product and has huge market potential in the FMCG industry. An entrepreneur can initiate this venture semi-automatic small-scale basis.
28. Quail Egg Farming
Commercial quail farming is all about raising quails commercially for the purpose of profitable eggs and meat production. Globally quail farming is playing an important role in fulfilling the daily family nutrition demands and earning a living.
29. Shrimp Farming
Shrimp farming is an aquaculture business that exists in the freshwater environment, producing shrimp or prawns for human consumption. The demand for this product is increasing globally.
30. Strawberry Farming
Strawberry is a healthy and delicious fruit. And you can grow this fruit in your backyard. Strawberry farming is profitable even with a small piece of land. It gives lucrative margins to the growers.
31. Fish Hatchery
A fish hatchery is a place for artificial breeding, hatching, and rearing through the early life stage of finfish and shellfish in particular. Hatcheries produce larval and juvenile fish primarily to support the aquaculture industry where they are transferred to on-growing systems.
32. Piggery
Having sufficient landholding an entrepreneur can start a piggery business. Among the various livestock species, piggery is the most potent source for meat production and pigs are more efficient feed converters than the broiler. The major facility is pig farming requires a small investment in buildings and equipment.
33. Soybeans Farming
Commercially soya beans processing to produce milk, soy flour, soy sauce, soyabean oil, natto, etc is a very profitable agriculture business idea to start with moderate capital investment. If you have small vacant land, soybean farming is a profitable business to start
34. Spice Processing
Rising global demand boosted the spice processing industry in the recent few years. Good quality processed spice has very good demand. Processing and packaging methods are not very complex. The margin is also very satisfying in the spice processing business.
35. Vegetable Farming
Vegetable farming is one of the most profitable agricultural business ideas. Having sufficient land an entrepreneur can start good-quality vegetable farming with quality seeds and fertilizers.
36. Chicks Hatchery
The chicks hatchery business is all about making money by selling commercially produced chicks to local egg and poultry farmers. It is a highly profitable business to start with a small capital and as such no specialized knowledge is required.
37. Rajanigandha Farming
The Scientific method of rajanigandha or tuberose farming gives this business a boost towards a successful commercial business. Apart from its usage as the only flower, rajanigandha is widely used in cosmetics, perfume, essential oils, ayurvedic medicine, and the pan masala industry. The flower can be grown to 8000 kg per hector yield.
38. Tea Growing
The Tea growing business has huge potential and demand for the product is increasing globally. Typically tea plants fare best in acidic soil and regions with heavy rainfall (around 40 inches per year), although they can be grown anywhere from sea level to altitudes as high as 1.3 miles above sea level.
39. Grocery E-Shopping Portal
Grocery E-shopping portal is the most trending business in recent phenomena. This tech-based business opportunity demands proper planning and a strong online marketing strategy to start.
40. Landscape Expert
A landscape expert is someone who has years of experience in the field of landscape architecture. The practice of landscape architecture includes site analysis, site inventory, land planning, planting design, grading, stormwater management, sustainable design, construction specification, and ensuring that all plans meet the current building codes and local and federal ordinances.
41. Medicinal Herbs Farming
Growing medicinal herbs commercially are one of the profitable agriculture business ideas. Having sufficient land and knowledge about herbs marketing, an entrepreneur can initiate medicinal herb farming with moderate capital investment.
42. Cactus Arrangements
The Cactus is the most favorable item as a plant decor item. This is ideal for tabletop gardens, and many plants can coexist happily in the same container. Creating and selling cactus arrangements is a very profitable and self-rewarding business to start. It can initiate from a home location with low startup capital.
43. Dairy Farming
Commercial dairy farming is one of the most profitable agricultural business ideas. Apart from milk, it produced a quantity of manure. There is a tremendous scope/potential for increasing milk production through profitable dairy farming.
44. Goat Farming
Goats are among the main meat-producing animals worldwide. Goat meat is one of the choicest meats and has huge domestic demand. Due to its good economic prospects, goat rearing under an intensive and semi-intensive system for commercial production has been gaining momentum for the past couple of years.
45. Jatropha Farming
Commercial Jatropha farming for Bio-diesel is one of the most trending agriculture business ideas. By exploring modern technology marginal farmers and cultivators can produce Jatropha as a raw material for bio-diesel.
46. Potato Powder
Potato powder has wide application in the processed and snack food industries, it can be used in any recipe which requires mashed potatoes. It is used as a thickener or base for the preparation of ready-to-eat vegetable gravies and soups. The processing method is also not very complex. The potato powder processing business can be initiated semi-automatic small-scale basis.
47. Corn Farming
Corn (Maize) is one of the most versatile emerging crops having wider adaptability under varied agro-climatic conditions. Globally, maize is known as the queen of cereals because it has the highest genetic yield potential among cereals. Commercial corn farming by using modern technology with quality seed is one of the most profitable agriculture business ideas.
48. Certified Seed Production
Seed certification is a quality assurance system whereby seed intended for marketing is subject to official control and inspection. At its simplest, the system certifies that a sack, packet, or box of seed contains what it says on the label and that the seed was produced, inspected, and graded, in accordance with the requirements of a Certification Scheme.
To initiate a certified seed production business you don’t have any requirement of land, just start the venture by contract farming.
49. Soil Testing Lab
Soil Testing is an agronomically sound, beneficial, and environmentally responsive tool used for monitoring the nutrient as well as making precise fertilizer recommendations for various crops and cropping sequences ensuring no damage to the environment. Establishing a soil testing lab with a Government certification is one of the ideal agriculture business ideas.
50. Green House Flower Export
Establishing a greenhouse for only export-oriented flowers is one of the most profitable business ideas. An entrepreneur who has a connection to the flower export market and has land-holds can initiate this venture with substantial capital investment.
51. Horticulture Crop Farming
Horticulturists produce fruits, flowers, and plants in greenhouses and nurseries. The selection of crops and methods is important in this business.
52. Potato Chips Production
The commercial small potato chips production line can process both potato chips and french fries. As it is an FMCG product demand is increasing globally.
53. 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. Types of plants typically grown for fodder include alfalfa, barley, oats, clover, grass, and wheat.
54. Rabbit Farming
Rabbit farming is a lucrative business. And with a very small space, you can initiate a rabbit farm. Angora rabbits are mainly raised for their wool, which is known for its quality. Rabbits are the best producers of wool on a per kg body weight basis.
55. Rose Farming
Rose is a beautiful flower. Additionally, it has great commercial value. If gardening is your hobby, you can turn your hobby into a profitable business. Even you can start a small rose farm with a small piece of land.
56. Agro-Farming Blogging
As the internet facility is spreading fast, even farmers from remote villages have access to the internet. There is a growing need for unbiased, honest advice for farming-related activities. People having knowledge and expertise in farming can start a blog on any agriculture-related subject.
57. Agriculture Consulting
As with other consulting services, the agriculture consulting sector is surely expected to grow in the coming days. People with experience and knowledge in a specified field of farming activity can consider offering consulting services to organizations and farmers.
58. Azolla Production
Azolla is an ideal feed for cattle, fish, pigs, and poultry, and also is of value as a bio-fertilizer for wetland paddy. The major producer countries are China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and India. If you have a small space in the backyard, you can start Azolla cultivation.
59. Koi Farming
The koi farming industry is growing in the last few years. In the United States alone, it is now a multi-billion industry. If you have a small pond, consider starting Koi Farming.
60. Tilapia Farming
Tilapia is another fish, whose demand is rising steadily. Presently it is a $5 billion dollar global industry. There is a good demand for tilapia fish in the United States of America.
Before you decide what agribusiness to start, it is recommended that you conduct market research on demand for the products you grow and how to get them to market.
You’ll also need a proper business plan as most agricultural businesses require access to a large area of land and farm equipment to get started.
Making money from an agricultural business requires knowledge of farming practices as well as some experience in developing a business. We hope this exhaustive list of agriculture business ideas will help in selecting the one that is most suitable for you.
About the Author: 99businessideas.com led by Rupak Chakrabarty is committed to helping beginners, entrepreneurs, and small business owners in starting, managing, and growing their businesses.
