Resource Book on Horticulture Nursery Management

Increasing cost of labour and raw material: Poor planning and anticipation of
labour and inputs may lead to higher cost of labor and raw material. The unavailability of
labour and increasing cost of various nursery inputs like riverbed soil, plastic material,
moss etc can also cause losses.
Poor technical knowledge: Nursery enterprise requires sound technical knowledge
and skills for production of seedlings and graft as per demand. This requires adequate
training and professional knowledge of production technology of nursery plants.
� Profitability in a Nursery Enterprise
Nursery enterprise is based on assumptions of demand of plants and availability of
various production inputs like raw material and labour. The enterprise is therefore
dependent on considerable risk factors as stated above. Various other risk factors like
scarce or shortfall in rains, deviation in Government subsidy schemes, higher costs and
poor income and increasing illegal activities pertaining to sale of nursery plants affects
the profitability of a nursery enterprise.
Some important points to be considered for bringing nursery enterprise into a
profitable venture are as follows:
1. Production of plants in a nursery is a commercial business activity and is to be seen
from the point of view of economics of expenditure and returns.
2. There is need to balance the technical aspects and practical feasibility of production
and sale of plants in a nursery.
3. The nursery enterprise may not start yielding profits from the first year onwards but
may require minimum five to six years for planning and execution of operations and
bringing the nursery business into profit.
4. Maintenance of records of expenditure and income need to be carried out regularly to
ascertain the profitability or loss in the business. A critical analysis of such record
may provide solution for overcoming the problem of poor returns.
5. Monitoring of daily activities in nursery activities can provide immediate answers to
the problems faced during the production and sale in nursery.
6. There needs to be coordination amongs three important aspects of nursery enterprise
which are production of plants, rearing of plants and sales of plants.
7. Increasing the sales through aggressive marketing, publicity and advertisement in
newspaper, magazines and other mass media, participation in exhibitions can enhance
the sales in nursery enterprise to a considerable extent.
10.3 Glossary
Advance <strong>Book</strong>ing: A priority booking of plants for timely supply
After Sales Service: A service rendered after sale and supply of plants for the care of
plants
Aggressive Marketing: A strategic marketing that is thrust upon buyers so as to compel
them to purchase the respective brand amongst its competitors.
<strong>Resource</strong> <strong>Book</strong> on Horticulture Nursery Management : 260