Find a job you like and you won't have to work. There is truth in these words, and anyone who gardens has at least once thought about organizing a tomato business. And for good reason! After all, fresh vegetables are always in great demand among the entire population, and their sale can bring considerable income, especially if the greenhouse produces crops throughout the year. How to organize a business growing tomatoes in a greenhouse - read the article.
Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse as a business: advantagesTomatoes are one of the most popular products among the population: these tasty vegetables are distinguished by a high content of beneficial microelements and vitamins, and can be consumed either fresh or used for canning, making juices and sauces.
The main advantages of a business growing tomatoes in greenhouses are:
In addition, growing tomatoes is quite simple: today breeders have developed disease- and pest-resistant, unpretentious, productive varieties and hybrids of these vegetables.
The profitability of growing tomatoes in a greenhouseThe profitability of a tomato business is quite high (50-70%) and depends, first of all, on the growing conditions of tomatoes and plant varieties. For example, high-yielding varieties can produce up to 10 kg of vegetables from one bush. Knowing the average prices for products, depending on the season and variety, it is easy to calculate the economic benefits. But don’t forget about capital investments.
So, in order to organize a tomato growing business you will have to:
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In addition, do not forget about spending on soil, fertilizers, trellises, soil disinfection, purchase of seed, tools for gardening; unforeseen expenses for treating seedlings in the event of a fungal or viral disease. At the same time, if you sell goods on market areas, you may have to rent one retail outlet (you can rent a module either for a season or all year round) or several (depending on the amount of harvest). Then the question of hiring people will arise.
Business plan for growing tomatoes in a greenhouseFor any business, it is important to prepare a business plan - a set of documents that define all the key points of future commercial activity, will prepare the entrepreneur for possible problems, will allow you to analyze the idea, and calculate its profitability.
Thus, a business plan for greenhouse cultivation of tomatoes should include such sections as:
You can draw up a business plan either independently (for example, using templates) or with the help of specialized companies.
Ways to sell the harvestMany people on the way to starting a tomato growing business are stopped by the question of selling products. Of course, today, not everyone is ready to stand behind the counter for days waiting for customers. So what options are there?
Firstly, in order to sell a product on the market, you can hire a person. If there is not a lot of harvest, then perhaps it makes sense to talk with other sellers so that they, for a certain percentage of the proceeds, sell your product. In this case, it will be better if your varieties differ from the total mass of the crop (for example, popular cherry tomatoes can stand out on the counter).
You can enter into agreements with stores (regular grocery stores, not chain stores). But this may not always be profitable, especially if the store already purchases products in bulk or in installments.
Don’t forget about online stores and food delivery services that are popular today.
Products can be delivered by subscription. Buyers can be your regular customers, to whom at a certain time your courier or you yourself will deliver products in strictly established quantities. In this case, payment is made in advance, for a long period (for several months, six months, a year).
You should definitely use the Internet to sell, for example, register a page on social networks, advertise on popular boards.
The ad text and page title should indicate the main advantages of your product (for example, naturalness, affordable price, etc.).
How to create a tomato business in greenhouses (video)A tomato business can become a profitable direction and bring considerable commercial benefits, especially if the gardener already has most of the components (land, greenhouse). In order for the activity to give maximum results, it is necessary to carefully prepare a business plan for cultivating tomatoes, and consider measures for the initial and additional equipment of the greenhouse. And then your efforts and funds spent on organizing commercial activities will be completely justified!
If we talk about products that occupy leading positions in sales, then, of course, food products occupy the first places. Fresh food is needed daily. Therefore, producing and selling this type of product is a winning type of business. But any business must be approached with knowledge and soul. Take, for example, the tomato growing business. Tomatoes are one of the most popular types of vegetables. We use them to make salads, soups, preserves and more. High-quality tomatoes are always in demand in the market.
Such a business is a very difficult field of activity, which requires the owner’s complete immersion in the technology of growing, storing and marketing products. The disadvantages include the short shelf life of the goods after collection and dependence on climatic conditions, even if you work in a greenhouse format.
Proper care of tomatoesUnfortunately, today large manufacturers are increasingly concerned with the problems of the quantity of products sold rather than their quality. Recently, cases have become more frequent when tomatoes are grown on soil that is generously fertilized with various nitrates. It is understandable that this fertilizer is convenient because it has good solubility in water and does not cause much trouble in work, while it helps to speed up the ripening period. It’s difficult to come up with better conditions for the manufacturer, but for the consumer the situation is radically different. Who would like to eat nitrates? Even if it’s only a hundredth of their percent.
Let's start our business with a greenhouseNaturally, entrepreneurs who do business in tomatoes and give preference to organic fertilizers have some superiority in the quality of their product, but they are unlikely to be able to boast of quantity. But let's take it in order. It is worth noting that in order to grow good tomatoes, you need to work to the best of your ability. And, as you know, any effort produces results. Before planting this plant in the soil, it must first be thoroughly prepared, and then it will work for you.
Open ground or greenhouse conditions?First of all, you need a small area for the greenhouse. Living in a rural area or having a personal plot will provide some advantages in this case. It may also be a good option to have your own house in a village with a plot of land, in case you live in an urban environment. Otherwise, the land will have to be rented or purchased.
In order for tomatoes to grow in greenhouse conditions year-round, it is necessary to create appropriate conditions.
Thus, the characteristic microclimate for growing tomatoes for sale must be maintained in a greenhouse at all times. And for this, heating, water supply and ventilation systems must be purchased and installed. You also need to take care of purchasing good fertilizers. Their quality affects the volume of products grown. Vermicompost, which has a very affordable price, is in great demand. The amount of fertilizer directly depends on the size of the greenhouse.
If you grow tomatoes in open ground conditions, then a different approach will be required. It must be said right away that such a procedure in such conditions is more difficult. You should immediately remember about various infections, such as late blight, etc. One of the most difficult periods is planting seedlings. Initially, if you decide to grow tomatoes in open ground conditions, you should immediately choose varieties or hybrids that are acclimatized and have a certain resistance in non-greenhouse conditions. Tomato seedlings are usually planted in the soil in the last days of May or the first days of June. The distance between plants in one row should be no more than 30 cm. It should also be taken into account that varieties that have medium fruits need better conditions than varieties with small fruits. The ideal option is a bed that has a triangular cross-section. You should not grow tomatoes in places where potatoes previously grew. The ideal place would be where there is ash and lime, because such a crop does not tolerate acidic soil very well. The soil should not be clogged with various weeds and should be well warmed by the sun. And, of course, do not forget about regular watering of planted plants.
If you have a winter greenhouse, then in January you should begin sowing work, namely: prepare the soil and pots with soil. First you need to prepare the seedlings, paying special attention to the temperature conditions at which the plants grow. After sowing tomatoes, you need to take care of additional lighting. In total, the period of such illumination can be more than two months. The optimal temperature for sowing is considered to be a temperature that does not fall below 20 degrees. But, as soon as the first shoots appear, the daytime temperature should be 15-18 degrees, while the night temperature should be 5 degrees lower than the daytime temperature. This temperature regime must be maintained for a week. This situation is not particularly difficult: the boxes in which the seedlings are located need to be moved to a place where it is cooler. Monitor weather conditions. So, if the weather is sunny, then the temperature should be no more than 23 degrees, in rainy or cloudy weather - 21 degrees. At night the thermometer should not rise above 15 degrees. Fourteen days after the first shoots of tomatoes appear, they need to be transplanted into separate pots, the volume of which is more than a liter. Naturally, the container must first be filled with soil. In order to ensure good growth of plants, they should be covered with a plastic cap, which will create increased humidity. Under good conditions, the productivity of an average bush can be 20 kilograms of fruit. Growing tomatoes in winter is not an easy task, since you need to strictly observe the microclimate.
Tomato varietiesWe have looked at the general concept of tomato growing technology, now let's look at some points in more detail. And the first thing you need to pay attention to is the choice of variety. For beginners, we recommend not stopping at one type of this vegetable, but choosing several options at once.
Here is a list of the most popular tomato varieties: Ephemeral, Etude-NK F1, NK-Sprinter F1, Typhoon F1, Overture-NK F1, Farmer-NK F1, Rhapsody-NK F1, Marfa F1.
All these varieties have a period of fruiting from 80 to 115 days. And the yield per 1 sq.m. area - from 8 to 25 kg.
An important point is that before planting seedlings, it is important to treat the greenhouse and soil with freshly slaked lime; this procedure helps protect the plants from many diseases.
After harvesting in the greenhouse, the top layer of soil about 5 cm is removed and a new one is added with compost. After which the beds are dug up and watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Greenhouse, equipment and communicationsWe move on to the most interesting part, namely a description of what you will need to run a greenhouse business growing tomatoes.
You will also additionally need equipment for caring for the beds, materials for arranging the beds themselves, and so on.
When drawing up a business plan for an enterprise for growing and selling tomatoes, it is important not to invest a lot of money at the initial stage and try with minimal investments, after which, if you like it and find permanent markets, you can invest in this direction.
Here are a couple of tips on how you can save money when starting out.
As you can see, the business of growing tomatoes can be significantly limited in investments at the initial stage, but then gradually pour funds into its modernization.
Technology for planting and caring for tomatoesLet's look at the main nuances of the business technology for growing tomatoes in a greenhouse.
- Seedlings. For it, wooden boxes are usually used, into which loosened and fertilized soil is placed, then seeds are poured onto the surface, after which they are covered with paper and watered abundantly.
— Disembarkation. The best temperature for planting seedlings is 22 - 25 degrees. At least a few leaves should appear on the seedling. Before planting, the seedlings are “hardened off” by lowering the temperature to that which will be maintained in the greenhouse. The period of adaptation to the new regime is several days. The planting density is about 2 - 3 seedlings per 1 sq.m. if the plants are tall and about 5 if they are short. 
— You need to thin out the shoots and water them abundantly every few days.
— During the pollination period, it is advisable to ensure access of the wind or bees to the plants. Then you can get a good yield. This is realized by opening a door or window in the greenhouse.
- Temperature. The best temperature for tomato growth is 20 – 22 degrees.
“The harvest is still done in a slightly greenish state, and after that they ripen in boxes. This approach ensures an increase in the sales term of the product.
Sales marketsYou can sell finished products in the following format:
- retail sale in a market or store.
- wholesale sale of tomatoes for buyers and grocery stores, cafes and restaurants.
- selling goods through friends in small quantities.
You can also sell tomato seedlings; this can be a good additional income in this business.
How to grow tomatoes at home on a windowsill?It's no secret that tomatoes are often grown at home. Growing tomatoes at home is a very troublesome task. But what to do if the land plot and its rent remain just a dream. But it is worth noting that growing tomatoes on the windowsill can be a good additional income. Of course, the amount of production will be much lower than in a greenhouse, but it can be a good start or one of the ways to save money. Now it’s time to decide on the windows. The most practical are the southern, western and eastern ones. North-facing windows are not so good for such a procedure, as they require additional lighting. Now let's talk about temperature conditions. Tomatoes are a very heat-loving crop. The soil in which they germinate must be 20 degrees, but if the temperature drops to 15, then the growth of the plant slows down. The best harvest is achieved when the temperature is maintained within 20-25°C. The harvest is much worse if the thermometer rises above the permissible level. If the tomatoes are located on the window sill next to a heating device, then do not forget about the protective screen.
During flowering, as well as before it begins, it is also necessary to monitor weather conditions. The temperature should not be too high or too low.
What type of cherry tomatoes are they?
Growing cherry tomatoes as a business has almost the same principle as growing other varieties of this plant. There are different types of cherry tomatoes: determinate, indeterminate and semi-determinate. All of them can be grown both in greenhouse conditions and in the ground. The end of March is the ideal time to sow seedlings. Seedlings are planted after the frost has passed. As for determinate varieties, they produce one stem. All varieties require additional support, that is, they require a mandatory garter. This also applies to short ones, otherwise they will lie on the ground. To prevent cherry tomatoes from cracking, the soil should be well moistened, but not flooded. The fruits need to be collected at the beginning of their ripening. Unripe fruits may lack sweetness. If you collect them later, the tomatoes will fall out. It is important not to miss the moment of harvesting, otherwise all your efforts will be in vain.
It is quite possible to grow cherry tomatoes at home. Only for this you need to select the appropriate varieties.
Growing cherry tomatoes is also possible on the balcony and in the apartment. You just need to purchase specially adapted varieties for a small area that grow well even in low light.
Conclusions. Business in growing tomatoes is a complex activity, since there are high risks in the format of climatic conditions, shelf life of the product and the search for wholesale buyers. But with the proper knowledge and experience, making money on tomatoes can bring a stable income, especially when establishing retail sales.
Do you have experience in this area? Leave your review below.
Cherry tomatoes are a very popular product, both among the common population and for production purposes. They love it not only for its taste and usefulness, but also for its presentable appearance. At the same time, the demand for Cherry does not fall at all in winter. This is why starting your own Cherry tomato growing business can be a great start to starting your own business.
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Land lease.
To start your own business growing Cherry tomatoes, you first need to find a favorable area. The best option is a plot of land outside the city, in the countryside. It would be best to choose an environmentally friendly area in order to subsequently emphasize the environmental friendliness of the grown product. Additionally, in order to avoid competition, you should not select a site with “neighbors” who are engaged in a similar business. The size of the land plot must exceed 40 m2.
It is important to understand that a greenhouse, and maybe several, will be installed on this site. Therefore, it is important to choose the most flat terrain and land with high fertility. Additionally, it is important to consider that after renting the land, it will be necessary to supply electricity, water and heat to the heifer. The rental price for a plot of this size will be about $60.
Equipment for growing Cherry tomatoes.
To start your own tomato growing business, you first need to purchase a greenhouse. You can build it yourself or contact a professional in this industry. It is also important to purchase equipment for watering plants, containers for collecting, transporting and storing collected Cherries. Experts recommend building a greenhouse from polycarbonate sheets, and not from polyethylene film. Since the second option has significant heat losses, which undoubtedly affects both the quantity of the crop itself and its quality, and the budget as a whole.
The size of the greenhouse is reflected in the amount of harvest. It is best to choose the middle version of a greenhouse with a height of 2 m, a width of 3 m and a length of about 4.5 m. Year-round cultivation of Cherry tomatoes involves installing an electric heater, supplying water and installing an air conditioner to create a favorable microclimate.
To purchase equipment you will need to make the following investments:
1. Greenhouse - $340;
2. Equipment for watering tomatoes - $400;
3. Equipment for creating a microclimate - $300;
4. Containers for collection and storage - $230.
In total, the starting cost of all equipment is about $1.3 thousand.
Raw materials for organizing a business.
First of all, you should decide on Cherry seeds. You can focus on elite varieties that will not only produce a good harvest, but also have excellent taste characteristics. But it is important to understand that such seeds will be expensive. Sometimes, to start a business, it is better to grow simpler varieties, with a taste that is familiar to us, and only then offer a wide range of grown products.
The main criteria for choosing cherry tomato seeds are the type of growth of the plant itself, the method of eating the tomato and the method of growing it. Additionally, it is necessary to purchase biofertilizers, which will have a beneficial effect when growing Cherry.
Cost of necessary raw materials:
1. Seeds - $420;
2. Biofertilizers - $40.
In total, an investment of about $500 will be enough to purchase the necessary raw materials.
Staff.
To organize the cultivation of Cherry tomatoes, you need to hire about 3 workers. These people will plant, care for plants, and harvest. Additionally, it will be necessary to invite 2 security guards to work in shifts. They will guard the facility.
Additionally, it will be necessary to hire a person who will sell products and supervise the work of staff. This could be a deputy chief or just a manager. Tomato care workers will earn about $200 per month. Security guards will receive about $120 monthly. The manager will earn about $250-300 every month. In total, to organize the cultivation of Cherry tomatoes you will need about $1.2 thousand monthly.
Marketing strategy.
To sell products, it is necessary to clearly build a marketing strategy. Sales of products are planned to retail outlets, as well as restaurants and cafes. Therefore, you need to create your own website. A regular website is enough. It is important to at least somehow get ahead of your competitors online by regularly optimizing your site. This will allow potential competitors to contact you specifically for your services.
You can also create regular flyers and distribute them to retail outlets and relevant establishments. Additionally, you can use printed materials to advertise the product offered. This will definitely attract customers. In any case, to organize a marketing strategy you need to invest about $80.
Start-up costs.
To organize your own business for growing Cherry tomatoes, you will need to make the following starting investments:
1. Rent of land - $60;
2. Equipment - $1.3 thousand;
3. Staff - $1.2 thousand;
4. Raw materials - $500;
5. Marketing - $80;
6. Additional expenses - $40.
Starting expenses for organizing tomato growing Cherry will be - 3.2 thousand $.
Profit and payback periods.
If you organize your business correctly and create the most favorable conditions for the growth of cherry tomatoes, then in a year you can collect about 1.3 thousand kg of products from one greenhouse. It is important to take into account that in the summer the cost of one kg of Cherry will be about $0.7, in the winter the cost of one kg will be much higher - $3.4. This means that in a year you can earn about $5.5 thousand.
The cost of production will be about $2 thousand. If you subtract all the expenses and expenses, it turns out that the business of growing Cherry tomatoes can be fully repaid in 1.5 years. But only in case of stability in the harvest and regular sales of products. Because this product is completely unsuitable for long-term storage.
Sales of Cherry tomatoes and business development.
The product can be sold at the following retail outlets:
1. Grocery stores;
2. Supermarkets;
4. Restaurants;
6. Dining rooms.
If the cultivation and marketing of cherry is clearly established, you can think about developing your own business. First of all, you should think about expanding the range of vegetables grown. You can produce other varieties of tomatoes or start growing, for example, cucumbers. After this, you can open your own retail outlet and sell the grown products. But the main goal is to increase the volume of vegetables grown and constantly expand the customer base.
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- 1. 1. PROJECT SUMMARY
- 2. 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY AND COMPANY
- 3. 3. DESCRIPTION OF GOODS
- 4. 4.SALES AND MARKETING
- 5. 5. PRODUCTION PLAN
- 6. 6. ORGANIZATIONAL PLAN
- 7. 7. FINANCIAL PLAN
- 8. 8. EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVENESS
- 9. 9. RISKS AND GUARANTEES
- 10. 10. APPLICATIONS
The goal of this project is to organize your own business for growing cherry tomatoes indoors and their further sale in fresh form. The project will be implemented in the Rostov region, in a rural area, in close proximity to the main market - the city of Rostov-on-Don. Project success factors include:
the possibility of year-round cultivation of tomatoes thanks to the use of winter greenhouses;
growing popularity of cherry tomatoes in Russia;
favorable market conditions (decrease in imports, government policy of import substitution);
popularization of environmentally friendly products;
favorable location.
To implement the project, it is planned to purchase an agricultural plot 25 km from the city of Rostov-on-Don. The area of the plot is 400 sq. m. m., on which two greenhouses will be located.
Target audience (end consumers) - people from 25-50 years old with an “average” and “above average” income level.
Products are planned to be sold through the following sales channels: retail grocery stores with a wide range of products; grocery chains; farm shops; establishments of the HoReCa segment - restaurants and cafes. At the same time, the geography of cooperation covers not only the city of Rostov-on-Don, but also other cities in the region.
The volume of initial investment is 1,600,000 rubles. Investment costs are aimed at the construction of a greenhouse complex, the purchase of irrigation equipment and the creation of an appropriate microclimate, the purchase of seedlings, and the formation of a working capital fund until the project reaches payback. The bulk of the required investment falls on the purchase of equipment, the share of which is 79%. Own funds will be used to implement the project.
Financial calculations cover a five-year period of operation of the project. According to calculations, the initial investment will pay off within 17-18 months of operation. The return on sales in the first year of operation will be 17.8%. Integral project performance indicators are presented in Table 1.
Table 1. Key project performance indicators
The greenhouse business in Russia is a promising area, which is explained by the growing demand for fresh vegetables and herbs, the fashion for healthy eating, and the state priority for the development of agriculture in the country. Today, the state is increasingly concentrating on the development of the industry, helping beginning and existing farmers by allocating land plots at preferential rates, subsidizing interest rates on loans and providing grants for the development of greenhouse farming. However, the main problem hindering the development of the industry remains high utility tariffs.
The Russian tomato market is characterized by a low level of self-sufficiency. Tomatoes are mainly supplied to Russia from abroad. Our own production mostly involves growing tomatoes in open ground. Although this approach makes it possible to obtain tomatoes of excellent taste, it cannot provide products in the off-season, covering demand only in August-September. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, off-season production using winter greenhouses accounts for less than a quarter of the volume imported into the Russian Federation.
Rosstat statistics indicate that in recent years, the area under cultivation of open ground tomatoes in the commercial sector (agricultural organizations, peasant farms and individual entrepreneurs) has been declining. So from 2011 to 2020 they decreased by 5 thousand hectares. At the same time, the harvest of open ground tomatoes, against the backdrop of a reduction in area, is, on the contrary, gradually increasing. Over the same period, collections in the commodity sector increased by 23 thousand tons. Experts attribute the increase in yield to the introduction of drip irrigation by agricultural producers when growing tomatoes.
Figure 1. Cultivated area for growing tomatoes in open ground in Russia by type of farm, 1997-2020, thousand hectares
Figure 2. Gross tomato yields by type of farm in Russia, 1997-2020, thousand tons.
Over the past few years, tomato imports have had a steady downward trend due to the weakening ruble exchange rate and the government’s policy of import substitution. This fact has a positive effect on the investment attractiveness of the greenhouse business, but at the same time it has a negative impact on the supply of imported seeds for sowing, which are not produced in Russia, as well as some types of materials and equipment. In 2020, the leader in import supplies was Türkiye (more than 52% of imports). In 2020, due to the introduction of an embargo on vegetables from this country, the situation changed. At the end of nine months of 2020, the main suppliers were representatives of Morocco (88.7 thousand tons) and Azerbaijan (86 thousand tons), which increased supplies to our country by 158% and 56%, respectively. However, these countries could not replace Turkey - the overall drop in imports in the third quarter of 2020 was 32% (365 thousand tons). Previously, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation announced plans to lift the embargo on Turkish vegetables no earlier than in 2-3 years in order to promote the development of its own industry for the production of domestic greenhouse products. In connection with all of the above, we can conclude that the present period can be called relatively favorable for starting a business of growing tomatoes indoors.
Figure 3. Import of fresh and chilled tomatoes to Russia, 2005-2020 (Sept.), million dollars
This project involves organizing your own business for growing cherry tomatoes - a variety of tomatoes with small fruits. Cherry tomatoes are used as a snack, for preparing salads, canning, drying, and decorating dishes. In Russia, cherry tomatoes have become popular in recent years, appearing first on restaurant menus and then on store shelves. In our country, this type of tomato is mainly an imported product and comes from countries such as Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Poland, the Netherlands and others. Every year, cherry is in increasing demand among Russians due to its taste, as well as its unusual and presentable appearance. In addition, this type of tomato is also very healthy, since the tomato benefits are concentrated in it. For example, cherry tomatoes contain more lycopene than regular tomatoes, an antioxidant that helps fight cardiovascular diseases. In addition, cherry tomatoes can be kept fresh longer. In our case, we plan to sell fresh cherry tomatoes. When choosing cherry varieties, it was decided to focus on the following factors: taste, ripening and storage time, difficulty of care.
The project involves growing cherry tomatoes in closed ground conditions with a total greenhouse area of 320 square meters. meters. The greenhouses will be built on a land plot of 400 square meters. meters, located in an ecologically clean area of the Rostov region, 25 km from the city of Rostov-on-Don, which is the center of the region. The business is opened from scratch, and therefore individual entrepreneurs are registered and personnel are recruited. Investment funds are used to purchase fixed assets and working capital until the enterprise reaches payback.
Cherry tomatoes will be sold fresh. The products comply with the requirements of GOST R 55906-2013 “Fresh tomatoes. Technical conditions". Transparent plastic containers with a volume of 250 ml are used as packaging for fresh products, which improves the presentation of the products and simplifies transportation.
Table 2. Description of goods
Description | Name | |
Fresh cherry tomatoes, packaged, 250 g. Retail price - 140 rubles. Wholesale price - 75 rub. | Fresh cherry tomatoes |
Successful marketing of products requires a competent marketing strategy. Product sales channels will be:
retail grocery stores with a wide range of products;
grocery chains;
farm shops that specialize in selling organic products produced in Russia;
establishments in the HoReCa segment - restaurants and cafes, since cherry tomatoes are an ingredient in salads and many dishes, such as pizza.
Promising markets include online stores, which have recently gained popularity and offer customers fresh, farm-based products. To develop this market, you can team up with vegetable cooperatives presented on online platforms. In the future, with proper advertising of your products, it is possible to open your own retail outlet.
Each sales channel has its own advantages and disadvantages, which relate to the final cost of greenhouse tomatoes, volumes of sold batches, terms of cooperation, etc. In order to establish distribution channels and not suffer losses from overproduction, it is necessary to create a stable distribution network several months before the harvest.
A sales specialist is responsible for attracting clients and working with them.
The target audience (end consumers) is people from 25-50 years old with an average and above average income level; gender and type of activity do not play a role as such. Promotion is carried out in various ways, including: printing and distribution of advertising leaflets at points of sale of products, promotions at points of sale, increasing brand awareness through advertising on social networks. At the initial stage, expenses in the amount of 20,000 rubles are planned for carrying out an advertising campaign.
The competitiveness of the project is ensured due to the high quality of products. The naturalness of products is emphasized in all advertising events.
When planning sales volumes, production capacity should be taken into account, since the maximum production volume depends on the area of greenhouses, the variety of tomatoes and their yield, as well as the conditions in which the cherry tomatoes were grown. The maximum production volume is calculated based on the greenhouse area - 320 sq. m., an average ripening period of 70 days and an average cherry yield of 13 kg per 1 sq. m. In total, the annual yield of the greenhouse will be 20,800 kg, and per month – about 1,734 kg. This indicator should be taken into account when planning sales volume.
The demand for products does not have a pronounced seasonality. The planned sales volume is calculated based on the sale of 100% of the crop at the average market (wholesale) price of 300 rubles/kg.
Thus, the average revenue will be 520,000 rubles per month. It is planned to reach the declared sales volume in the third month of operation.
Table 3. Planned sales volume
The company is located on a purchased land plot of 400 square meters. meters, located in an ecologically clean area of the Rostov region. The city of Rostov-on-Don is 25 km from the enterprise. The cost of an agricultural plot is 200,000 rubles.
The production technology involves the creation of 2 greenhouses (total area - 320 square meters), the use of irrigation equipment and equipment to maintain the microclimate at different times of the year. The process of planting seedlings, some care operations, as well as harvesting is carried out manually. The production cycle takes about 80 days.
The volume of investments required to create greenhouses and production facilities is 1,264,700 rubles. Of these, 552,200 rubles. - funds for the construction of greenhouses, 712,500 rubles. - purchase and installation of equipment, the list of which is given in Table 4.
The selection of necessary equipment was carried out based on the recommendations of farms. So, to save money on heating, it is planned to install a universal heating boiler that runs on all types of fuel. To heat the greenhouses, a classic water heating system will be used, consisting of a network of pipes connected to the boiler. In addition, heating of the soil is provided, which will create an optimal temperature regime for the underground parts of plants.
Plant watering is also automated - drip irrigation technology is used.
Lighting for greenhouses is provided by LED lamps, which have spectral characteristics completely identical to sunlight. This ensures the normal process of photosynthesis in plants. In addition, LED lamps save up to 60% of electricity and do not heat up.
Table 4. List of equipment
Name | price, rub. | Quantity, rub. | Total cost, rub. |
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Greenhouse construction |
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Greenhouse "Farmer" | 1600 (per 1 sq.m.) | |||
Add. equipment | ||||
Irrigation equipment |
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Drip irrigation system "Kapel" | ||||
Equipment for creating a microclimate |
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Heating boiler KChM-5k-03M | ||||
Soil heating kit Green Box Agro 14 GBA-1480 | ||||
Lighting equipment |
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Led grow light 90w UFO | ||||
Other equipment | ||||
Total | ||||
For planting in a greenhouse, it is planned to purchase cherry tomato seeds with a yield of 12-14 kg/sq. m. Tomatoes with different ripening periods should be planted in the greenhouse: super-early varieties will bear fruit 70 days after sowing, and late varieties – after 100-120 days. At the initial stage, it is recommended to plant at least 10 varieties in order to select the most suitable ones in the future. Experienced gardeners specialize in the 3-4 most productive varieties.
To sow, you need to purchase seeds, the cost of which is 18,000 (per year). Costs for biofertilizers and processing agents are also provided - 20,000 rubles per year.
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Delivery of finished products to retail outlets is carried out by a full-time driver.
To implement the project, an individual entrepreneur is registered with a simplified taxation system (“income” at a rate of 6%). Type of activity according to OKVED-2 for growing vegetables in any type of soil:
01.13.1 – Growing vegetables.
To ensure the activities of the enterprise, you will need to hire workers, which include a technologist, 2 workers, a sales manager, an accountant, and a driver.
The technologist is responsible for the entire technological process of growing crops; daily monitors the condition of plants, climatic conditions and the serviceability of equipment; controls the process of plant care and the staff of greenhouse workers; maintains records of materials write-off.
Greenhouse workers carry out work to prepare greenhouses for planting, plant and care for plants, and keep the greenhouses and the surrounding area in exemplary sanitary condition.
An individual entrepreneur, who performs all management and accounting functions, is also involved in searching and setting up distribution channels, and negotiating with partners.
The delivery driver is responsible for planning the route and delivering products to points of sale. At the initial stage, it is planned to hire a driver with a personal truck.
The total wage fund is 162,500 rubles.
Table 5. Staffing and wage fund
The financial plan takes into account all income and expenses of the project; the planning horizon is 5 years.
To launch a project, it is necessary to calculate the amount of investment. To do this, you need to determine the costs of building a greenhouse, purchasing equipment, purchasing seedlings and generating working capital to cover losses in the initial periods.
The project requires attracting investment funds in the amount of 1,600,000 rubles. The bulk of the required investment is for the purchase of equipment - 79%, the share of costs for the purchase of a site - 13%, and for other costs - 8%. The project is financed from own capital. The main items of investment costs are shown in Table 6.
Table 6. Investment costs
Variable costs include the cost of purchasing seeds and fertilizers, packaging products and energy spent on production. To simplify financial calculations, the amount of variable costs is calculated based on a wholesale cost of 300 rubles/kg and a fixed trade margin of 300%.
Fixed expenses include advertising, depreciation and other expenses (Table 7). The amount of depreciation charges is determined by the linear method, based on the useful life of fixed assets of 5 years. Fixed costs also include tax deductions, which are not presented in this table, since their amount is not fixed, but depends on the volume of revenue.
Table 7. Fixed costs
Thus, fixed monthly expenses were determined in the amount of 48,100 rubles.
A detailed financial plan is given in Appendix 1.
The investment attractiveness of this project can be judged on the basis of simple and integral performance indicators. Changes in the value of money over time are taken into account using the discounted cash flow method.
The payback period of the project with an initial investment of 1,600,000 rubles is 17-18 months. The net monthly profit of the project upon reaching planned sales volumes will be 104,738 rubles. It is planned to reach the planned sales volume in the fourth month of operation. The return on sales in the first year of operation will be 17.8%.
The net present value is positive and equal to 1,600,000 rubles, which allows us to talk about the investment attractiveness of the project. The return on investment ratio is 6.4%, the internal rate of return exceeds the discount rate and is equal to 5.89.
All these indicators indicate the effectiveness and investment attractiveness of the project.
To assess the risk component of the project, it is necessary to analyze external and internal factors. External factors include threats related to the economic situation in the country and sales markets. Internal – the effectiveness of organization management.
Among the internal risks are:
product quality that does not meet the stated requirements and market requirements: constant monitoring of quality and identification of deviations (non-compliance with technology or poor-quality seedlings) is necessary.
errors in estimating sales volumes, which can lead to the disposal of products that belong to the category of perishable goods. This can be avoided by creating a well-functioning product sales system.
errors in the process of growing products, on which product quality and productivity depend. Constant monitoring and high-quality work of the technologist will reduce the risk.
External factors include:
the appearance of direct competitors on the market is eliminated by forming a base of loyal customers in the shortest possible time and conducting PR events;
the rise in prices for seedlings is solved due to the margin of profitability of the enterprise. Due to the systemic nature of the problem, it is not a critical factor.
the presence of various pests that can not only spoil, but also completely destroy the crop. This can be avoided by providing constant protection from pests.
climatic conditions that complicate the process of growing products and incur additional costs (in the case of a cold winter - for insulating the room, in the case of a dry, hot summer - for watering). This risk is the most specific to this type of business and is almost impossible to manage. The only thing an entrepreneur should do in this case is to have a reserve of funds in order to respond to the problem in a timely manner and eliminate it.
Termination of cooperation, entailing financial losses (reduced profits, increased costs of finding new partners, etc.) This problem may arise due to inadequate product quality, disruption of supplies, or the emergence of a competitor ready to offer more favorable conditions. One way or another, an entrepreneur must always take this risk into account and create conditions for cooperation that would be beneficial to both parties.
Evgeniya Yurkina
The demand for fresh vegetables in our country has become year-round. At the same time, restrictions have been introduced on the supply of foreign agricultural products. Imports of tomatoes from Turkey, whose share was up to 40%, decreased by 7 times. In Russia, it has become profitable to grow tomatoes if the business is organized using modern greenhouse complexes.
Demand and prices for tomatoesCucumbers and tomatoes are the most common vegetables on our table. They are constantly purchased by more than 60% of buyers, and in the Siberian regions consumption is only about 20% of the recommended norm. Consumer demand for tomatoes is not fully satisfied and is constrained by relatively high prices, especially in the winter months.
Imported products predominate on store shelves; Russian tomatoes account for only about 30%. At the same time, they taste better and, despite the higher price, they are purchased more actively. Due to our climatic conditions, ground tomatoes are available in the southern regions for 4–5 months a year, and in the northern regions only 1–2 months. In winter, the price is 2.5 times higher compared to the summer months (Table 1).
At the same time, tomatoes are perfectly cultivated in greenhouse conditions, which opens up great opportunities for small businesses. The yield of tomatoes, even when grown in greenhouses in the Novosibirsk region, reaches 50 kg/m2, which is not much less than in developed greenhouse countries (60 kg/m2 in Holland). In the retail price of tomatoes, the purchase price is 50–60%, which is almost twice as much as in countries with a more favorable climate. This is due to the high costs of heating greenhouses. For agricultural producers, this means that the product is in demand.
| greenhouse | ground | greenhouse | |||
| 1 | 115,5 | - | 172,8 | 177,1 | 189,1 |
| 2 | 135,2 | - | 169,9 | 183,8 | 208,8 |
| 3 | 135,3 | 196,4 | 167,7 | 180,2 | |
| 4 | 142,8 | - | 187,6 | 186,5 | 187,4 |
| 5 | 102,2 | - | 140,7 | 156,2 | 148,9 |
| 6 | 91,1 | - | 130,4 | 138,2 | 141,4 |
| 7 | 63,7 | 29,1 | 85,4 | 98,2 | 99,2 |
| 8 | 40,9 | 16,3 | 43,1 | 65,4 | 60,7 |
| 9 | 41,3 | 10,7 | 28,9 | 63,3 | 63,1 |
| 10 | 72,2 | 10,1 | 70,1 | 91,4 | 109,7 |
| 11 | 72,6 | 9,9 | 85,6 | 116,3 | 122,9 |
| 12 | 82,6 | - | 130,4 | 127,2 | 133,2 |
| Average price per year | 91,3 | 15,2 | 130,9 | 137,0 |
It is more profitable to grow tomatoes indoors, since in this case the crop can be harvested almost all year round. The advantages of this matter include:
- good demand and favorable economic situation;
- growing tomatoes has a fairly high profitability by agricultural standards;
- low agricultural taxes (in the case of private household plots, no taxes at all);
- poor development of greenhouses in many regions;
- stable tomato yields by reducing weather risks.
Many agricultural enterprises and even chain retailers (Magnit, Pyaterochka) have moved towards creating greenhouse farms. With the rise in exchange rates, it has become expensive to purchase imported vegetables. However, these giants create very large projects, the payback period of which is 8–10 years, while small and medium-sized businesses are actively occupying the vacated niche and recouping their investments much faster. A tomato growing farm will be profitable if three conditions are met:
The location of the tomato farm near large industrial centers is especially favorable. More than 70% of agricultural products are consumed by city dwellers. In addition, close delivery reduces transportation costs, production costs and makes it possible to establish profitable connections with local retail chains and catering establishments.
Necessary equipmentModern greenhouse structures are varied. For the cultivation of tomatoes, greenhouses in the form of a gallery up to 4 m high, made of galvanized metal with an arched or gable roof, are often used. They provide natural ventilation through transoms and doors. More expensive options (foreign production) are entire production systems with controlled heating, humidification, and lighting.
Modern automated greenhouse of the “Ekokultura” agricultural holding For small farms, conventional medium-sized greenhouses covered with polycarbonate are more practical. They are affordable and perform their functions well. Cost of 1 sq. m of such a structure costs about 2,000 rubles. As a rule, they have standard dimensions in width and height, and the length can be increased in accordance with the wishes of the customer. For example, an industrial greenhouse “Farmer” measuring 7.5 m × 12.7 m (h = 3.9 m) assembled with polycarbonate costs about 200–250 rubles. Its area is about 100 square meters. m (1 weave).
List of typical equipment for a greenhouse:
- automated soil fertilization system;
- air conditioning and humidification complex;
- drip irrigation system for plants;
- set of equipment for temperature and humidity control.
The biggest problem in greenhouse farming is additional lighting and heating. The costs for them differ significantly for different regions of the country, and in general this is the main factor influencing the cost of production: from 40 to 60% of its composition. Tomatoes are light-loving and heat-loving plants; their productivity depends on growing conditions.
Reducing energy costs is the main task that has to be solved on a farm where tomatoes are grown. To do this, use all available methods: insulating foundations, heating using temporary wood stoves, arranging a soil layer that releases biological heat due to decomposition (flax fire). Sometimes they build their own boiler house, heated with inexpensive local raw materials.
Tomato varieties for growing in greenhousesIn industrial greenhouses, tall indeterminate (with unlimited growth) types of tomatoes are planted, the height of which can reach 7 meters. Usually, through trial and error, an entrepreneur selects 3–4 varieties of tomatoes that perform best in local conditions. We list the most common of them (F1 hybrids):
- Verlioca are red, smooth, medium-sized tomato fruits (up to 100 g) with a round shape. Not susceptible to diseases, ripening period is 105 days. Productivity up to 40 kg/m2.
- Mamba is a pink tomato, fruit weight up to 200 g, early ripening, intended for extended rotation.
- Marissa - fruits weighing up to 180 g, slightly flattened, dense, transportable, suitable for processing. From one square meter they produce up to 50 kg of products.
- Raissa - a tomato of Dutch selection, gives a bountiful harvest in the early stages (100 days). The collection reaches 45 kg/m2.
- De Barao is a well-known mid-late ripening tomato variety with high taste and a long shelf life. Beautiful smooth plum-shaped fruits.
- Gavrish T 34 is a new variety with egg-shaped fruits, an early tomato, suitable for cultivation on soil and using low-volume technology.
Recently, varieties of cherry tomatoes (“cherry-shaped”, with a fruit weight of up to 30 g) are in demand among buyers - small-fruited varieties of different colors (red, yellow), which are collected in clusters. Their yield is 2–3 times lower than that of traditional varieties, but this is compensated by the price. Tiny, almost decorative, sweet tomatoes are popular in restaurants and cafes, and expensive luxury stores.
Features of agricultural technologyIndustrial growing of tomatoes requires a significant amount of manual labor. Only in fifth-generation industrial complexes (fully automated) can the share of labor costs be reduced. In small farms, cultivating seedlings, watering, fertilizing and harvesting tomatoes is done manually. To obtain stable and early harvests, it is recommended to follow the following rules.
- Plant diseases significantly reduce harvest. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out annual thermal and chemical disinfection of greenhouses and soils.
- The optimal age of tomato seedlings for placement in a permanent place is 40 days. This ensures a high yield.
- It is advisable to maintain the temperature constantly at 18–20 ⁰C for air and 12–14 ⁰C for soil.
- The air should not be allowed to cool immediately when planting seedlings, as this will result in the loss of part of the early harvest (the first clusters will not set).
- High illumination of tomatoes is a condition for increasing the yield of early fruits and the overall harvest. The roof of the greenhouse must be washed periodically, and the internal parts must be painted white.
- Timely feeding of plants is necessary, so the cost of mineral fertilizers constitutes a significant share of costs.
In modern greenhouses, tomatoes are grown both traditionally on soil and using innovative low-volume technologies. In the first case, soils are used consisting of decomposed meadow turf, humus, peat with an admixture of sawdust and clay (chernozem is about 50%).
In the second case, substrates based on peat and mineral wool are used, placing plants in trays and pots with open and closed bottoms with a volume of up to 3 liters. Hydroponics technology saves space and soil consumption, is well developed, and is based on saturating the substrate with minerals simultaneously with drip irrigation. However, tomatoes grown in soil have higher taste and technological qualities.
Tomato sales channelsWith regard to tomatoes, like any agricultural product that quickly loses its marketable appearance, there is a problem of establishing permanent sales channels. When developing a business plan, special attention should be paid to their search. The situation is made easier by the fact that tomatoes have a good property: they can be picked at the green fruit stage, they reach full ripeness during storage with virtually no loss of consumer and taste qualities.
Main sales channels:
Demand for tomatoes, wholesale purchases on the Agroserver website, summer 2019 Manufacturers offer tomatoes for processing during the summer season at a price of 12–16 rubles per kilogram, and commercial tomatoes for fresh sale from 60 to 80 rubles, depending on the variety and quality of packaging. On the other hand, in the summer, greenhouse farms can organize independent sale of products in markets at retail prices, which will increase the overall annual profitability of production.
If you want to organize direct supplies of tomatoes to trade and children's organizations, you need to keep in mind that serious partners may require a declaration of conformity from the supplier to confirm that product quality meets established standards. This document can only be obtained by legal entities or individual entrepreneurs. The following regulations are used:
- Standard GOST 34298-2017 - “Fresh tomatoes. Technical conditions”, valid from July 2018.
- Technical Regulations of the Customs Union TR CU 021/2011 - “On the safety of food products.”
Example of financial calculation The information below shows which cost items need to be taken into account when drawing up a business plan for growing tomatoes in a greenhouse. It gives an idea of the level of profitability of this business at the 2019 price level. Each entrepreneur will have his own absolute numbers, since they depend on the scale of production, the availability of own and credit funds, and the climate zone (energy consumption).
Project initial data:
- Land plot for private household plots within the city - 0.1 hectares (10 acres).
- The greenhouse area occupies an area of 0.05 hectares (5 acres).
- Productivity minus substandard products is 40 kg/m2.
- The total annual production harvest is 20 tons of tomatoes.
- The average annual wholesale selling price is 68 rubles/kg.
- The average annual retail price in the region is 130 rubles/kg.
Investments in the project
The total amount of collected products is 20 tons. Approximately half of the tomatoes are planned to be sold at retail prices through our trade pavilions and under supply agreements:
10,000 kg × 130 rub. = 1,300,000 rub.
The rest of the products are sold at wholesale prices to resellers:
10,000 × 68 rub. = 680,000 rub.
Total revenue will be 1,980,000 rubles.
Current annual costs (without expansion of production)
Return on sales will be: (1,980,000 – 870,000) / 1,980,000 = 56%. The net profit after paying agricultural tax in this case will be 1,043,000 rubles, that is, the greenhouses will pay for themselves within the first year. Starting from the third year, the farm will generate a stable income. Note that in the southern regions of the country, where energy costs occupy a low share of the cost of the final product (tomatoes, in particular), the profitability of this business reaches 130–200%.
Enterprise registrationCultivating tomatoes is advantageous because it does not require a large area of land. This is a fairly compact production. Even on land intended for private plots (personal subsidiary plots), which is at least 0.5 hectares, it is possible to harvest crops of a completely “industrial” scale. In this case, you can sell the “surplus” of the resulting products even without paying taxes. But it is unlikely that you will be able to sell a large volume of tomatoes on the local market, unless you sell them to wholesalers at a minimum price.
If you deal with serious partners and enter into contracts, you will have to, or. When registering an enterprise, the application must indicate the type of activity according to the all-Russian classifier “OK 02902014 (NACE Rev. 2)”:
- 01.13.1 - cultivation of melons and vegetables, including tomatoes;
- 01.13.11 - this is in open ground conditions;
- 01.13.12 - cultivating them in greenhouse conditions.
Regardless of the organizational form of the enterprise, a minimum tax is established for agricultural producers: 6% of profit (income minus expenses). This is the lowest rate. In addition, they have the opportunity to write off losses due to crop failure due to adverse weather conditions.
Business prospectsGrowing herbs and vegetables is one of the most import-dependent agricultural sectors in our country. The reduction in imports from Holland, Poland, Spain, and Greece led to an increase in imports from non-European countries: China, Iran, and Turkey. Tomatoes from these countries are more expensive and often do not meet safety standards for the content of residual chemical elements. Buyers don't like them.
Therefore, the country now has a special program for the development of its own greenhouse farming. It is designed for 2013-2020 and provides for:
Today, a favorable situation has developed in order to start growing greenhouse vegetables, including tomatoes, which shows good prospects for this business in Russia. The Krasnodar and Stavropol territories and Kuban are especially favorable for it, where in winter there is no less light than in Turkey and Italy. However, in the Siberian regions the demand for fresh vegetables is even greater. Using modern technologies, it is possible to establish profitable tomato production there. For example, in Finland the climate is almost no different from Russia, yet it is completely self-sufficient in greenhouse products.
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