Maharashtra farmer replaces pomegranate with drumstick, builds Rs 1.15 crore business

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For decades, the Yelpale family in Maharashtra's Solapur district grew pomegranate. After completing his studies, Sagar joined his father on the farm in 2012. Spread across 10 acres, their orchards generated decent returns but also required substantial investments in pesticides, irrigation, and disease management. Initially, Sagar continued with the family's traditional crop. But after working in the orchard for some years, he realised the economics were becoming difficult. " Pomegranate had become an expensive crop to maintain. Diseases due to high humidity or sudden heat spikes were increasing, and the cost of chemicals kept rising. Out of the earnings of Rs 3 lakh per acre, nearly Rs 1.5 lakh went into cultivation costs,” Sagar tells 30Stades. “Moreover, we had to wait nearly six months before harvesting to receive the income. So I began exploring alternatives that could offer better profitability and regular income with lower risks,” he adds. Drumstick flowering (left) and fruiting (right). Pic: Sagar Yelpale A friend's advice In 2017, one of Sagar's friends introduced him to commercial drumstick cultivation. “I wanted a crop that was hardy, required lower investment, gave faster returns and had a stable market. Drumstick seemed like a good fit," says Sagar. Also Read: Karnataka teacher builds Rs 2-crore drumstick business after school admissions decline He decided to test drumstick farming on one acre instead of converting the entire farm immediately. Sagar purchased 400 grams of drumstick seeds for Rs 4,000 from Malshiras, about 19 km from his village near Sangola. “I prepared the field by adding a lot of well-decomposed cow dung manure before sowing the seeds in January 2017,” Sagar says. Pruning (left) after harvest ensures high yields (right). Pic: Sagar Yelpale Scientific spacing improved productivity Unlike many farmers who plant densely, Sagar adopted wider spacing to ensure healthy growth. "I planted the crop at a spacing of 12 feet by 6 feet. Wider spacing allows sunlight and air movement inside the plantation. It also reduces disease incidence and makes harvesting easier." He believes soil preparation plays an equally important role. "The first investment should be in soil health. We incorporated plenty of organic manure before sowing,” he says. In about five months, the first harvest began. "I started harvesting in June 2017. From just one acre, I harvested nearly 10 tonnes over five months. The average selling price was around Rs 25 to Rs 30 per kg, and I earned over Rs 3 lakh." The successful trial convinced him to make a complete shift. Also Read: 10 farmers beating heatwaves and earning lakhs with smart crops and water management All the produce is sent to Hyderabad. Pic: Sagar Yelpale Expansion from one to 18 acres Encouraged by the first year's performance, Sagar gradually converted his entire farm to drumstick cultivation beginning in 2018. “My parents owned 10 acres, and I added eight more acres,” he says. Today, the 18-acre plantation has around 12,000 plants. He mainly grows two commercial varieties. "I cultivate ODC-3 and ODC-4 varieties because they produce long, uniform pods with good market demand." Initially, each tree yielded around 10-12 kg per harvest. “With two harvests every year, each tree produced around 25 kg annually. As the plantation matured, production increased steadily." Now, after eight to nine years, each tree yields around 50 kg every year. Average annual production is about 180-200 tonnes, although in some years he has harvested even more. “Regular pruning is essential to maintain high yields,” he adds. Farming practices focused on soil health One of the biggest reasons behind the consistent productivity, according to Sagar, is his focus on organic nutrition. Instead of depending entirely on chemical fertilisers, he has installed a biogas plant on his farm. Every day, the unit produces 200-300 litres of slurry, which is automatically supplied to the fields. "The slurry goes directly to the plants through an automated system. Nothing is wasted." He says the slurry has significantly improved soil fertility. "Biogas slurry keeps the plants healthy, increases soil carbon and reduces dependence on expensive fertilisers. The gas produced is used for household cooking, while the slurry becomes the nutrition for the crop. It benefits both the farm and the family,” Sagar adds. Drumstick seeds (left) are sold at Rs 10,000 per kg. Sagar Yelpale receiving an award (right) Although expenses vary as per weather conditions, he says healthy soil helps reduce cultivation costs. "In years with heavy rainfall, fungal infections increase, and expenses can go up to Rs 1.5 lakh per acre because more sprays are required. Otherwise, cultivation costs remain between Rs 60,000 and Rs 70,000 per acre." Marketing strategy Sagar has developed a reliable marketing network over the years. Most of his produce is transported nearly 400 km to Hyderabad, where wholesalers purchase the entire harvest. "Earlier, I even exported drumsticks to Dubai. But now demand from Hyderabad itself is so strong that my entire production gets sold there." Prices fluctuate considerably through the year. "During winter, I receive nearly Rs 200 per kg because supply is limited. In summer, prices may fall to around Rs 25 per kg. Overall, the annual average remains profitable at around Rs 50 per kg." Also Read: Profitable Drumsticks and In-house Microgreens Seed business adds another revenue stream Apart from selling fresh drumsticks, Sagar has created an additional business by selling quality seeds. "Many farmers now approach me for seeds because they have seen the performance of my plantation." He sells seeds at around Rs 10,000 per kg, generating nearly Rs 15 lakh annually. Combined with fresh drumstick sales, his total business now records an annual turnover of approximately Rs 1.15 crore. Sagar advises farmers to start with a small experiment of moringa trees instead of making a large investment. "Never shift your entire farm immediately. First test the crop on a small area, understand its management, identify the market and then expand." He also says marketing is as important as cultivation. "Growing a crop is only half the work. Before planting, farmers should know exactly where they will sell their produce. A strong market is what makes farming profitable,” he adds. (Riya Singh is a Ranchi-based journalist who writes on environment, farming, sustainability, startups, & women empowerment). Also Read: Maharashtra farmer earns Rs 25 lakh per acre from drumstick farming, exports to Dubai Look up our YouTube Channel