Resource Book on Horticulture Nursery Management

ig challenge. None the less, the nursery entrepreneurs must be vigilant about the region
which demands the respective planting material.
Most of the nurseries have a huge demand and have been observed to be running
with operating profits successfully. It is estimated that less than 10 per cent of nursery
established face losses during the initial three years period. This results because of poor
management skills in nursery enterprise and lack of marketing efforts.
It would therefore be wise to carry out market survey to anticipate demand of
various plants in the coming season before production of plants in a nursery enterprise
begins.
10.2.5 Enterpreneurship Development through Nursery
Nursery is an important enterprise which creates sizable employment opportunities
for the rural masses. There are various types of business areas under horticulture nursery
which provide employment. The areas under horticulture nursery may comprise
production of seeds, seedlings, grafts, potted plants, ball plants; providing plants for
aesthetic purposes in landscaping or event management program on rental basis; sale of
plants to retail nurseries; starting plant libraries; providing vegetable seedlings;
ornamental plants and planting material; medicinal and aromatic plants; tissue culture
plants providing tissue culture plants through hardening units; and landscape gardening
and consultancy.
� Qualities in an Entrepreneur Required for Horticulture Nursery Enterprise
A nursery entrepreneur is defined as a person in effective control of commercial
undertaking who undertakes a nursery business or an enterprise. Any economic activity
relating to nursery also generates wage-employment for others and this is called
entrepreneurship. The people who practice entrepreneurship are called entrepreneurs. The
qualities required for a nursery entrepreneur are as follows:
1. Risk-taking is an important aspect of entrepreneurial life. Entrepreneurs are
calculated risk-takers. It may involve several processes like understanding the
situation, gathering information, assessing the available resources, setting up goals for
nursery production, testing capabilities and modifying the goals based on experience.
2. Entrepreneurs perceive opportunities quickly, synthesize the available information
and analyze emerging patterns that escape the attention of others. They are people
with a vision, capable of persuading others such as customers, partners, lenders,
employees and suppliers to see the opportunity, share it and support it. After spotting
the opportunity, they evolve a strategy to find a creative solution to the problem or
need.
3. Entrepreneurs have a strong desire to hit new goals. An entrepreneur does not rest
until the goal is achieved.
4. Entrepreneurs are innovative and can convert adversities into opportunities.
5. Entrepreneurs seek out experts for assistance rather than friends and relatives.
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