In drought-prone Satara, Maharashtra, Hrushikesh Jayasing Dhane has spearheaded a successful venture in aloe vera farming.

In 2007, he picked 4,000 discarded aloe vera plants from his neighbour’s fields and planted them between mango and amla (Indian gooseberry) trees on his land.

“I knew that aloe vera could work wonders as a termite repellent and would help protect my mango trees. So, I thought there was no harm in growing aloe vera, even if it didn’t generate immediate income,” the horticulture graduate says.

Using his expertise in horticulture, he went on to utilise aloe vera to make natural pesticides, herbal spreaders, and plant growth promoters.

“Insects like thrips damage the buds and leaves of crops. I once mixed aloe vera with fish oil and sprayed it on crops. Pests and animals dislike it because of its bitter taste. I found this to be an effective pest repellent,” he says.

“Plants like bananas naturally avert water on their surface, making it difficult for farmers to spray pesticides on their leaves. Spraying aloe vera spreader helps distribute pesticides throughout the length of the plant,” he adds.

In 2013, he started commercialising these products. Today, he manufactures an average of 8,000 litres of products from his two-acre aloe vera farm.

With this, he has been able to clock an annual turnover of Rs 3.5 crore, with a profit margin of 30 percent.

When Hrushikesh started planting aloe vera, he was told that planting thorny plants would bring bad luck.

“Back then, I lived in a kachha house. Today, I have built a two-storey home in my village, and we travel in a Fortuner car! All this became possible only because of growing aloe vera,” he says.