He engages in hydroponic strawberry production, his production is automated, and he sells all his produce to domestic markets and wholesale markets.
“I didn’t want anyone to tell me what to do and I wanted to be my own boss,” begins a story for Kurir Biznis, 21-year-old Mihajlo Đokić, a fruit grower from Mala Vranjska near Šabac, who was chosen as the best young farmer in the 3Banke competition and won a prize of 500,000 dinars.
This hard-working young man, together with his older brother, engages in hydroponic strawberry production and in six years they have reached 30,000 plants that they grow in greenhouses on 25 acres.
“We plant strawberries in a substrate, which means not in the soil, and they are in pots on shelves. Production is automated, we feed them with the help of a computer that controls exactly how much nutrients and water are needed. It’s completely controlled production,” Mihajlo Đokić tells Kurir.
He adds that they initially invested 1,000 euros in production and gradually expanded production, and they intend to expand it further.
“We started by working in the ground. And then we gradually switched to this production. We decided on hydroponic production because it is easier for us to work with. And we didn’t regret it. It’s not easy, but it’s not that difficult either. And then we invested from our own funds and bank loans. And we came to the conclusion that our total investments are around 40,000 euros, and 99% of them are subsidized loans,” explains Đokić.
PROČITAJTE VIŠE:
This young fruit grower says that he sells his entire production on the domestic market, to markets and resellers at wholesale markets.
“We have about 30,000 plants and on average, each yields about half a kilogram. And the average price for us is 2.40 euros per kilogram. So people can calculate for themselves how much income that is and whether it pays off. We live decently. It all depends on what year it is. When it’s a good year, it’s good for us too. But essentially, on average, it’s good. We, as they say, work under the open sky. A strong wind can destroy all those greenhouses, or frost,” says this young host.
Calculations show that with 30,000 plants, the Đokićs harvest 15 tons of strawberries from which they earn an average of about 36,000 euros. However, to achieve this income, a lot of effort is required, especially during the harvest.
“The most demanding is the harvest, and then we also get up early and pick and pack with our colleagues. The harvest lasts about two months. We have two harvests, spring and autumn. Watering and feeding is automated and we don’t do anything there, except that every three or four days we make food which takes 10 minutes,” says Mihajlo.
He has a message for all those who are thinking about starting some agricultural production.
“There is no quick money in agriculture, that should be clear to everyone from the start. And there is always a bad year and a very good year. The most important thing is to be persistent and believe in what you are doing. And not to listen to everyone, but to educate yourself and follow what is being done in the world,” says this young but serious fruit grower.
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Source: Kurir, Photo: Privatna Arhiva / Kurir