Farming can be an unforgiving business. However, as we have learnt during the coronavirus lockdown, the agricultural sector is highly resilient and meaningful – if you’re adaptable and brave enough to make some clever moves. Here is a list of ten ideas for lucrative, small-scale farming in 2021.
Despite being a technical and volatile business, farming can be one of the most satisfying jobs to see your produce grow, regardless if it is animals or crops. Just remember to do market research before you jump into the farming game, as you might end up with a high yield, but nowhere to sell your produce.
1. Fast-growing produce
According to Farming South Africa, these are the most promising produce you should plant for fast and profitable returns:
-
Baby carrots can be harvested in as little as 30 days and sold to restaurants. Photo: Supplied Lettuce will give you a return on your investment in just 30 days and also promises a decent profit. If you are growing lettuce indoors, you will have an income for the whole year.
- Radishes take only 25 days to grow, so if you have a market for radishes, you can start making money fast.
- Baby carrots can be harvested in just 30 days and you can sell them to restaurants as they are not always available in supermarkets.
- Squash is another fast grower. Be ready to sell for profit in only 70 days.
- Cucumbers are fast growers too and also very profitable to farm with. You can start harvesting in just 50 days.
- Bush beans are ready to be harvested from 40 days and are good to sell to markets and shops.
2. Chickens
Chickens are considered multipurpose animals because they are a great source of eggs, meat, and fertiliser. Farming South Africa lists the following livestock options for farmers who want a quick profit after investing in their farming enterprise:
- Broiler chickens grow fast. You can start selling them after just five weeks and make some profit.
- Layer chickens take longer to grow and to start producing eggs, but you can buy young layers and start making profit in a short period of time.
Find out how to start your own chicken farm here.
3. Rabbits
Rabbits are really fast growers and low maintenance. If you find a market for rabbits you can potentially quadruple your investment in just four months, according to Farming South Africa.
However, be very sure to identify a market before you start breeding rabbits. The market has been under a bit of pressure last year.
There are many options for housing rabbits that can cost as little or as much as you choose, and they can be fed either store-bought rabbit food or extra veggies from the garden, weeds and grass clippings, and hay. Rabbits are also great for your garden. They produce some of the most amazing fertiliser. So, maybe pair them with some fast growing produce to double your opportunity for income.
4. Pig farming
Pigs have a bad reputation for smell and messiness. In reality, pigs are clean farm animals. If you have the land available to allow them to free range, then your feeding expense will be a lot lower. They eat compost, corn, other grains, milk, bread, fodder, and practically anything else you feed them.
According to Hobby Farms, pigs are animals that grow your initial investment a lot, but they need time to grow. Speed up the process by buying piglets and start making profit in just four months.
5. Mushroom farming
Profitable Ventures suggest that the untapped potential of fungi is phenomenal. This venture has a steep learning curve, but that is true for most farming start-ups.
If you have a clean space in your home, you can start your own mushroom farming business today and start selling mushrooms to markets and pharmaceutical companies in the next 21 days.
6. Beekeeping and honey production
Farmer’s Weekly refers to bee farming as liquid gold. But this is one of those ventures that will take hard work and is more challenging than it first appears.
This idea is for those who have time and large space to spare. Demand of pure honey is evergreen, so this farming business idea is perfect for the new year.
Farmer Craig Campbell of Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal, advises aspiring beekeepers to join a local beekeepers’ association and learn more about the industry from experienced beekeepers. He suggests that newcomers either start small and grow as they gain experience, or first work for a commercial apiarist until they have enough experience to go out on their own.
7. Urban agriculture
If you don’t have access to land, and you live in the city, urban agriculture may be the right choice for you. Urban agriculture is a buzzword these days with the influx of people in cities, and there is a lot of information out there on how to utilise a small space for optimal yields.
According to Small Business Ventures herbs like basil, parsley and mint can make for great agriculture products in an urban farm setting. You can take your produce and sell it at local farmers’ markets to earn an income.
8. Microgreens
Speaking of urban farming and small spaces, microgreens require only a small piece of land or potting soil, so they can be a good choice for your farming business. Farmers Weekly refers to them as the tiniest crops with the biggest returns.
Microgreens are young vegetables or baby plants that are around 10 to 14 days old. They are the small edible vegetables that restaurants use as garnishing for a dish or serve in a salad. You’ll find that they’re in high demand. Customers like their visual appeal and health benefits. Beginner farmers should consider this business as microgreens are easy to grow, turnaround time is high, and it requires little investment to start.
Note, though, that micro-greens have to be sold fresh, so make sure you have a market before starting your micro-green enterprise. Look for high-end restaurants that boast local and healthy food to partner with them.
9. Fish farming
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, aquaculture continues to grow faster than other significant food production sectors.
And Finance Forum says that the fishing industry boasts outstanding agriculture business opportunities in South Africa that most people can begin with little capital.
Fish farming is an ideal business idea for future farmers that have available land, and it doesn’t always require a body of water. You can start a fish farm either by creating fish ponds or investing in fish tanks; it’s a highly scalable business idea.
Fish provides excellent protein that is low in cholesterol and has many beneficial oils and minerals. Depending on the type of fish you choose to farm, you could soon see a high return on your investment.
10. Flowers
Last but not least, flowers can be your challenging venture in 2021. Despite being a difficult market to enter, flowers can be sold for a high profit.
Flower farming is a very versatile business, you can create a sunflower maze as flower farms are popular destinations for tourists, but apart from that.
You can create other avenues for income such as supplying flower shops and connecting with event organisers for decorations. If you don’t manage to sell all your flowers fresh, you can dry and press them to sell to craftspeople and hobbyists.
As with all other farming ventures, a lot of research should go into your flower farming enterprise, as there are a wide range of flower types to plant, each with varying degrees of input necessary.
