Top 7 Profitable Agribusiness Ideas in India

Introduction

As India is one of the largest agricultural producers in the world, agriculture and allied sectors are contributing nearly 20 % to the country’s total GDP and the sector performed well at a rate of 3.6 % even during Covid-19 pandemic when all other sectors underperformed. The  varied agro-climatic conditions, rich natural and skilled human resources, creating huge opportunities for agribusiness. Agribusiness extends beyond traditional farming; it includes a wide range of industries from organic farming to agritech solutions. With increasing eco-consciousness, changing consumer preferences, food demand, and urbanisation, there is a shift towards high-value crops, organic produce, processed food, and innovative agricultural solutions. Furthermore, technological advancements including precision farming, hydroponics, and vertical farming are revolutionizing the agribusiness industry, making it more efficient and profitable.

Entrepreneurs and agriculture graduates who are looking to enter the agribusiness sector have various options, depending on the capital, resources availability, advanced technology, availability of skilled labours and market demand. With the right strategy, innovation, and investment, agribusiness in India can be highly lucrative and sustainable. Keeping this in view, we will discuss some of the important and profitable agribusiness ideas in India.

Factors to consider before starting Agribusiness

Starting an agribusiness requires careful planning and consideration of several key factors to ensure success. The important factor is market research and demand. It is necessary to choose a high demand product or service by analyzing competition and potential customers. Example: Piggery farming is highly successful in the North Eastern region of India due to adjustable feeding habits and a strong local demand for pork. Before selecting land, consider suitable climatic and soil conditions, access to water, transportation and storage facilities. Considering capital and financing, we need to analyse startup costs  (land, equipment, seeds, livestock, etc.) and explore future funding sources through loans, grants, and investors. It is also important to take necessary licenses and permits before starting any business. In addition, use of advanced technologies and modern equipment such as precision farming, Artificial Intelligence, drone technology, automation, etc. can increase production and efficiency. Plan for the efficient supply chain and logistics for transportation of raw materials and finished products. Apart from the above factors, it is important to hire or train laborers with necessary skills,  interact with successful businesses and learn from their mistakes. Finally, developing a strong marketing strategy using digital platforms and creating a brand identity and value proposition.

Agribusiness Ideas 

Based on the investment required, agribusinesses are categorised as low-investment, medium investment and high investment ideas. Anyone who wants to enter into the agri-business field can choose any one of these below discussed ideas based on their investment capacity. 

1. Mushroom Cultivation

Growing consumer demand, quick returns, easy cultivation and suitability for small spaces can make mushroom business highly profitable with the right strategy. Here is a step by step guide to how to make mushroom business work.  

Choosing the Right Mushroom Variety: There are mainly 5 mushroom species are grown in India, they are milky mushroom (Calocybe indica), oyster mushroom(Pleurotus spp), white button mushroom(Agaricus bisporus), paddy straw mushroom(Volvariella volvaceae), shiitake mushroom(Lentinula edodes). One has to choose the right variety  depending on the climate, investment capacity, and market demand.

Factors	Oyster mushroom	Paddy straw mushroom	Button mushroom	Milky mushroom	Shiitake mushroom
Scientific names	Pleurotus spp.	Volvariella volvacea	Agaricus bisporus	Calocybe indica	Lentinula edodes
Climatic and other conditions	Easy to grow with low investment and provides higher yield	Suitable for warm and humid regions, with low investment	Longer cultivation cycle, requires precise temperature but fetch higher prices	Ideal for tropical climates and have a stable demand	Require more time and investment but provides high returns
Temperature	20-30°C	30-35°C	14-18°C	25-30°C	12-22°C
Humidity %	70-85 %	80-90 %	85-90 %	80-90 %	60-80 %
Substrate required	Straw, saw dust, agro waste	Paddy straw, banana leaves	Compost, manure, gypsum	Straw, sugarcane, baggasse	Hardwood, sawdust, logs
Cultivation time ( Days)	20-30	15-20	35-50	30-40	90-120
Nutritional value	High protein, fibre, minerals	Protein and low fat	High protein, High protein, vitamin B and D	Rich in protein, fiber, Ca	High in protein, anti-oxidants, polysaccharides
Suitable states	Odisha, West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra	Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu	Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand	Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha	Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, North-East States
Cost of Production (₹/kg)	40-50	30-40	80-100	50-60	100-150
Market Price (₹/kg)	120-150	80-120	200-300	120-180	300-500
Profit for 100 kg demand (₹)	7000-10000	4000-8000	12000-22000	6000-12000	20000-40000

Basic steps of Mushroom cultivation: 

1. Selection of mushroom variety (oyster, button, shiitake, milky, paddy straw)
2. Preparation of substrate: Mushroom grows on organic materials such as paddy or wheat straw, saw dust ( Paddy straw, Oyster, and Milky mushroom), compost (Button mushroom) and hardwood logs (Shiitake mushroom)
3. Sterilization of substrate: Sterilization can be done in two ways one is either boiling or keeping in an autoclave and other is chemical treatment with lime or formalin solutions.
4. Inoculation of spawn in polybags. Inoculated bags should be kept in a dark room for 2-4 weeks (temperature-20-25 oC and humidity 70-80%).
5. Transferring polybags to a well-ventilated and cooled region (temperature 18-22 oC and humidity 80-90 %). Provide 4-6 hours / day indirect light and spray water to keep moist.
6. Harvesting: Mushrooms will be ready for harvesting after 2-4 weeks of fruiting starts.

Success stories in Mushroom Business

The state’s cool climate, high humidity, and rich organic matter make it ideal for growing different varieties of mushrooms, especially oyster mushrooms and shiitake.

1. Megha Food Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd. in the Garo Hills: The oyster mushroom production is promoted by the Megha Food Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd. in the Garo Hills region by providing training, technical support and forward linkages. It helps in providing livelihood opportunities among smallholder farmers. The cooperative has also enabled farmers to adopt standardized production practices. This cooperative society has created a positive impact on the livelihood of tribal communities, enhancing their income and nutritional security. Farmers like Subit Rabha from Maniganj Habanda have benefited from this program, transitioning from traditional farming to successful mushroom cultivation.
2. Community-Centric Model and Market Linkage in Meghalaya: The project operates on a community-centric model, with the Hill Farmers’ Shiitake Mushroom Co-op Society Ltd (HFSMCS) playing a pivotal role in farmer engagement. To ensure market linkage, a buy-back mechanism has been established through Shillong Shiitake Products Company Ltd (SSPL), a joint venture between YATS Corporation and HFSMCS. This structure guarantees that farmers have a ready market for their produce, enhancing economic viability and sustainability. 

Government Support & Training: NABARD & MSME schemes provide funding and subsidies. Training available at ICAR, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and state agricultural universities.

2. Beekeeping & Honey Production

Beekeeping is a low maintenance and  high-value product  market,  requiring low investment and land. As demand for honey and bee products increases, commercial honey production has become a business. This business not only empowers rural people but also improves agriculture production by increasing pollination. Generally, in India, there are five important species of honey bees that are kept for honey production.

1. Indian bee (Apis cerana indica): Indian hive bees are indigenous and the domesticated species, which build multiple parallel combs with an average honey yield of 6-8 kg annually. These bees are the smallest bees after Apis florea. These  are also more prone to swarming and absconding.
2. European bee / Italian bee (Apis mellifera): European or Italian bees have been imported from European countries. These are the second largest bees after Apis dorsata, which construct parallel combs with an average production per colony is 25-40 kg. They are less prone to swarming and absconding.
3. Stingless (Dammer) Bee: Besides true honey bees, there are two species of stingless or dammer bees, viz. Melipona and Trigona are present in our country in abundance. These are much smaller than the true honey bees and build irregular combs of wax and resinous substances in crevices and hollow tree trunks. The stingless bees have importancehave importance in the pollination of various food crops. They bite their enemies or intruders. It can be domesticated. But the honey yield per hive per year is only 100 gms.
4. Rock bee (Apis dorsata): Rock bees are the largest bees found in sub-himalayan regions of India. They build a single comb and can produce about 36 kg of honey annually. They change the place of the colony often, and are also ferocious in nature. Hence, they are difficult to rear. 
5. Little bee (Apis florea): As the name suggests, little bees are the smallest among all the apis species. These bees are commonly distributed in plain areas and they are difficult to rear because they are prone to swarming and absconding. They construct single vertical combs on branches of bushes, hedges, buildings, caves, empty cases etc.. with an average honey yield of 500 grams  per year per hive. 

Factors	Indian Bee (Apis cerena)	European Bee (Apis mellifera)	Stingless Bee (Melipona irridipennis)	Rock Bee (Apis dorsata)	Little Bee (Apis florea)
Bee Size	Medium	Large	Small	Very Large	Small
Preferred Climate	Tropical, subtropical	Temperate/ tropical (Controlled)	Tropical, humid	Tropical, warm	Tropical, warm
Nest Location	Tree hollows, walls, bee boxes	Artificial hives, tree cavities	Tree trunks, ground cavities	High tree branches, cliffs	Bushes, small trees
Temperament	Gentle, easy to manage	Gentle, commonly used in beekeeping	Non-aggressive, stingless	Aggressive, difficult to manage	Timid, non-aggressive
Swarming Tendency	Frequent	Moderate	Low	High	High
Economic Importance	Honey, pollination	Honey, pollination, commercial beekeeping	Medicinal honey, pollination	Wild honey collection	Limited honey production
Honey Production	6–8 kg/year	20–40 kg/year	1 kg/year	50 kg/year	0.25-1 kg/year
Market Price (₹/kg)	550-900	550-800	700-1200	500-700	650-1000

Core steps for Indian, European and Stingless Bee Honey Production:  The general steps for honey production vary based on the species, but the core process remains similar.

A. Selection of Suitable Location: Choose a warm, humid areas with abundant nectar and pollen sources 

B. Procuring Bee Colonies: Colonies are sourced from registered breeders, local beekeepers or captured from wild swarms.

C. Setting Up the Hive: Use wooden, pot and other traditional hives for Indian and European bees while small log hives, box hives, pot hives suited for stingless bees.

D. Colony Management: Regular checking of Queen bee presence, Brood health, Pests & predators and adequate floral resources nearby are needed.

E. Feeding: During nectar shortages, provide sugar syrup (2:1 water-to-sugar ratio).

F. Honey Extraction: For Indian & European Bees honey extractor (centrifugal machine) used and stored in clean containers. For Stingless Bees honey is harvested using syringes or vacuum pumps as they store honey in resin pots, not wax combs.

G. Honey Storage & Processing: Raw honey can be sold directly or stored in airtight glass or food-grade plastic containers to prevent moisture absorption.

H. Marketing & Selling: Sell locally and Online sales

Government Support & Training: To boost honey production, improve the livelihoods of beekeepers, and contribute to the overall development of the apiculture industry, Government of India is promoting honey production, providing training, and offering financial assistance to beekeepers through Sweet Kranti by  Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) and Integrated Beekeeping Development Centre (IBDC) by National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM), National Bee Board. 

Success stories in Apiary Business

1. Manipur’s Women Beekeepers: A women’s self-help group in Manipur, supported by NBHM, scaled up honey production with training and financial aid. Their organic honey is sold nationwide, empowering women and boosting rural income.
2. Assam’s Tribal Beekeeper: A beekeeper in Assam’s Karbi Anglong expanded his small apiary into a thriving business with NBHM’s support. Using modern techniques, he improved honey quality and now exports premium honey, creating jobs and uplifting his community.

3. Vermicomposting

Vermicomposting is a successful agribusiness idea that requires low investment and limited resources. It is a process of conversion of biodegradable materials (kitchen, farm and livestock wastes) into vermicast by earthworms. Vermicast is a good organic fertilizer rich in nutrients, hormones, and enzymes, which stimulates plant growth and discourages plant pathogens. This process also produces a liquid called vermiwash enriched with micro and macronutrients, good for soil and plant health. An aspiring budding entrepreneur with manufacturing skills and interest in vermicompost business can tap the benefits of organic movement in India. As many farmers are transitioning towards organic farming and require  organic fertilizers, which can create huge demand for vermicompost in future. 

Rural areas predominant with agriculture waste, animal waste and other bio-waste can be potential areas to start this business idea. It can promote sustainable waste management and economic well-being of rural people. 

Materials required to start vermicomposting as a business

1. Bedding materials: Shredded newspaper, cardboard, coconut coir, or a mix of materials to provide a moist environment for the worms.
2. Food scraps: Cow dung, waste materials like kitchen waste, Paddy straw, leaf litter, etc.
3. Earthworms: There are various species of African earthworms (Eudrillus engenial), Red worms (Eisenia foetida), and Composting worms (Peronyx excavatus). All these three species are prolific feeders and can feed upon a variety of biodegradable wastes. They exhibit a high growth rate. Red worms (Eisenia foetida) are surface dwellers (epigeic) which start composting from the surface first and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures (often high as 43 OC even low as 5 OC. 
4. Worm bin: Any container with drainage holes to allow excess moisture to escape.  It can be a plastic bin, wooden box, or specially designed vermicomposting system. 
5. Soil: A small amount of garden soil can be added to the bedding to introduce beneficial microbes. 

Steps involved in processing of vermicomposting

Selection of suitable site for setting up vermicomposting: Select the site where availability of raw materials like cow dung or manure should be plenty. It should have water access and a conducive environment for earthworms. 

Construct bricks and mortar beds with drainage holes on the sides or you can also get ready made HDPE UV Stabilized Vermi Compost Bed 12x4x2 Ft with holes. These HDPE UV stabilised vermicompost beds are more convenient and can be used to prepare composting on the terraces in urban areas. Apply water on the soil surface thoroughly, then apply the first layer of bedding materials (such as wood chips, dry leaves or grass etc.) in constructed bricks and mortar beds. But, in HDPE UV stabilised vermicompost bed, apply bedding materials first ( Usually Neem leaves above that chopped materials), then apply dried cow dung cake with soil or manure and moist it. Again spread Paddy straw or any other farm waste and then place cow dung or manure above it, sprinkle the water. This procedure needs to be continued till the bed becomes full. 

Now, introduce earthworms to the filled bed at 5-10 cm below the surface of the bed. After some time when earthworms move from upper surface to lower surface, cover the bed with moist gunny bags or other  materials (Grass straws, broad leafed leaves, etc.) that can provide a cooling effect and check sunlight entering into it.

Continue watering (at least twice or thrice a week) and turning the vermin beds, if necessary, once or twice a month. This step is a very important management activity in the process of maturing of the vermicompost.

The vermicompost is produced after 3-5 months. This depends on the area size and number of worms initially introduced in the vermin bed.

Before harvesting, stop watering to allow drying of the top part of the vermicompost. After screening to remove undecomposed materials and worms, the final product is then dried for a few days, weighed and bagged in 50 kg.  

4. Nursery Business

A nursery business involves prolongation and sale of plants grown to a certain stage of maturity, including fruit plants, ornamental plants, medicinal plants, forestry seedlings and vegetable saplings, etc. primary goal is to produce high quality planting materials for farmers, gardeners, and landscapers. Starting a nursery business with limited resources is a practical and profitable venture, especially those individuals who are interested in horticulture, agroforestry, gardening and sustainable agriculture. One can start this business with limited resources and gradually expand based on market demand and profitability. 

There are three types nurseries:

1. Retail: Selling directly to customers.
2. Wholesale: Supplying large quantities of seedlings to other retail nurseries, farms, institutions, or reforestation projects.
3. Specialised: Focusing on production of specific kinds of plants such as medicinal plants, fruit trees, or native species .

Key considerations before starting a nursery business 

1. Selection of plants : You should choose high demand plants in your surrounding area. Before starting a business, take a marketing survey, analyse and select plant types. Some of the fruit plants with high demand are mango, citrus, banana and guava. Medicinal plants such as neem, tulsi, etc. and forest trees like teak, mahogany, areca nut, coconut, are in demand. Seasonal vegetable seedlings like tomato, Brinjal, chilli, onion are also profitable. Nowadays, demand for shade loving ornamental plants is increasing. 
2. Location and land requirements: For starting a nursery business, one needs to have a small piece of land ( backyard, rooftop or rented space. Place should have access to good sunlight, water and drainage.  
3. Seed selection and propagation material: The seeds should be high quality, free from diseases and pests attack. The cuttings or grafted seedlings ensure better survival rate. Before starting this business, aspiring entrepreneurs need to undergo training programs and get equipped with technical skills required to produce quality seedlings.
4. Market demand and sales strategy: You should identify potential customers, including farmers, home gardeners, landscaping companies and government nurseries. You can also utilize the digital world like social media, Whatsapp groups, and local markets for promotions. 

Step by step guide to start a nursery business

1. Planning & Market Research

Grow high demand plants in your region. Plan initial production based on available resources.

Fruit plants ( Mango, guava, banana and citrus)

Medicinal plants ( Neem, tulsi and aloe vera)

Forestry plants (teak, mahogany, bamboo, areca nut and coconut )

Ornamental plants (roses, anthurium, bougainvillea)

Vegetable seedlings ( Tomato, chilli, brinjal)

Start with small investments ( 10,000 /- to 50,000) and expand gradually.

2. Selection of suitable site

Choose a site with good sunlight, reliable water resources ( drip irrigation or manual watering), shade ( for delicate seedlings, use shade nets) and proper drainage ( to prevent water logging). 

If land is not available, start on terraces, balconies or rented land. 

3. Procuring planting materials 

• Seeds and saplings: Purchase high quality disease free seeds and cuttings from reliable sources like ICAR institutes, agriculture universities and nurseries.
• Potting materials: Use low cost poly bags, or recycled containers to cut down the costs. Raised beds can also be used for bulk production. 
• Soil preparation: Mix well drained, fertile soil with compost, sand and cocopeat. 

4. Propagation techniques 

Choose the right method based on plant type

• Seed sowing : This method is commonly used for vegetables, forestry plants and medicinal plants. Seeds are sown in nursery trays or raised beds and kept soil moist until they get germinated.
• Cuttings: Used for flowering plants like roses, hibiscus, bougainvillea. Take healthy cuttings and treat with rooting hormones. Place the cuttings in moist soil or sand mix for root formation. 
• Grafting and budding: Used for fruit trees like mango, guava, citrus. Select disease resistant rootstocks and healthy scions and graft or bud using standard techniques. 
• Air layering : This method is used for litchi, guava, etc. Wrap a moist coco peat soil moisture around a healthy branch to promote root formation. 

5. Nursery Management

• Watering : Use drip irrigation for efficiency and avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.
• Fertilization: You can apply organic fertilizers like compost, cow dung or vermicompost and  biofertilizers like azospirillum for better growth.
• Pest and Disease control: If you are supplying seedlings to organic farming, you can use Neem oil, cow urine extract or natural pesticides to control pests. Remove infected plants immediately to prevent disease spread. 
• Providing support and shade: Use bamboo nets for supporting climbers. Install shade nets for delicate plants.

6. Marketing and Selling the plants

After identifying potential customers, you can sell locally and later catch bigger markets. You can also offer discounts for bulk purchase. Get connected with government agencies and register with State Horticulture Departments for supply contracts. 

Success Stories in Nursery Business 

Horticultural nursery

A young couple Jojo and Bindu from Kerala run a nursery business, which mostly includes horticultural crops. Once Jojo attended ICAR – Krishi Vigyana Kendra, Kozhikode training program. Then, he was motivated to start a nursery business and started at 36 cent land, eventually turning into a profitable business. The most attractive part of this nursery is Bush Pepper plants ( Have 6 months – 15 years old plants), which require at most care during their growth. Apart from bush pepper plants, they also have different other horticulture plants. Now, they are training young entrepreneurs, starting other businesses from their earlier earnings and becoming role models to aspiring entrepreneurs. 

5. Goat Farming

Goat farming is a more viable subsidiary occupation for additional income. Goats are multipurpose animals, produce meat, milk, hide, fiber and manure. It plays a significant role in the economy of poor man, hence, it has been described as a poor man’s cow. Goats require very few demands for housing and management. They can be raised by landless agricultural labourers, women and children as it can fit well into mixed farming. Goats are cheaper to maintain, easily available, and adapt to various climatic conditions ranging from arid dry or cold arid to hot humid.  These are highly resistant to diseases and have good digestive capacity, and can produce well even on poor quality roughages. Hence, this business is highly profitable with relatively low maintenance. 

Management guide to start goat farming business 

1. Selection of goats

Choosing a goat must be healthy and lively. Procure kids from reliable sources from local farmers, breeding centres, etc. It is advisable to procure two kids at a time as goats are social animals and need company. 

Male and female ratio: If you are rearing for only products, then no need to keep bucks more. If you are starting a breeding center, it is advisable to keep one buck for every 30 does.

Age of the goat: You must consider the age of the kids while procuring, as eight weeks kids are cheaper and friendlier than older ones. 

Breeds: Some goat breeds like Malabari, Black Bengal, Jamunapari, Osmanabadi, etc. yield milk as well as meat. Therefore, these are reared for milk and meat. Chittagong and Chokla are reared for producing fibers. 

2. Housing facilities and management 

Goats do not require an intensive housing unit. Locally available materials like elephant grass, paddy straw, bamboo, wood, etc.  can be used to construct goat sheds. It is necessary to maintain proper aeration and drainage facilities by providing slope. A space of 1.8 sq. mt must be maintained per doe, while a floor space of 2.4 sq.mt for bucks. In case of group housing, an area of 1.8* 1.8 sq. mt. is sufficient for 10 kids. 

3. Feeding Management:

Goats are browsing herbivores, meaning they eat the leaves, soft shoots, or fruits of high-growing plants. They reach up and around for their food, unlike sheep and cows which eat from the ground. Goats prefer fodder of leguminous crops along with grains like pulses, wheat, maize, etc. than straw or maize silage. Additionally, they require 14-15 % of protein along with high mineral composition like ionized salt, bone meal, zinc oxide, ferrous carbonate, high grade limestone, copper sulphate and vitamins.  The growing kids are given 100 gm/ day of concentrate mixture while adults are given 200-250 gm/ day of concentrate ration. On an average, each goat consumes 5-7 kg of green fodder and 1 litre of water per day. 

4. Taking care of kids 

New born kids must be fed with colostrum immediately after birth and for up to 5 days. The amount of milk provided to the kids must be 1/10th of the kids body weight after the initial five days. 

5. Pregnant Doe

At most, care is taken during pregnancy. Pregnant people must be given a balanced diet, including a concentrated mixture of 250-300 gm / day. This amount must be reduced gradually a week before parturition and the amount of fodder must be increased. 

Success story 

A woman ( Sansa Devi ) from Rajasthan started rearing goats without proper knowledge. The yield started declining due to poor management conditions. Later, she joined SAKSHAM Samooh, started attending monthly meetings there and learned the importance of scientific management of goats. She learned the importance of a proper balanced diet, timely vaccination, and cleanliness to keep goats healthy. She arranged a balanced diet, including green grass, grains, and minerals and started regular check-ups and vaccinations for her goats. Incidence of disease reduced and her income raised. Now, the number of goats has increased from 5 to 20 and earns around INR 50,000 annually. She is also involved in teaching to other fellows in her community and becoming a role model.

6. Fish Business

1. Understanding the fish business

The business can be categorised into several areas

1. Fish farming ( aquaculture)- Raising and harvesting of fishes in controlled conditions such as ponds,  tanks or cages. 
2. Fish hatchery- Breeding and selling of fish seeds or fingerlings to the farmers.
3. Fish trading – Buying fishes directly from farmers and selling in local or international markets.
4. Fish processing and value addition- Smoking, salting, drying or freezing for preservation and added value. 
5. Ornamental fish business: Raising and selling of ornamental fishes. 

2. Things need to be considered before starting fish business 

• Market Research: First and foremost thing is to identify fishes having potential market demand. It is advised to select fast growing and hardy fishes for beginners. Examples include:

Tilapia ( low maintenance, high demand)

Catfish ( resistant to diseases, suitable for small ponds)

Carp ( Common in India and Asian market)

Pangasius ( Popular in commercial fish farming )

Growing demand for fish and seafood

Profitable species for fish farming (Rohu, Catla, Prawns)

You must identify potential customers ( hotels, households, supermarkets, fish traders, etc. ) to sell your produce after harvesting.

• Location and setup 

The location selected for fish farming must be free from pests, have adequate water facility, drainage and aeration facilities. If you own land, you can start fish farming in your land by constructing small ponds or you can also go for recirculating fish farming. Otherwise, consider backyard tanks, barrels or cages in natural water bodies. 

3. Step- by – step process to start fish business 

1. Fish farming ( small scale)

• Site selection: Choose an area with adequate water and drainage facilities.
• Pond / tank construction: Pond must be dug in a suitable location and line it properly or you can also use concrete tanks, plastic barrels or old bathtubs.
• Management of water quality: It is necessary to maintain optimum oxygen levels, temperature and pH balance. Use aerators or aquatic plants to maintain oxygen levels.
• Selection of seeds and stocking : You can produce seeds or you can procure from reliable hatcheries. Stock fish at the right density to avoid overcrowding.
• Feeding and management: Use cost effective feeds like kitchen wastes, agricultural by-products and arid organic feeds. 
• Disease management: It is important to maintain hygiene and proper waste disposal. Regularly check fish for infections and treat them promptly.
• Harvesting and selling : Harvest mature fish based on market demand. Sell directly to consumers restaurants or through middlemen.

Fish trading 

• Purchase fresh fishes at competitive prices from reliable suppliers such as farmers, fish markets, wholesalers.
• Store and transport fish in ice boxes or freezers to maintain freshness.
• Sell to hotels, restaurants, local markets, and online markets.

Ornamental Fish business 

• Start with hardy aquarium fish like guppies, goldfish, or bettas.
• Use small tanks at home or rented houses.
• Breed and sell to pet shops, aquarium owners, and online customers.

Value added fish products 

• Smoke, dry, or pickle fish to increase shelf life
• Package and brand products for better market appeal.
• Sell in supermarkets, online markets or local markets.

Success stories

Agriculture to Aquaculture: An inspiring story

Mr. Nelekta Chowai from Arunachal Pradesh was an agriculturist who was earning INR 70000 from his farm. The Department of Fisheries, Arunachal Pradesh encouraged him to take up aquaculture. Under the guidance and support of the department, he started aquaculture. Now, his income has increased many folds, he is earning INR 7.5 Lakhs and creating employment opportunities for others.

7. Herbal & Medicinal Plant Farming

Starting medicinal or herbal farming requires low investment and relatively less management. Now, it’s a booming sector due to growing demand for Ayurveda and Herbal medicine. There is a lucrative market for ayurvedic and herbal products. High-value crops like Aloe Vera, Ashwagandha, Tulsi, and Lavender cultivation have huge potential in Ayurvedic and Cosmetic industries. 

Starting your own Herbal and Medicinal farming business can be a rewarding endeavour. Here’s a step by step guide to start your herbal or medicinal farming business. 

1. Understand the demand for medicinal plants

Before starting your venture, list out the plants or herbs which are high in demand. You can also consult Ayurvedic colleges to know some important Ayurvedic plants with high demand. List out at least 10 products derived from those plants. Based on your research and market intelligence, you can choose the right plant or herbs. The selected plants must suit your climatic and soil conditions.

2. Selection of suitable site

Location must have access to water, sunlight and well drained soil for optimal plant growth. Ensure that the site must receive at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. 

3. Planning the layout and soil preparation 

Designate areas for different plants considering their size and growth habits. Group the plants with similar water and sunlight requirements together. Soil testing is a must before soil preparation. Add compost and manures, incorporated in the soil. Plough the land to remove weeds and level the land. 

4. Selection of quality planting materials 

Procure quality planting materials either seedlings or seeds from reliable sources or nearby nurseries. 

5. Planting and spacing

Follow specific guidelines for each herb. Plant the plant during the appropriate season recommended for each plant. Follow specific spacing guidelines recommended by ICAR and other institutes. 

6. Water and weed management 

Provide optimum water during their growth stage. There is a high competition for weed during the growth stage. Weed can be controlled by hand pulling, using mechanical weeder, mulching, and herbicides (in some situations). 

7. Pest and disease management

You can manage pests and disease by using a combination of methods such as biological control, chemical methods, and mechanical control methods. If you are planning for organic cultivation, you can manage by crop rotation, biological control, and biopesticides. 

8. Harvesting and marketing

Harvesting must be done at the right time and place to ensure the best quality of the final product.The harvested materials should be dried and stored at temperatures and conditions that do not decrease the active ingredients. Sell the produce to processing companies or export it.

Success story

A farmer from Bareilly district whose name is Dharmendra. Before 2010, he was growing wheat and paddy in his 12 acre land and was not satisfied with these crops due to lower yield and lower income. Once, he visited Krishi Vigyana Kendra to collect information for mango plantation, there he got information regarding how to grow shatavari and its importance in the market. Then, he procured shatavar’s seeds at INR 15000/ kg for one acre and after 2.5 years he sold the produce and earned INR 6 lakh/ acre. Now, he is producing best quality shatavari dry processed roots by direct contracts with pharma companies. 

Conclusion

Agribusiness in India provides immense opportunities for entrepreneurs, farmers, and investors looking to build sustainable and profitable business. From mushroom cultivation and bee keeping to nursery and aquaculture farming, each sector presents unique advantages based on investment capacity, market demand and available resources. With advancement in agritech, government support and growing consumer preference for organic and sustainable products, the agribusiness industry continues to thrive.