An overview of Indian agriculture sector. The problems faced by Indian agriculture and the opportunities this sector offer.

Details on different aspects of dairy farming and running a profitable dairy farm.

• Scope for dairy farming in India
• SWOT analysis for dairy farming
• Different dairy animals in India
• Suitable animals for commercial dairy unit
• Selecting dairy animals- buffalo, cow or both?
• Comparing the breeds for maximum profit
• Commercial dairy farming technology
• Marketing strategy
• Keys to succeed in dairy farming
• A sample dairy project: cost and profit

Complete details on:

• Broiler farming
• Layer farming
• Country chicken farming
• Duck farming

Topics covered in easy and illustrative way:

• Different options in poultry farming (broiler, layer, country chicken, duck, turkey, emu, quail, guinea fowl)
• Comparing different poultry birds
• How to start a poultry farm
• Contract farming or without contract farming
• Different poultry rearing systems
• Poultry sheds and structures
• Feeding and managing FCR
• Biosecurity and disease control/prevention
• Marketing strategy
• Keys to run a successful poultry farm
• Poultry farming project report
• Cost and profitability

Complete guidance on starting and running goat and pig farms in India.

• Planning and selection of profitable business model
• Construction of shed and structures
• Selection of right breed as per business model and market demand
• Breeding management
• Different rearing systems
• Feeding management
• Disease control and prevention
• Marketing strategy
• Keys to run a successful farm
• Sample project reports
• Capital requirement & profit

Freshwater Pond Culture:

• Different culture system
• Suitable species for pond culture
• Combination of species in pond polyculture
• Pond culture technology
• Construction of pond
• Prestocking, stocking, harvesting, post harvesting and marketing.
• A sample project on pond culture: investment and profitability

Biofloc Culture:

• Explaining biofloc technology (BFT)
• Suitable species for biofloc culture
• Biofloc tank setup
• Aeration and drainage system
• Pre-conditioning of culture water
• Stocking
• Maintaining carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio
• Monitoring and maintaining biofloc culture
• Harvesting and yield
• Post-harvest
• Compairing biofloc with pond culture
• Keys to succeed in biofloc culture
• A sample project on biofloc culture: project cost and profitability

• Different products in beekeeping (honey, beeswax, royal jelly, propolis, bee pollen, bee venom), their yield and market value.
• Describing different parts in a beehive.
• Complete guidance on starting a beekeeping unit.
• A sample project on beekeeping: project cost and profitability.
• Keys to succeed in beekeeping

• Comparing different mushrooms: production, yield, cost, price etc.
• Mushroom cultivation technology
• Harvesting and yield
• Post harvest management
• Low cost thatched hut system vs hi-tech climate controlled growing chamber
• Keys to succeed in mushroom farming
• A sample mushroom cultivation project

• Complete guidance on setting up a vermicomposting unit.
• Process of vermicomposting.
• Marketing strategy of vermicompost and byproducts.
• Keys to succeed in vermicomposting.
• A sample vermicomposting project.

Complete details on following fruit crops :

• Acid Lime
• Banana
• Ber
• Custard Apple
• Dragon Fruit
• Fig
• Mango (UHDP)
• Papaya
• Pineapple
• Pomegranate
• Strawberry

Topics covered for each fruit crop:

• Potential areas
• Suitable soil, pH, climate, etc,
• Popular varieties
• Cultivation process
• Intercropping
• Crop care and management
• Crop rotation
• Harvesting
• Yield
• Pros and cons of cultivating the crop
• Keys to success
• Cultivation cost and profitability of the crop

Complete details on following agroforestry species:

• Eucalyptus
• Melia Dubia
• Bamboo
• Teak/ Sagwan
• Sandalwood

Topics covered:

• Comparing different agroforestry species and selecting the perfect one for maximum profit.
• Ideal soil, pH and climate to grow
• Cultivation process
• Intercropping
• Plantation care and disease management
• Harvesting at different stages
• Yield
• Diferent uses of the crop
• Marketing of different products
• Planation cost and profitability
• Keys to success
• Is it legal to grow eucalyptus?
• Is it legal to grow sandalwood?

Covered crops under protected cultivation (polyhouse cultivation):

• Rose
• Gerbera
• Carnation
• Tomato
• Capsicum
• Cucumber

Topics covered:

• Scope for protected cultvation in India.
• Different types of protected cultivation.
• Difference between greenhouse and polyhouse.
• Cost of different protected cultivation structures.
• Different types infrastructure costs involved in polyhouse cultivation.
• Suitable crops under proted cultivation.
• Step-by-step protected cultivation structures.
• Ideal soil, pH, plant population etc.
• Crop cultivation process under protected cultuvation.
• Harvesting
• Crop yield
• Crop cultivation cost and profitability.

• What is organic farming?
• Scope of organic farming.
• Comparing different farming systems.
• Advantages and disadvantages of organic farming.
• How to start a organic farm?
• Different marketing plans.
• How to select suitable crops?
• Maintaining healthy soil, organic fertilisers, pest and disease management, weed management.
• Value addition and packaging.
• Step-by-step process of "organic certification".
• Cost of organic certification.
• Key factors to succeed in organic farming.

• Different types agriculture loan
• Who are eligible for agriculture loan
• Documents required for farm loan
• What is a project report?
• Components of a Detailed Project Report (DPR)
• How to write a project report for bank loan?
• A sample Detailed Project Report (DPR)

• Types of farm subsidies
• Nature of farm subsidies
• Different govt. schemes
• Dairy schemes
• Poultry schemes
• Goat farming schemes
• Pig farming schemes
• Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF)
• Fishery schemes
• Beekeeping schemes
• Horticulture schemes
• Agroforestry schemes
• Protected cultivation schemes
• Organic farming schemes
• Vermicomposting schemes
• Irrigation Schemes

This chapter will help prospective entrepreneurs choose the perfect farm business as per their lifestyle, financial strength, objective, future goal, risk taking capability etc.