The urban farmer’s goal is to feed their family, not sell to a market. Therefore, the estimation process must begin with the kitchen and work backward. This method directly counters the current market inefficiency by focusing only on what is consumed.
I. The Core Innovation: Consumption-Based Planning
This method is a three-step decision process that dictates your entire garden plan, ensuring zero waste of inputs or space:
| Planning Step | Question to the Farmer | Defines |
| 1. Consumption Quantity (Q) | What quantity (grams or pieces) is needed per consumption? | The Unit Yield requirement. |
| 2. Consumption Frequency (F) | How often do I want to eat this vegetable during the season? | The Production Cycle needed. |
| 3. Seasonality (S) | What is the duration of the growing season? | The Total Time of production. |
II. The Strategic Pivot: The Yield Data
To link your Kitchen Plan to your garden layout, you must incorporate scientific data that is often hidden by ecosystem players. This information is key to the ultimate Ready Reckoner:
• Optimal Yield per Plant (Y): The quantified yield data—how much quantity (grams/pieces) can one healthy plant optimally produce during the entire season, and at what frequency.
III. The Ready Reckoner Formula (Primary School Logic)
Using the consumption plan and the scientific data, the Ready Reckoner provides the exact number of plants you need:
Total Seasonal Consumption Requirement=Q×F×S
Minimum Number of Plants Needed=Total Optimal Yield per Plant (Y)Total Seasonal Consumption Requirement
This is a critical decision because the output is the precise number of plants required, which then dictates your exact investment in pots and medium.
IV. The Market Innovation: Seeds by Number 💡
Once the Number of Plants is determined, the final step addresses the market failure of packaging.
• The Problem Solved: The final packet must be sold by number, not by weight. This way, both vendors and clients have better control and transparency.
• Wastage Factor Inclusion: The seed count in the packet will be scientifically calculated to include the necessary buffer for wastage, non-germination, thinning, and replanting (e.g., 15 seeds for 10 target plants).
This consumption-based, data-driven approach transforms estimation from a guessing game into an efficient, planned, and hassle-free process, aligning perfectly with the STARTUP-ISATION philosophy.
