Entrepreneurship, Farm Management and Occupational Safety
Entrepreneurship, Farm Management and Occupational Safety
This domain tests the business and safety side of seed production: costing, contracts, break-even, labour and safe handling of seed, chemicals and machinery. Questions often use a small enterprise calculation.
Management and safety rules
- Plan from market demand backward: contract, variety, area, seed source, certification and storage.
- Record all costs: seed, fertiliser, irrigation, labour, inspection, testing, bags, transport and rejection losses.
- Calculate break-even price and yield before planting; seed crops usually carry higher management and rejection costs.
- Train workers in pesticide handling, use PPE, follow pre-harvest intervals and keep chemicals away from seed stores.
- Guard machinery, ventilate stores and follow safe procedures for fumigation and confined spaces.
Worked example
A 1 ha seed crop costs ₹60,000 and yields 2,000 kg. Expected sale price is ₹40/kg. Revenue = 2,000 × 40 = ₹80,000; profit = ₹20,000. Break-even price = 60,000 ÷ 2,000 = ₹30/kg. If the buyer offers ₹28/kg, the enterprise loses ₹2/kg, or ₹4,000.
Traps that cost marks
Ignoring certification and rejection costs; valuing all harvested seed as saleable; storing chemicals with seed; and using untrained labour for fumigation.