A surprising shift is occurring in India's agriculture as tech professionals swap keyboards for shovels while embracing organic farming. How are they doing it? Check this list of techies-turned-farmers, many of whom are now earning better than their salaries.

1. Roja Reddy, Karnataka Roja Reddy, who was raised by farmers, initially pursued a city job after studying engineering in Bengaluru. When the pandemic struck the nation, she returned to her roots in Donnehalli.

She faced criticism for switching to organic farming and quitting her high-paying job. But she persevered, forming a network of 500 organic farmers nationwide and making Rs 1 crore annually.

2. R Nanda Kishore Reddy, Telangana After three years in IT, R Nanda Kishore Reddy returned to Railapur village, Hyderabad, during the pandemic-induced lockdown. Recognising agriculture's vital role in our survival, he combined technology with his father's farming methods.

The father-son duo now cultivates English cucumber and spinach on over two acres, including a one-acre polyhouse, yielding around 30 tonnes annually.

3. Someshwar Singh, Uttar Pradesh As the pandemic hit the nation, Someshwar returned to his village in Uttar Pradesh for remote work. Initially not planning to farm, he found himself drawn back to it.

Remembering his childhood experiences on the farm with his father, he decided to give papaya farming a try during his free time. Now, his four-acre papaya farm earns approximately Rs 15 lakh annually.

4. Nagendra Naidu Nagendra Naidu Dharmavarapu always knew he would transition to farming. Raised in a farming family, he closely witnessed agricultural challenges. Despite pursuing engineering and working on startups, his passion for farming persisted.

He started Farmties India Private Limited, focusing on yellow dates on his ancestral land. Today, he earns Rs 3.5 lakh per acre and manages over 1,400 acres.

5. Alankrutha Chandra and Meher Gundavarum, Hyderabad Alankrutha Chandra and Meher Gundavarum, living in the US, wanted a toxin-free life. They started ‘Elephant In You’ during the pandemic-induced lockdown, focusing on organic farming and eco-friendly clothing.

Alankrutha moved to India, turning Meher's family's eight-acre farm into an organic haven with diverse crops and a cool limestone house.

6. Mandeep Verma, Himachal Pradesh Mandeep Verma, who has no farming background, left his Delhi corporate job to start Swaastik Farms in Shilli village, Himachal Pradesh. The five-acre farm, nestled in the Himalayan foothills, grows organic kiwis and apples, earning Rs 40 lakh annually.

7. Rohan Prakash, Uttar Pradesh Rohan Prakash was raised in a farming family and developed a deep connection to agriculture. His engineering background fueled his passion to transform their farm into a fully organic operation.

Today, branded as Sure Organics, his farm cultivates a variety of mangoes — dasheri, langra, chaunsa, and safeda — alongside lychee and turmeric.

8. S Sivaganesh, Tamil Nadu S Sivaganesh, an engineer at an atomic station in Rajasthan, returned to his roots in 2010, moving back to his hometown in Meenakshipuram. He embraced organic farming on six acres, intercropping nutmegs with coconut and cultivating mangoes, turmeric, pepper, and areca nuts.

With advanced techniques like drip irrigation, he earned Rs 2 lakh per acre from his diverse plantations.