An excellent investment for companies looking to improve efficiency and optimising sales of cold stored goods.
Cold storage can be used to store products such as meat, dairy, pharmaceutical goods and retail products.
It has an enormous amount of space. It is an advantage for the products that need to be pre stocked for consumers.
It has enormous benefits like :
- It reduces the wastage of vegetables and fruits.
- It can be used to store medicines or vaccines.
- The off season farm products are available at affordable rates.
- Packaged or processed foods are available to customers.
Setting up cold storage
Proper connectivity by road, drainage facilities and elevation of the site should be considered.
The land for cold storage should be converted to non-agriculture land.
Permission from the local authority for the construction of cold storage should be taken.
The product and its market size should be evaluated and properly matched to the capacity of the cold storage.
Cold storage basic design and equipments:
Cold storage room dimension: 14ft* 10ft* 10ft.
Temperature requirement : 4°C ± 2°C.
Humidity and storage space: 85-90%
Storage materials: vegetables and fruits.
Capacity: 10 metric tons.
Loans and subsidies for the cold storage projects:
50% of the total cost and machinery is financed by the ministry of food processing industries.
Cold storage business can also be done with the 80% loan from nationalized banks.
The National cooperative development corporation provides financial assistance for building cold storages depending on the project size and its feasibility.
Future prospects of cold storage:
Processing of the surplus fresh produce is highly important for enabling longer shelf life.
The growing demand for processed foods as a result of higher disposable incomes would lead to a requirement of a robust cold chain distribution system.
Growth of the retail market in India and the entry of multinational retail giants will be a major driving force.
Increasing production of horticultural products that require cold storage facilities.
Establishment of new and modern cold storage facilities will necessarily push up demand for refrigerated vehicles.
The cold chain monitoring space in the country has seen growth and the emergence of multiple players.
A Biogas Plant has three Major Components that make the Biogas Production Process Possible:
- Reception area
- Digester (or fermentation tank)
- Gas holder
GOBAR GAS PRODUCTION PROCESS FROM COW DUNG
THE PROCESS INCLUDES FOUR DISTINCT STAGES:
- Hydrolysis: bacteria turn complex carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids.
- Acidogenesis: acidogenic bacteria produce volatile fatty acids (VFAs), alcohols, and gases.
- Acetogenesis: acids and alcohols become acetic acid, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and other gases.
- Methanogenesis: methanogens break down the acids and alcohols into methane.
According to studies, each kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cow manure can produce between 15 and 30 litres of biogas per day and even up to 40 litres per day.
Besides gobar gas, the process also generates digestate, which can be used as organic fertiliser for lawns and, in specific conditions, flowers and vegetable gardens. It boosts plants and improves the soil texture, with a long-term impact on how it holds water and creates an environment where bacterial and fungal activity thrives.
Fertiliser from cow dung has balanced amounts of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, enabling microbes living in the soil to produce nutrients for plants continuously through natural processes.
CURRENT AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
Dairy cows continue to be one of the most significant contributors to climate change and significantly impact air and water quality worldwide. Every cow produces, on average, 29.5 kg (65 pounds) of manure and between 250 and 500 litres of methane each day, and turning cow dung into biogas can quickly become a cost-effective waste management solution worldwide.
Biogas and, therefore, gobar gas are seen as flexible energy sources that solve a double problem. On the one hand, they provide quick access to energy to communities in rural areas for affordable prices. On the other hand, the biogas production process helps solve the growing issues generated by cow waste polluting landfills, air, and water.
However, clear legislation should be released to ensure that waste management and sustainability standards are observed so gobar gas plants remain sustainable in the long run and indeed provide clean alternatives to fossil fuels.
As technology evolves and gobar gas systems become better at streamlining the biogas production process, we can expect increased adoption in areas where large amounts of cow waste are available.
Vermicomposting, or worm composting, turns kitchen scraps and other green waste into a rich, dark soil that smells like earth and feels like magic. Made of almost pure worm castings, it’s a sort of super compost. Not only is it rich in nutrients but it’s also loaded with the microorganisms that create and maintain healthy soil.
Following benefits of vermicompost are :
- provides nutrients to the soil
- increases the soil’s ability to hold nutrients in a plant-available form
- improves the soil structure
- improves the aeration and internal drainage of heavy clay soils
- increases the water holding ability of sandy soils
- provides numerous beneficial bacteria
HOW TO START VERMICOMPOSTING
1. CHOOSING A LOCATION
2. BEDDING
3. INTRODUCING THE WORMS
4. WHAT TO FEED
5. MOISTURE/ DRAINAGE
6. HARVESTING CASTINGS
1. MUSHROOM FARMING
Mushroom is important not only from a nutritional and medicinal point of view but also for export. It requires little space or land. Mushroom production has tremendous potential as an income generating activity. It grows independent of sunlight, feeds on organic matter and does not require fertile soil. In addition to the floor, air space is also utilised resulting in higher productivity. Mushroom cultivation can provide additional income to farmers who wish to take up this activity especially in their lean season.
Mushrooms are a fungal body. It depends upon other living or dead plants to obtain food. Mushroom is an excellent source of protein, vitamins, minerals, folic acid and is a good source of iron for anemic patients. Mushrooms contain 19 to 35 percent protein which is higher than most vegetables and cereals. Its protein quality is as good as animal protein.
Most common type of mushroom cultivated in India
- Button mushroom
- Oyster mushroom
- Milky mushroom
How to start a mushroom farming business?
Four steps to begin with mushroom farming business;
- Finding/creating a Mushroom House
- Purchasing Spawns & Disinfection of Mushroom house
- Spawning & Disinfection of compost
- Marketing
Cost and Profit Analysis of Mushroom Farming
- Button mushrooms have a total yield of 10 to 15 kilograms per square foot.
- The yield per 250 square feet is approximately 2,500 kilograms.
- In the market, the cost of a kg of button mushroom is around ₹140-₹165.(can vary according to the market).
- The total cost of 2,500 kgs of button mushroom at ₹140 is now ₹3,50,000.
- Mushroom farming has a total recurring cost of ₹1,60,000.
- Mushroom farming generates a net profit of ₹1,90,000 per year.
2. FLOWER BUSINESS
Mushrooms are a fungal body. It depends upon other living or dead plants to obtain food. Mushroom is an excellent source of protein, vitamins, minerals, folic acid and is a good source of iron for anemic patients. Mushrooms contain 19 to 35 percent protein which is higher than most vegetables and cereals. Its protein quality is as good as animal protein.
- The demand for flowering plants and their products, such as bouquets, garlands, and value-added products like dry flowers and potpourris is increasing by the day. They are required in several functions and celebrations.
- The diverse agro-climatic conditions in the country enable the growth of all types of flowers in one season or the other seasons.
Costing for your floriculture business:
Flower Farming Business Ideas in India
AGERATUM
Ageratum plant is a fast-growing annual plant. Caring for the ageratum plant includes regular watering until the plant is established. With successive plantings, it can produce continuous blooms from early summer to frost. Make sure soil drains well and don’t let the soil dry out either. Ageratum plants quickly wilt if conditions are too dry.
ALSTROEMERIA
Growing alstroemeria plants is easy and does not need much time or effort. You can find at least 50 species of alstroemeria around the globe. Alstroemeria flowers have no fragrance and it has a vase life of about two weeks. The alstroemeria plant needs full sun and well-drained soil for farming.
CARNATION
Carnation is popular as “The Flowers of God”. The flower comes in numerous colours. You can grow carnations from cuttings. Also, the flowers need some hours of full sun each day. Keep the soil in moist condition. However, avoid overwatering the plant. The plants grow in an area that gets 4 to 6 hours of sunlight per day.
GERBERAS
Gerberas come in different colours. Also, it is one of the most popular cut flowers globally and the flower has a long vase life. The most inexpensive method to produce gerberas is from seed. However, you should obtain the seed from reputed seed suppliers. Gerbera. plants are perennials and do best in full sun, in well-drained soil. If soil is poorly drained, grow the plants in a raised garden bed.
JASMINE
The scientific name of jasmine is Jasminum and the flower belongs to the Oleaceae family: You can find several fresh flower usages like making garlands, bouquets, decorating hair of women, and religious offerings, etc. Well-drained, rich loamy soil with a pH level from 65-75 is ideal for their cultivation; it prefers a mild and tropical climate Jasmine is commercially cultivated in India under open field conditions.
ROSE
Rose is a perennial shrub or vine of the Rosa genus and the family Rosacea.The rose grows well in the plains under the ideal condition of fertile loamy soils with salt-free irrigation water.You can harvest the flowers at the tight bud stage when the colour is fully developed.
SUNFLOWERS
Sunflowers are the early-blooming varieties with less than 60 days to harvest and are popular market sellers. Sunflower plants grow well in the soil with lots of water holding capacity, drainage, and fertiliser.
3. ORGANIC FARMING
THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIC PRODUCTION ARE
- protect the environment, minimize soil degradation and erosion, decrease pollution, optimize biological productivity and promote a sound state of health
- maintain long-term soil fertility by optimizing conditions for biological activity within the soil
- maintain biological diversity within the system
- recycle materials and resources to the greatest extent possible within the enterprise
- provide attentive care that promotes the health and meets the behavioural needs of livestock
- prepare organic products, emphasizing careful processing, and handling methods in order to maintain the organic integrity and vital qualities of the products at all stages of production
Organic farming promotes the use of crop rotations and cover crops, and encourages balanced host/predator relationships. Organic residues and nutrients produced on the farm are recycled back to the soil. Cover crops and composted manure are used to maintain soil organic matter and fertility. Preventative insect and disease control methods are practised, including crop rotation, improved genetics and resistant varieties. Integrated pest and weed management, and soil conservation systems are valuable tools on an organic farm.
The organic standards generally prohibit products of genetic engineering and animal cloning, synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilisers, sewage sludge, synthetic drugs, synthetic food processing aids and ingredients, and ionising radiation. Prohibited products and practices must not be used on certified organic farms for at least three years prior to harvest of the certified organic products. Livestock must be raised organically and fed 100 percent organic feed ingredients.
Organic farming presents many challenges. Some crops are more challenging than others to grow organically; however, nearly every commodity can be produced organically.
Why Farm Organically?
Organic Farming Certification
- Third Party certification (NPOP) system which is governed by APEDA, Ministry of Commerce which is mainly focused for export purpose and
- PGS-INDIA certification system.
PGS-India is governed by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare mainly focused for local / domestic market purpose.
The third party certification bears high fees and more documentation as a result small and marginal farmers are not able to offer certification. To make it more easy, affordable and simplest system of certification which can be accessible by more number of small and marginal farmers to adopt certification and further sale in domestic market, Participatory Guarantee System (PGS)-INDIA organic certification system was launched in 2011 by Department of Agriculture and Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, it is an alternative to Third party (NPOP) certification system.
The programme is implemented mainly through National Centre of Organic Farming (NCOF), Ghaziabad and its five Regional Centres (Ghaziabad (HQ), Bangalore, Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Imphal, as Zonal Councils. NCOF is a PGS-INDIA Secretariat of the PGS-INDIA System, and Director, NCOF as the Executive Secretary and has to play an important role in implementation of all activities of PGS- INDIA programme as per the PGS guidelines.( source: ncof.dacnet.nic.in )
4) HYDROPONICS FARMING
Ever since humans largely switched from nomadic lifestyles to more stationary, agrarian ones, they have experimented with new ways of growing food. One of the biggest advancements in agriculture was the discovery that plants don’t actually need soil to grow. In fact, growing can be made possible through the use of hydroponic systems. With hydroponics, plants get all the nutrients they need without having their roots encased in dirt. Hydroponic plants are often cultivated without a soil-like growing medium.
What is Hydroponics?
At its most basic level, hydroponics is when plants are grown in a nutrient solution rather than soil. Instead of the roots growing down into dirt and gaining nutrients that way, in a hydroponic system, the roots grow into a liquid solution that is fortified with all the essential nutrients for healthy plants.
While it is possible to grow plants hydroponically outside, the vast majority of hydroponic systems are used in greenhouses or other indoor spaces. There are many small, commercially available hydroponic systems that people can use to grow hydroponic plants in their homes.
Hydroponic Farming One Time Setup Cost
- Polyhouse shelter- 600000 INR
- NFT system
- Pipes(4 inches)- 700000 INR
- Pipes(2 inches)- 12000 INR
- Pipe connectors- 120000 INR
- Stand platform(hold 32 pipes each)- 100000 INR (40 Stands)
- Tank(20000-liters)- 55000 INR
- Plastic tank(1000 liter)- 15000 INR(2 tanks)
- Plastic tank(5000 liters)- 22000 INR
- Water pump(1-HP)- 30000 INR(4 Pumps)(Types of irrigation pumps)
- Water pump(0.5-HP)- 10000 INR(2 pumps)
- Net cups- 100000 INR(20000 plus)
- Water cooler- 60000 INR
- RO system- 50000 INR
- pH meter- 1200 INR
- TDS meter- 2000 INR
- Labor cost- 10000 INR
Total one time cost- 1887200 to 2000000 INR
Hydroponic Farming Per Cycle Cost
Considering, the hydroponic farming system give yield every month. So following is per cycle cost in hydroponic farming-
- Electricity- 15000 INR/month
- Seeds- 20000 INR/month
- Fertilizers- 20000 INR/month
- Labor- 10000 INR/month
- Maintenance- 5000 INR/month
- Packing and transportation- 10000 INR/month
Per cycle cost- 80000 INR
Hydroponic Farming Profit in India
On a 5000 square feet area, the following are the outcomes in one-time yield of crops like lattice-
- Total production- 3200 kg
- Waste- 1000 kg
- Total left- 2200 kg
- Value in market- 350 INR/kg
- Value of yield- 770000 INR
Profit margin= Total earning per cycle- per cycle investment
Profit margin= 7,70,000 – 80,000 = 6,90,000 INR/cycle
The margin of profit- 6,90,000 INR/cycle
Agricultural biotechnology is a collection of scientific techniques used to improve plants, animals and microorganisms. Biofertilizers are one of the important pillars in sustainable agriculture to organize production, protect the environment and produce crops free of pollutants, as they are considered environmentally friendly fertilizers that contain microorganisms capable of supplying plants with the necessary nutrients for them from natural sources through their contribution.
The potential of biofertilizer in enhancing crop growth without asking the quality of soil when compared with inorganic fertilizer is more. Cow dung is high in organic materials and rich in nutrients. It contains about 3% Nitrogen , 2 % phosphorus and 1% potassium. Apart from this cow dung also contains a variety of enzymes and microorganisms. Cow dung as feedstock contributes to environmental pollution.
Organic Bio-fertilizer and their method of preparation.
1. PANCHAGAVYA :
INGREDIENTS USED
- Cow dung = 1 kg (fresh)
- Cow dung slurry = 4 kg
- Cow urine = 3L
- Cow milk = 2L (fresh)
- Curd = 2 kg
- Cow butter oil = 1 kg (ghee)
METHOD OF PREPARATION:
It is a blend of 5 products obtained from cows mainly dung, urine, milk, curd and ghee. For making Panchagavya thoroughly mix the required quantities of ingredients and allow fermenting for 7 days with twice stirring per day.
2. MATKA KHAD:
INGREDIENTS USED
- Cow dung = 5 kg
- Cow urine = 5L
- Water = 5L
- Jaggery = 250 gm
- Earthen pitcher = 1 No. of 20L capacity
METHOD OF PREPARATION:
Thoroughly mix 5 kg of cow dung, 5 L cow urine, 5 L water and 250 gm jaggery and put in a pitcher of 20 L capacity. The pitcher is filled up to ¾ levels only, for effective fermentation. A lid is placed over the pitcher and buried in the soil for 7 to 10 days with its neck outside the soil.
3. BEEJA AMRIT :
INGREDIENTS USED
- Cow dung = 50 gm
- Cow urine = 50 ml
- Cow milk (fresh)= 50 ml
- Lime stone = 2-3 gm
- Water = 1L
METHOD OF PREPARATION:
Thoroughly mix all the ingredients preferably in a plastic/glass jar and keep overnight.
4. JEEVA AMRIT:
INGREDIENTS USED
- Cow dung = 5 kg
- Cow urine = 5L
- Jaggery = 1 kg
- Pulse flour = 1 kg
- Fertile soil = ½ kg
- Water = 50L
METHOD OF PREPARATION:
5. AMRITPANI:
INGREDIENTS USED
- Cow butter oil = 1/4 kg (ghee)
- Honey = ½ kg
- Cow dung = 10 kg
- Water = 200L
METHOD OF PREPARATION:
Thoroughly mix a quarter kilo of ghee into 10 kilos of cow dung. Blend half kilo of honey into this mixture and add 200 litres of water stirring all the time. The mixture thus obtained is Amritpani.