• To undertake soil testing at reasonable costs.

• To undertake irrigation water quality testing.

• To undertake testing of some of the inputs.

• To provide recommendation on fertilizer application and fertility management.

• To arrange for suitable inputs like bio-fertilizers.

• To provide guidance for soil reclamation and related technical areas.

• To train / demonstrate / educate farmers in the technical areas of soil fertility development, integrated input use, improved compost making, etc.

In order to have close interaction with the farmers and facilitate frequent field visits the unit should be located in rural areas like taluka head quarters or an upcoming major panchayat head quarters It is considered that a lab with a capacity of 10,000 samples will have scope to cover a taluka. In areas having considerable saline/alkaline lands and irrigated garden lands growing commercial crops and vegetables will have ample potential for this kind of service.

3. Project Components : Laboratory Equipment (PH Meter, EC Meter, Photometer, etc.,), office equipment, furniture, etc.,

• Water and Electricity supply to the lab 25,000

• Wooden drawer with cabinet to keep samples (2 sets) 20,000

• Laboratory Equipment (such as pH Meter, EC Meter, Photometer, Caloriemeter, glassware, laboratory, furniture, etc.) 2,32,000

• Office equipment (such as furniture, motor cycle, computer, 1,17,000 telephone, audiovisual aids, contingencies, etc.,) 3,94,000

Capitalised Cost

- Rent for ten months 25,000

- Stock of chemicals 20,000

- Six months' operational cost 84,500

Total : 5,23,500

It varies from Rs. 1,33,200/- to Rs. 1,54,800/-

5. Margin (15%) : Rs. 92,000

6. Bank Loan : Rs. 4,31,500

7. Rate of Interest : 14% p.a.

(i) Though it is possible to test 10,000 - 12,000 samples in a year, the installed capacity is taken conservatively as 8,000 per year for working out the economics.

Capacity utilization is considered as follows :

First year Second year Third year 4th year onwards

35% 50% 75% 80%

(ii) The major income will accrue from soil and water testing. An income of Rs. 50 per sample of soil/ water is considered as reasonable. Return from the input testing is not taken into the cash flow, though some income is possible from this. Considerable amount of returns is also expected from the extension service rendered like land reclamation etc. However, highly conservation charges of Rs. 250 per acre for this service are assumed in the project due to the lack of field experience as of now.

(iii) From Soil and water samples testing and Technical advice/services like land reclamation, the income varies from Rs. 1,40,000/- to Rs. 3,38,750/-

Apart from the soil testing services, the unit can also widen its scope slowly by adding small capacities for organic manure production (for which land is needed) and bio-fertilizers. Small quantities of bio-fertilizers like Azatobacter, Azospirillum can be multiplied for local clients with the same infrastructure.

• Margin of 15% is assumed, but the actual margin will be as per the discretion of the banks.

• Interest rate of 14% is assumed, however, the actual rate will be as per banks' discretion.

• Similarly, the other economic / financial parameters such as the repayment period, DSCR, IRR, etc., ay also vary depending upon the margin, interest rate, etc., taken into account by the bank.