Organic Veggies and Organic Avocados

Source Summary

Dear Reader, What's the biggest risk you've ever taken? Mine was moving from Delhi to Mumbai in 2005, shortly after the city's devastating floods. Many friends and colleagues advised against the move, pointing to the cultural and climatic differences between the two cities. However, it turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. Today, Mumbai is more than home. It is a part of who I am. As the saying goes, ‘no risk, no reward’. That's why I could instantly relate to farmer Gursimran Singh Dhanoa when I read Riya’s story. He took a chance on avocados, a crop that isn't native to Punjab, as it cannot tolerate the state's extreme heat and cold. Many were sceptical about Gursimran’s decision. But that risk changed everything. In 2018, he purchased avocado saplings at very high rates as the crop was new to Punjab. Today, he sells organically grown avocados at Rs 500 per kg and has also started a nursery business. He offers avocado saplings at just Rs 150 and is now a mentor and guide to many others who are trying to break free from the groundwater-depleting cycle of wheat-paddy farming in the state. To read our earlier newsletters, click here Last week, I spoke to Rakesh Anand, an IT engineer from IIT Bombay and his wife, Roopika, an ex-banker who has worked with some of the top banks in India and Dubai. The couple quit their high-paying jobs to grow organic vegetables on leased land in Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh in 2019. Today, they grow organic pulses, grains, veggies, and fruits on over 15 acres and prepare cold-pressed oils, ice creams, jams, pickles, and much more under their farm-to-fork brand, Organic Theo. They have a robust customer base across Delhi-NCR. Their story is yet another reminder that some of life's best decisions come from following the heart rather than the head. We also wrote about Mahesh Hanumant Kolur last week. The young farmer began mushroom farming from a 100 sq ft room in his house, investing Rs 500 in 2021. Today, his 600 sq ft unit clocks Rs 3 lakh a month by turning oyster and milky mushrooms into premium value-added products. The profit: Rs 2 lakh monthly. Mahesh’s story is different from farmers who rely only on the sale of fresh produce. By processing 90 per cent of his production, he has ended dependence on mandis and middlemen and sells directly to consumers across Bengaluru and nearby cities. For those keen to start terrace gardening, my colleague Riya has put together a piece on seven plants that need just 10 minutes of care a week. These easy-care plants flourish with minimal effort, giving you a steady supply of herbs and medicinal leaves year-round without daily effort. Happy Reading! Warmly, Rashmi Punjab farmer grows organic avocados in 47°C heat, sells them at Rs 500 per kg IITian husband & ex-banker wife quit high-paying jobs for organic farming, build farm-to-fork brand From Rs 500 to Rs 3 lakh a month, how this farmer built a mushroom business from a small room 7 Terrace plants that need just 10 minutes of care a week