NRI Quit His US Job To Grow Sugarcane in India & Earn Lakhs

In 2007, at 33, Punjab-based Rajwinder Singh Dhaliwal moved to the US, drove trucks, and later became a chef. The experience shaped him, but his heart remained in India.

So, he quit, and returned to Punjab to pursue organic farming — a passion that now earns him Rs 12 lakh annually. “The exposure to the USA helped me learn, but I valued Indian culture more.”

Back in India, Rajwinder first launched multiple pizza chains. “I signed up for a franchise in 2013 and later launched my own brand, expanding the restaurant business.”

Quitting business for farming

Despite earning well, he found the restaurant business stressful. So, in 2017, he winded up his business and moved to Lohara village to experiment with organic farming on his ancestral land.

“On social media, I met some farmers practising organic farming who helped during the initial stages,” Rajwinder shares.

Initially, he grew sugarcane. Today, it is complemented by plants such as turmeric, guava, plum, pear, kinnow, pomegranate, potato, garlic, onion, mustard, and other seasonal crops.

Rajwinder also processes sugarcane into jaggery and organic sugar. “Rather than selling regular jaggery, I value-added it by using sesame, dry fruits, turmeric, and herbs.”

Using social media for sales

“I did not have any market linkages and used social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to generate sales. I offered loose products and posted pictures explaining their quality and purity,” he says.

What about profits?

Rajwinder earns Rs 12 lakh per year from overall sales (as of 2021). Processing sugarcane, he believes, earns him almost three times more than selling it to a factory.

“I aim to produce quality food products, similar to those I grew up with during my childhood and the earlier generations who were blessed with the same,” shares Rajwinder.