How this Kerala woman turned barren land into a Rs2-crore agribusiness

As a housewife, Vidhu Rajeev never imagined she would be a farmer one day. However, now, in her mid-forties, she is an agripreneur running a Rs2 crore business in Kerala's Kottayam. 

What began as an attempt to revive her family’s barren land has grown into a 12-acre, zero-waste integrated farm with dairy, poultry, fisheries and vegetable and spice cultivation – all organic.

The beginning

In 2017, Vidhu returned to Kerala after spending 18 years in Muscat to care for her ill mother-in-law. Upon returning, her husband Rajeev found their land, which had been leased out for farming, was in ruins due to severe neglect. 

Determined to restore the land, the couple began to add cow dung and other natural materials to revive the soil and improve its fertility.

"During this time, my children were on vacation, and to keep them engaged, I brought home two baby goats and ten hens for eggs. When Rajeev returned to Muscat, I did not have much to do and thought of developing the farm. The livestock thrived -- hens started laying eggs, and one day, I discovered three newborn goats in the shed,” Vidhu tells 30Stades.

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That’s when the farm started expanding. Vidhu increased the number of hens from 10 to 50 and began selling eggs.

Expanding operations

In 2018, when the devastating Kerala floods struck, their land remained unaffected but procuring vegetables from outside became difficult. 

The floods prompted Vidhu to start growing organic vegetables on the farm using intercropping. The yield was high due to the rising fertility of the soil.

By then, the farm had grown to house 50 hens and eight goats. Their waste was used as manure for the plants, ensuring a sustainable cycle.

"As my interest in farming grew, I decided to expand the poultry section and bought 500 hens. Then, COVID-19 hit. While the pandemic was tough for many, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for me. I started raising rabbits and ducks, and soon, the rabbits multiplied, allowing me to sell them regularly,” she says. 

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With people staying home, the demand for farm-fresh products increased and Vidhu’s business started growing faster than she had imagined.

The growth

At this point, Vidhu bought a cow to meet cow dung requirements for manure. Soon, it gave birth to a calf and started yielding 17 litres of milk. She had no idea how to milk a cow, so she hired someone to help. 

“From then on, we began buying a cow on every birthday and anniversary. It became a tradition, and our farm grew with each celebration," Vidhu adds.

With rising income, Rajeev stopped sending money from Muscat to see if the business could sustain their family financially. Vidhu notes that the results were encouraging. Although she had no prior expertise in farming or livestock rearing, she learned the basics from her father-in-law, who had been a farmer.

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Recognizing the importance of knowledge, she continuously updated herself. By the end of 2020, Vidhu had successfully developed an integrated farm model.

Sustainability

Sustainability has been a key focus for Vidhu. She installed a biogas plant to turn farm waste into biogas. She also constructed a specialized cow dung drying shed to ensure a clean environment. 

Her husband, Rajeev, had expertise in the maintenance of power plants. With that knowledge, he built a unique underground tunnel-like pipe system, channelling cow dung and urine to a well, making waste management efficient. 

The farm also boasts a cow dung dewatering machine. The dung is converted into manure for sale. 

The farm’s sustainability practices include automatic drinking water systems, modern cattle sheds, a biogas plant, and green fodder cultivation.

Integrated farm

Vidhu’s enterprise has evolved into a full-fledged mixed farm-agribusiness. With a growing customer base, organic vegetables, spices, and paddy manure are produced. What started with just three acres has now expanded across seven acres, with additional leased land bringing the total to 12 acres. The farm cultivates green fodder, tapioca, yam, rambutan, mangoes, and various vegetables and fruits.

At present, the farm has 50 cows and 200 goats, a lot of hens, a fish farm, a bee farm, and much more. 

The farm produces around 350 litres of milk daily, with 300 litres supplied to the cooperative society and 50 litres used for value-added dairy products like curd and ghee. 

Additionally, they cultivate turmeric and other spices, process them into powders, and sell them. They also sell coconut oil and honey. Visitors frequently purchase fresh produce directly from the farm.

"Rajeev made the initial investment, but now, I’m the one repaying him with my hard-earned money. And I’m doing it happily. There’s a sense of pride in knowing that the farm is running successfully," she says.

To further expand, Vidhu secured a Rs30 lakh loan under the PMEGP scheme for the cow dung processing unit and another loan from KISDC at a minimal interest rate. Her plan is to establish a large-scale dairy plant with an integrated manure packaging and retail unit.

Secret of Success

Vidhu believes that constant learning and updating are essential to sustain any business. 

"Rajeev actively meets farmers who have struggled in their ventures, learning from their experiences to avoid similar mistakes," she adds. 

The annual revenue of Vidhu's farm business exceeds Rs2 crores.

In 2021, Vidhu received the Kerala State Award for Best Integrated Farm from the Animal Husbandry Department. In 2022, she was honoured with the Kottayam District Award for Best Entrepreneur. In 2024, she won the State Award from the Indian Dairy Association for Best Woman Dairy Farmer. On March 6, 2025, she will be receiving the prestigious National Award from the Indian Dairy Association in Patna.

Vidhu explains that Parudeesa, the name of her farm, means Paradise created by God. "For me, Rajeev created this pollution-free, self-sustaining farm paradise. I am always grateful to him for teaching me and motivating me. Of course, my three children are my pillar of support," she adds. Vidhu believes education and hard work are the keys to success. While

"Today, I proudly pay my taxes. From zero knowledge about farming to building a thriving Rs 2 crore agribusiness, this journey has been all about hard work and perseverance. I truly believe everyone has a passion waiting to be discovered and that every woman should be financially independent. And now, when people recognize me wherever I go, I feel like a bit of a celebrity," Vidhu signs off, beaming with pride.

(Chandhini R is a Kerala-based journalist specialising in human interest, entertainment, and art and culture stories)

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