BUSINESS IDEA FOR GROWING WATER MELONS

 

Introduction

The goal of this business plan is to grow and market watermelons. The concept is based on harvesting 12,000 watermelons each quarter, or 48,000 watermelons year. The potential revenue is expected to be USD 7,200 every quarter, or USD 28,800 annually. The company has a strong market demand all year long and may employ both ladies and young people. The project will cost around $2080.

Production process

To create the ideal environment for watermelons—a light, sandy, fertile loam soil that is well drained yet holds moisture—add a lot of organic matter to the soil. Watermelons should be planted whenever the soil and air temperatures have reached 65 degrees Fahrenheit, usually two to three weeks after the last rain. If your growing season is long enough for the plants to mature, direct sowing is preferable. Dig a hole two feet in diameter and one foot deep for each plant, fill it with bone meal and at least one or two trowels of compost or well-cured manure. Plant transplants that have been hardened off at the same depth at which they were growing in their pots. In hills, scatter seeds one inch deep. Plants should be spaced apart widely. To keep moisture in, spread a thick layer of organic mulch, Remove all protective coverings as soon as flowers begin to bloom to allow bees and other insects to pollinate the plants. Start fertilizing every three weeks with compost tea, and the produce should be ready for picking 35 days later.

Market Analysis

Fruits like watermelons are in high demand nationwide, but especially in urban areas. Hotels, supermarkets, canteens, fruit vendors, market vendors, and other establishments can all receive watermelons. There are so many financiers in this industry, dispersed all throughout the nation.

Capital Investment Requirements in US $

Item	Unit	Qty	Unit cost	Total
Wheel barrows	No	2	25	50
Hand tools	No	1	50	50
Total cost of machinery				100

 

Production and operation costs in US$ Direct Materials, Supplies and Costs

Cost item	units	Unit cost	Qty/ quarter	Prod cost/ quarter	Prod. Cost/year
water melon seeds (250 seeds)	No	0.02	12,000	210	840
Poles	No	0.3	2,200	550	550
Chemicals	kgs	15	3	45	45
Mulches	bundles	0.25	100	25	100
Sub-total				830	1,535

 

General costs (Overheads)	Prod. Cost/ month	Prod. Cost/ year
(Utilities (water)	15	180
wages	20	240
Depreciation (Assets write off) Expenses	2	25
Sub total	37	445
Total operating cost	867	1,980

 

Project Product Cost and Price Structure in US$

Item	Qty /yr	Unit cost	Prod./yr	Unit price	Total revenue
Water melon	48,000	0.55	26,400	0.6	28,800

 

Profitability Analysis In US $

Profitability item	per Quarter	per year
Revenue
Water melons	7,200	28,800
Less Production & Operating Costs	867	1,980
Profit	6,333	26,820

 

Source of Supply of Equipment and Raw materials

All Raw materials and equipment can be obtained from the local market country wide.

Government Incentives

Government has scrapped taxes on Agricultural inputs to boost the agricultural sector