Resource Book on Horticulture Nursery Management

The fruit grafts and seedlings are to be sold after attaining an age of six months.
Fruit grafts can easily be established in field only after six months of age. If the
plants are sold before the recommended age and height, plants may show higher
mortality rate in the field. The vegetables seedlings are an exception to this and have
to be sold from 25 to 40 days period. Seedlings above 40 days of age must not be
sold with an exception to some hybrid varieties of tomato, etc which are ready for
sale in 20 to 25 days.
Publicity and Advertisement for Sale of Nursery Plants
There should be adequate publicity and advertisement of availability of various
grafts, seedlings in the nursery. Such publicity and advertisement helps in sale and supply
of plants at appropriate rates and time.
Different strategies of publicity and advertisement can be adopted for sale of plants
from the nursery which may include the following:
1. Sales area: The area where the plants are to be sold need to be ascertained well in
time. A thorough survey of the area available must be done before finalizing the
sales area. The sales area must not be a very far off and remote place.
2. Advance booking: This type of system is advantageous to both nurserymen as
well as the customers. Advance information on probable requirements of plants
for sale helps the farmer to finish the plantation well in time and as per the
requirement.
3. Information through Gramsabhas: The information on availability of plants can be
provided through various training programmes organized by the Agricultural
Department and also during the village level meetings. Occasion such as
Gramsabhas, etc. can be utilized by the nurserymen to make adequate publicity on
type of plants, variety, method of plantation and other technical aspects of care
and control of insect and pests etc.
4. Exhibiting through Stall: The plants can be made available for sale by putting up
stall in the exhibition. Additional information can be given regarding the
plantation and detailed cultivation etc. for publicity.
5. Advertizing through Newspaper and Magazine: Various newspapers and
magazines reach out to farmers and growers in different parts of the country. The
Newsprint can be a very effective medium for publicity.
6. Publicity in Weekly Bazaars: Weekly bazaar is a regular activity in the rural
areas. Essential commodities are sold in these markets and almost all the people
from the nearby villages visit there. It can prove to be a place for effective
advertising and publicity. Loudspeaker announcements, distributing handbills
with information on availability of plants can raise the prospects of sale of plants
to a great extent.
7. Posters and Blowups: Pasting of posters and blowup charts of plant for sale can be
another medium of publicity.
8. Appointing Sale Agents: A large nursery may require large sales network which
may include appointing sale agents for different area as per demand. Such agents
can work on the basis of commission on sale of plants.
<strong>Resource</strong> <strong>Book</strong> on Horticulture Nursery Management : 237