Here’s How to Start An Agribusiness

Have you ever considered selling fresh fruits, vegetables, or even livestock in the future? Or does growing a farm for a business suit your interest?

Agriculture is a vital field that involves dealing with livestock and plant life in order to provide for people. It also includes being able to maintain and cultivate lands for better produce.

The field has plenty of interesting career options for everyone. Not only does agriculture play an important role in the Philippine economy, but it also serves as a great source of profit for entrepreneurs. Transacting with farmers and handling a farm spells business, and making a profit out of fresh produce is possible after all!

These businesses are called agribusinesses, where entrepreneurs purchase, negotiate and sell farm products with farmers for more profit. From rice fields to fish ponds, the sources of products that you can sell are endless, since this involves distributing food for masses. These include rice, poultry, plants, livestock, fruits, vegetables, fishes, and anything grown by nature.

How does one create an agribusiness? The road to starting any business is never an easy one. But if you’re set on starting a business in agriculture, here are some tips for you to get started:

Figure out your services and products.

Are you thinking of selling coconuts? Or would you rather sell meat such as pigs or chicken? You will first have to determine what products you’re willing to sell, and what services you will render with your agribusiness. This is where you can create your own business plan and determine the projected amount of profit you want to make over time. Include the permits you’ll need to legitimize your agribusiness, along with the right insurance to ensure its safety in light of possible emergencies or accidents.

Start financing.

Find the right way to finance your agribusiness. It might take a bit harder for new businesses to procure loans from the bank, but there are plenty of alternative finance options that can help you get a headstart on your business.

Procure the right license.

Like all businesses, you need to secure a permit before you can start a farm or export products. You will need this so you can legally hire farmers, let alone buy and sell products from your agribusiness.

For starters, you’ll have to apply for a permit at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) so you can have your business registered. Unless you’ll be starting your agribusiness with a business partner, you’ll be required to register your business. Either way, having your agribusiness legitimized by DTI grants you exclusive rights to use your business.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is the government authority that spearheads agricultural productivity, so you’ll have to ensure the necessary permits from them if you want to sell, import, export, or transfer the following products in the Philippines:

Products	Contacts for Permits
Coconuts	Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) PCA Building, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines Tel. No. 928-4501; 927-8116 Email: pca_ofad@mozcom.com
Fiber	Fiber Development Authority (FIDA) License Division Asiatrust Bank Annex Building, 1424 Quezon Avenue, Quezon City Tel No. (632) 373-9241; 373-7489; 373-7495 Email: fida@pacific.net.ph
Fish and Aquatic Products	Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regulatory & Quarantine Division 860 Arcadia Building, Quezon Ave., Quezon City Tel. No. (632) 372-5057; 373-7452; 372-5046 Email: msarmiento@bfar.da.gov.ph webmaster@bfar.da.gov.ph
Livestock	Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) National Veterinary Quarantine Service Visayas Ave., Diliman, Quezon City Tel. No. (632) 925-4343; 928-1778 Email: dir.bai@manila-online.net
Plants, fruits, vegetables, plants, and other crops	Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Plant Quarantine Service 692 San Andres Street, Malate, Manila, Philippines 1004(632) 525-7857 or 525-7909Email: buplant@yahoo.com
Sugar	Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Production Control and Regulation Office Sugar Center Building, North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Tel. No. (632) 455-3524; 455-2135; 455-1589 Email: info@sra.gov.ph

 

Find some land to set up your business.

Once you’ve successfully secured the right permits and you’re legally allowed to run a business, you can finally add some life to the land you bought or rented. Depending on what you intend to do in your agribusiness, invest in the construction of a physical building that can also keep the tools, machinery, and other materials that you’ll need for operations.

Formulate your marketing plan.

After constructing your business, your agribusiness is now ready to operate! All you need is a marketing plan that farmers, suppliers, and other clients can use to know more about your business. Make sure that your marketing plan is stable and well-planned out, otherwise, your agribusiness might not last long.

Get your employees.

Lastly, the biggest challenge is running and maintaining your agribusiness, which you don’t have to do alone. Tap the right people for your business. Hire your team!

Once you’ve set up your marketing plan and gathered your clients, start hiring employees. After all, you can’t complete orders for your agribusiness by yourself. Who knows? It can even give a great first impression to new clients if they see you getting the help you need!

Although you’re starting everything from the ground up, there’s still no shame in getting help. Don’t be scared! Starting an agribusiness is tough at first but you’ll never know how far you can go with it unless you try!

Want to learn more about agriculture? Or are you keen on learning more ways to find employment? Learn more about the Technical-Vocational Strand and check out more Job Hunting tips on Edukasyon.ph!