Farming

Gnana Saravanan and Krishnasudha, IT professionals in Chennai, left their corporate jobs to return to their farming roots in Palakkad, Kerala. Over the past eight years, they’ve used technology to build a self-sustaining integrated farm called Deesan Farms.

Struggling to make profits in traditional farming, these farmers turned to hydroponics. Take a cue from these experts and learn what worked for them.

Pritpal Singh turned to hydroponics to avoid soil-borne diseases. He runs a thriving business with thousands of leafy vegetables growing on his 2.5-acre land. He also started Farmcult to help other farmers switch to this innovative method.

Gaurav Pachauri took up freshwater pearl farming after failing to crack government exams for four years. He set up a pearl farm in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, earning Rs 55 lakh within 21 months.

Smarika Chandrakar quit a thriving corporate career to become a full-time farmer in Chhattisgarh. With 125 people employed in her fields, she hopes to introduce advanced technology to improve productivity.

R Vishwan was forced to steal food as a 7-year-old. Today, he has established his own honey-farming enterprise. With determination and a modest initial investment, he now manages 6,000 beehive boxes, harvesting 90 to 110 tonnes of honey annually.

When rubber farming became unprofitable due to cheap imports, Biju Narayanan of Kannur, Kerala, shifted to cultivating exotic fruits like rambutan, mangosteen, and pepper. Employing high-density farming and multi-level cropping, he now earns up to Rs 15 lakh per acre.

Alphonso mango cultivators in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, took a bold step by forming a farmer producer company and launching the direct-to-consumer brand Aamoré — exporting 10 tonnes of the prized fruit to global markets.

At 78, Eyyo Kuriakose from Kottayam, Kerala, has developed a patented, durable grow bag with an integrated drip irrigation system, which he claims reduces water usage and enhances crop health.

Akul Biswas started planting mangrove saplings along the banks of the Bidyadhari river in 2005. Locals took notice of his work and joined his mission. Today, Biswas and over 200 women have formed the Jharkhali Sabuj Bahini that works towards revival of mangroves in the Sundarbans.