CASH CROP PLANTS TO GROW-AN OVERVIEW

Identifying and selecting the profitable cash crop plants to grow is the most crucial factor in a successful commercial farming business. Cash crops are simply plants those are grown or managed, harvested and sold for cash rather than for sustenance. In earlier times cash crops were usually only a small part of a farm’s total yield. Today especially in developed countries, almost all crops are mainly grown for revenue and export. In developing countries, many traditional farmers continue to adopt their old farming practices. But in developed countries, intensive cultivation and mechanized farming are common.

The cash crop costs are majorly determined by the commodity markets with a global scope. The price of cash crops are dictated by many factors such as the number of competitors, supply and demand, development of new products, promotional campaign, and agribusiness cycle. Climate also plays a major role. The plant to be grown can be decided mainly based on its marketability and profitability aspect. Crop and variety selection is the first consideration in starting or developing the farm. Right decision in the selection of plants to be grown, will ultimately convert into a successful farming venture.

FACTORS IN SELECTING PROFITABLE CASH CROP PLANTS TO GROW

1. A thorough inspection on climate, biotic factor and topographic features is important. The biotic factor refers to living organisms including ruminant animals, insect and other pests, disease pathogens and weeds. The topographic features of the land like elevation, slope, and terrain as well as the physical and chemical properties of the soil such as texture, color, organic matter content, pH and fertility levels will determine the crops that are naturally suited.
2. The crop and the variety to be grown should be selected based on their adaptability to the prevailing conditions in the farm. You can get information from the neighboring farmers who are already in the same crop farming.
3. In selecting the profitable cash crop plants to grow, you must consider the marketability and financial viability of that particular plant. Simply the crop to be selected must be high yielding.
4. You must know the techno-commercial aspect of the crop that you are selecting for your farm.
5. You will need to decide the farming method. Whether you will go for purely crop farming or integrated with livestock animals.
6. Security is the another aspect, you must consider carefully. You will need to protect the crop from thievery.

LIST OF 20 PROFITABLE CASH CROP PLANTS TO GROW

1. Bamboo

Bamboo is one of the most widely used landscaping plant. It is one of the fastest growing plants in the world. They can grow up to four inches a day and you can harvest your bamboo forest for over 40 years.

2. Cactus

Cactus is the most favourable item as plant decor item. This is ideal for tabletop gardens, and many plants can coexist happily in the same container. Creating and selling cactus arrangements is a very profitable and self-rewarding business to start. It can initiated from home location with low startup capital.

3. Cotton

Cotton is one of the most important fiber and considered as profitable cash crop plants to grow. It plays a dominant role in the industrial and agricultural economy. It provides the basic raw material (cotton fiber) to the textile industry.

4. Flowers

Different variety of flowers are considered as profitable cash crop plants to grow. Flower farming is also a perfect home based business that can be initiated with small startup capital. Choosing the right variety as per your climate and soil is important in getting success in flower farming business.

5. Ginger

Ginger is considered as a profitable commercial cash crop plants to grow. It is popular for its aromatic rhizomes which is used both as spice and medicine. Commercially ginger is found in various forms like dry ginger, raw ginger, blenched ginger, ginger oil, ginger candy, ginger beer etc.

6. Garlic

Garlic is easy to grow and it can be grown in many different soil types and climate. Selecting the right variety is important in garlic farming. Garlic is a high yield crop and garlic farming can be initiated with small startup capital, provided you have sufficient land.

7. Grapes

To be profitable in grapes farming, you need to go with a long-term plan and substantial capital investment. The demand for grapes by the wineries is increasing rapidly worldwide. Upgraded techno-commercials aspects have made grapes one of the profitable cash crops plants to grow.

8. Herbs 

Many different types of speciality herbs are very popular for their medicinal values. Selecting the right herb and creating right marketing strategy are most crucial factor in herbs farming. Some of profitable herbs are Chives, Cilantro, Oregano, Chamomile etc.

9. Horticulture Plants

Horticulture plants like fruits and vegetables are the commercial profitable cash crop plants to grow.  Main factor to profitability with these crops is to know which varieties perform best under the growing conditions in a particular area

10. Indoor Microgreens 

Microgreens are tiny edible plants that are older than a sprout, but younger than a full-grown plant. Microgreens are harvested after the first “true” leaves have developed. They are the smallest of the salad greens, and can be grown from almost any plant variety that would produce a mature plant, such as beet, radish or mustard.

11. Lavender 

Lavender is considered as a profitable cash crop plants to grow globally. Climate and soil condition play a major role in lavender farming. Lavender needs full sun, cold weather with a maximum humidity.

12. Medicinal Plants

Growing medicinal plants commercially is one of profitable agriculture business ideas. Having sufficient land and knowledge about the herbs marketing, an entrepreneur can initiate medicinal herbs farming with moderate capital investment.

13. Mushroom

A mushroom farming business can be a mean of big profit in just a few weeks with considerably low start up capital investment to start a business. A person who has little bit of idea in the science & technology of mushroom growing and has an own building for having the farm – mushroom farming business will be the perfect option for him to start.

14. Spices

Speciality spices are very popular around the globe and also they are most expensive. Saffron, Cardamom, Pure Vanilla beans etc are considered most profitable and commercial cash crop plants to grow.

15. Staples 

Staples like rice, corn, root and tuber crops are generally considered as subsistence crops. However they are also often market partly or in whole. These have also a great export value.

16. Sugarcane

Sugarcane is one of the highest yield crop. Sugarcane is considered as one of the profitable cash crop plants to grow. Sugarcane is a long duration crop and it encounters all the seasons such as rainy, winter and summer during its life cycle.

17. Sunflower

In starting sunflower farming business, primary requirement is land. In India, sunflower is often called a commercial cash crop. Growing sunflower for oil seed with maintaining right process is a viable business opportunity. An entrepreneur passionate about agriculture and having own land can start sunflower farming business.

18. Tea

Tea growing business has huge potential and demand for the product is increasing globally. Tea plants typically fare best in acidic soil and regions with heavy rainfall (around 40 inches per year), although they can be grown anywhere from sea level to altitudes as high as 1.3 miles above sea level.

19. Value-added Plants

Value-added plants are most profitable commercial cash crop plants to grow. You can start farming from your home with moderate capital investment. Value-added plant selling is just selling speciality plants in a decorative manner.

20. Vegetables

Vegetable farming is one the most profitable agriculture business ideas. Having sufficient land an entrepreneur can start good quality vegetable farming with quality seed and fertilizers.