Potato farming business has many advantages. It is a very important cash crop. And you can make good profits from potato cultivation business. Potato farming is very common and popular throughout the world. Potatoes are actually the most common and are relatively inexpensive to purchase from any market.
Potato is the most important food crop of the world. It is an economical crop and referred as Poor man’s friend. Origin of the potatoes is in South America. Potatoes are actually used in many ways. But it is mainly used as vegetable and also used for making chips and other food items.
There are over four hundred varieties of potatoes in the world and to start your own potato farm business, you need to choose the variety that best suits your farmland. The best way to know which variety to grow on your farmland, carry out research among potato farmers within your area. We have shortly describe the tips to starting potato farm business.
Tips to Starting Potato Farm Business
Potato farming is very easy and simple. You can start this business and make good profits, even if you are a beginner. Potatoes can be grown in different types of fertile soil. Here are the complete tips to starting potato farm business:
1. Get a suitable farmland
Get a suitable farmland and prepare your farmland for your potatoes plantation. To prepare your farmland you need to clear, plough, trill, and drain the soil. You can hire workers to help you in those aspects, they will assist in putting a good amount of manure which will automatically improve the soil texture.
2. Type of potato to plant
Once you decide on the type of potato to plant, buy certified seeds from commercial suppliers, and plant them. Make sure to space out each seed from the other when planting them.
3. Get startup capital
The startup capital in this kind of farming is extremely very important. As you are planning potato farming, you should take into account the cost of buying or renting an open site for the cultivation.
So while going into potatoes farming just as any other kind of agricultural production, make sure you have an adequate amount of money that will sustain you till you start harvesting, and making a profit from the product sales.
Additionally, the capital will also help you to get certain agricultural tools and machinery (hand tools or power tools) necessary for easy farming.
4. Study the month to plant potatoes
It is important you know what month best for planting potatoes. Potatoes grow well during the rainy season and can be planted in March, April or May.
5. Harvest time
It is important you understand how long it take before potatoes can be harvested. You can start harvesting your potatoes when it is four to five months from the planting day.
6. Kind of soil to plant potatoes
Knowing what kind of soil to plant potatoes is an essential tips to starting potato farm business. Potatoes are known to be more viable in well-drained, sandy soil. A poorly drained soil or waterlogged clay soil can cause diseased potato tubers. The ideal soil pH level for the potato farm business is between 6 and 6.5
7. Crops that grows well with potatoes
Another tips to starting potato farm business is know what grows well with potatoes. Potatoes can be planted with crops under the cabbage family. This extends to include cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and kale. They don’t compete for nutrients with the potatoes as they have a shallow root system.
Potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers are all under the nightshade plant family and as such cannot be planted together with potatoes. This is because they will compete for the same nutrients as the potatoes if planted side by side. Also, pests and diseases will easily spread between the crops.
8. Management of disease control
One of the major tips to starting potato farm business that can lead to a successful business is the effective management of disease control and insect infestation, using herbicides and insecticides.
Potato farmers apply insecticides when the plants start growing to drive away flying insects and pests. Farmers apply herbicides or insecticides by sprinkling or spraying irrigation systems while making sure the liquid does not contaminate groundwater.
9. Use of fertilizer
The use of fertilizer is a good idea for any crop farming business. After planting your seeds, you can wait for about three to four weeks before applying fertilizer. Use some comfrey leaves to fertilize the soil, wilt them for a day and place them at the bottom of the trench and cover the plant with a small amount of soil.
