Kerala man quits top job in Dubai to grow mangosteen and rambutan; earns Rs 10,000 per tree annually

After working for nine years in the air cargo and logistics sector in the UAE, managing global supply chains, Philip Kurien wanted to return home to his own people and familiar surroundings. With around three acres of family land, farming was a good option.

“Since my family already had rubber plantations in Thottapuzhassery village in Pathanamthitta district (Kerala), agriculture was a familiar choice,” Philip tells 30Stades.

He quit his job in Dubai and returned, fully aware that rubber plantations could not continue for long. “The cost of farm labour is very high in Kerala (around Rs 800 per day). As a result, the net returns from an acre of rubber plantation are only around Rs50,000 now,” he says.

On the other hand, a few old mangosteen trees planted by his grandfather nearly 90 years ago were yielding around 300 kg of fruit annually.

“These trees were still yielding well, generating good income with minimal maintenance. I understood that mangosteen would be a profitable alternative to rubber as it is hardy and resistant to most diseases,” he says.

Also Read: How this farmer created an evergreen farm of exotic fruits in Karnataka's dry lands

“The lifespan of mangosteen and rambutan trees is more than 100 years. Fertiliser requirements are low. There are hardly any labour issues because weeding is manageable, and harvesting can be outsourced to traders,” he says.

The family’s familiarity with exotic fruits is old. Even before the Gulf migration wave, people from this region travelled to Malaysia for work.

Philip’s great-grandfather and grandfather were associated with the AV Thomas Tea Plantation in Pasupara, Idukki, before returning to Thottapuzhassery. “They brought back exposure to new crops and exotic fruits,” he says. 

“Over time, NRIs visiting from Southeast Asia brought fruit saplings, which found a place in backyard farms across Pathanamthitta,” he adds.

Also Read: Father-son trio reaps bumper mangosteen harvest; older trees yield 300 kg per season

Despite good yields, these fruits were not popular locally and fetched limited returns. “That has changed as demand for exotic fruits like rambutan, mangosteen, durian, abiu and dragon fruit is growing rapidly,” he says.

Not surprisingly, India imported fresh fruits worth over Rs 18,300 crore in 2022, while the amount was just Rs 2800 crore in 2010, according to APEDA.

Replacing rubber with exotic fruits

Around 2010-11, Philip and his family began removing rubber trees. Over 2.25 acres were replanted with mangosteen and a small number of rambutan trees. In total, the farm now has over 150 mangosteen trees and 25 rambutan trees.

“At that time, we purchased saplings at Rs 180 each. Some were also propagated from existing old trees on the farm,” he says.

Mangosteen has a long gestation period and typically begins fruiting only after eight years. Philip’s trees are now 14 years old and have completed around six productive seasons. “Once mangosteen starts yielding, the growth is very slow initially, but income improves steadily,” he says. “It’s the opposite of many short-term crops.”

Also Read: Five farmers growing exotic fruits on rocky, drought-prone land and earning in lakhs

So the initial investment is be made in preparing the land, purchasing the mangosteen saplings, irrigation and planting them. Then there can be recurring revenues for many years while incurring only operational costs, like irrigation, manure, harvesting and other sundry expenses.

Philip practices organic farming and uses only cow dung manure, vermicompost and chicken manure for plants. “There is no need for chemicals in mangosteen and rambutan farming,” he says.

Last season, his orchard produced nearly two tonnes of mangosteen. On average, the income from each tree is around Rs 10,000 a year. “Harvesting is hassle-free. Traders from Tamil Nadu visit the farm, assess the crop, count the trees and bid for the produce. This eliminates marketing stress for the farmer as we sell from the farm,” Philip says.

Why exotic fruits make sense today

The market rates of exotic fruits are more than double those of native fruits, like apples, mangoes, pomegranates, grapes, etc. So the same land can generate more revenues annually. While the best grade of pomegranates sells for Rs 150 to Rs 200 per kg, farmers can sell mangosteen for up to Rs 600 per kg.

Moreover, a big challenge for farmers in Thottapuzhassery is wildlife conflict. Wild boars move in groups of 12 to 14 and destroy vegetable crops and tuber crops overnight. Legal restrictions prevent farmers from taking effective action, making short-term crops risky and often unviable.

“Vegetable farming is not profitable here anymore. Exotic fruit trees like mangosteen and rambutan are safe from wild boars.”

Floods in 2018 and disruptions after COVID-19 further pushed farmers away from annual crops. Against this backdrop, long-gestation, low-maintenance tree crops, like mangosteen, have emerged as a practical solution.

Also Read: This MBA quit Wipro for organic kiwi farming in Himachal; turns barren land into profitable orchard

Community farming and tourism

Philip is also part of a government-supported farming group under the local agriculture department. In 2021, he helped form a Karshaka (farmer) group, and by 2022, the group presented a proposal to the local body to promote fruit-based cultivation. Several farmers in the area have since taken up mangosteen and rambutan farming.

Unlike many fruits, mangosteen and rambutan have not faced a glut so far, and the demand remains strong. Looking ahead, Philip plans to integrate agriculture with tourism and urban engagement. “This area has the potential to become an agri-tourism spot,” he says.

“We want to combine farming, tourism and local livelihoods. We will create a farm visit centre for tourists. After the necessary government approvals, we will sell the organic produce directly to visitors and also online,” he says.

Philip’s journey from finance and logistics to farming underlines a larger truth: sustainable agriculture often rewards patience over speed. Mangosteen may take eight years to bear fruit, but once it does, it offers a stable income for a long time. “Our orchard is proof that sometimes, the future of farming lies in reviving what our earlier generations planted,” he says.

(US Anu is a Madurai-based writer. She specialises in stories around human interest, environment and art and culture.)

Also Read: Seven exotic fruit farmers running super profitable farms

Look up our YouTube Channel